Saw TOP's "Lentil Science" and I'm impressed

[Chris in VA]

Anyone use it? It's a really neat way of teaching many scientific concepts, using lentils as a manipulative (unlike TOP's "Corn and Beans" and "Radish" sets, where you plant them). My niece uses it, and my dd got to spend a little time with her and play with it. Really cool! You can get a kit to go with it that includes all the little bottles, strainer, funnel, etc.

[krisandpaula]

We are using it this year and so far, I LOVE it! We got it with the kit of pre-cut pill bottles and other required supplies (I found it here used.) and they have it at RR. It takes a little time to prep everything, but then it is just open and go after that. We are using it basically as a 'center'. The kids are having so much fun with it that I'm planning to continue with the intermediate level. If you don't mind the set-up time, it is a great program.

[plansrme]

I have this and have never used it because the preparation instructions were ridiculously complicated. I read IRS regulations for a living, so I have a high tolerance for, and even embrace, fine print, but this was just way over the top. I am sure it is one of those things that is simpler once you just do it, but I could not get past initial prep. There should be an alternative set of instructions for homeschoolers with just 1 or 2 users. Oh, and a set of instructions for people who are willing to oh, I don't know, spring for an actual ruler, rather than construct one out of notebook paper and craft sticks (that may have been the one on corn, though).

 

Please let us know how it works out for you.

 

Terri

[krisandpaula]

A homeschool version would be great! It was hard sorting though what we actually needed to prep and what needed to be preped for 20 kids in a class.

[woolybear]

Do you have any idea how this compares to the Get A Grip set?

[Sunshine State Sue]

Tops Primary Lentil Science

TOPS - Get a Grip and Lentil Science ?'s

[BatmansWife]

I'm glad you posted this, because I forgot that I have it. :tongue_smilie:

 

Years ago (and I mean *years* ago.....probably over 10) I had gotten this (along with lots of TOPS books) and spent tons of time getting this set up. But, then we never used it. I have no idea why. I remember going to the pharmacy and buying all the different size pill bottles, going to Walmart photo and getting all the 35 mm film canisters, having my husband make the screen thing. It was a ton of work. Maybe it took so long for me to get it together that my kids outgrew it before we even started. LOL! No, probably not. I think life just got busy and then we moved several times. But, now my youngest is almost 7 and I bet she'd love it. Somewhere out in our garage is a big tub of the lentils and all the canisters, bottles, baby food jars, etc. I gotta track this down!!

[swainsonshawk]

I've been setting this up all summer. Talk about a lot of work! I am prepping both the primary and intermediate books ones. I bought the kit that comes with it, but there is still a lot to find and assemble on your own. I have probably spent 10-12 hours on assembling the first book's materials and hopefully it will be shorter for the second book. AGH! I would consider the book more scientific procedure and math concepts than topical science. But I bet my kids are going to love it. I mean, who doesn't love dumping things into bottles back and forth? Got to be done by September 7th. Wish me luck!

[Guest]

It took a bit of time to set up, but I didn't spend anything like 10-12 hours! My daughter, aged six at the time, helped; and as I recall we only spent about a couple of hours setting it all up. Maybe this was because the others didn't buy the kit of materials? I did, as I remember, and it was worth every penny if this saved me so many hours! This was a number of years ago, so perhaps the supply kits have changed; but I bought just enough for one child.

 

Then like another poster I had it set up as a "center" type of activity my daughter could use when she liked. It was fun for her to pour and mix and sift and do all the things on the activity cards, and she used it for a bit over two years.

[Satori]

I bought the kit, thinking it would be easy. I think I tried to tackle setting everything up three times, and still haven't finished... I will take one last fourth look and if I can't get it setup this time, I'm giving it away to my local hs group.