simka2 Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 (edited) We are finishing up a Apologia Zoology and I thought we would move onto their Astronomy, but I'm not real happy with the curriculum itself. So, any ideas for 3rd/4th grade level Astronomy...that is not young earth based. I don't mind Christian...in fact I would be really interested in a science curriculum that was deist evolutionist!!! Edited August 18, 2010 by simka2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 Have you seen SWB/JW's WTM astronomy choices? Apologia wasn't out when they wrote the 1st and second editions, so I know they don't recommend them in those volumes. I'd tell ya, but I loaned mine out!:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simka2 Posted August 18, 2010 Author Share Posted August 18, 2010 Have you seen SWB/JW's WTM astronomy choices? Apologia wasn't out when they wrote the 1st and second editions, so I know they don't recommend them in those volumes. I'd tell ya, but I loaned mine out!:001_smile: I loaned mine out too! :glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simka2 Posted August 18, 2010 Author Share Posted August 18, 2010 :lurk5: Shamelessly bumping!!!!! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kiana Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 So, any ideas for 3rd/4th grade level Astronomy...that is young earth based. I don't mind Christian...in fact I would be really interested in a science curriculum that was deist evolutionist!!! Do you mean is, or is not? You might want to clarify ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommamia Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 I have the 1999 edition of WTM (love this edition!). For the grammar stage they suggest Planet Earth and Stars and Planets from Visual Factfinder series...to use as your spine. HTH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simka2 Posted August 18, 2010 Author Share Posted August 18, 2010 Do you mean is, or is not? You might want to clarify ... OOOOOPS!!!! Your right!!!! Is NOT YE. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TKDmom Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 I've been looking for something like this, too. I'm about to give up on formal science and just go to our zoo's educational program for science this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tennismomkelly Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 (edited) Mr. Q's Earth Science covers astronomy topics in the 1st two units. You can download the 1st chapter for free. If you like it, you have the option of purchasing the individual units instead of the entire course. It wouldn't be an entire year's worth of material so you'd have to supplement. Mr. Q's Earth Science Disclamer: I haven't used any of his products. It's just something that I have bookmarked. We are using Apologia with some edits and added discussion. ;) Edited August 18, 2010 by tennismomkelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallory Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 I like REAL Science Odyssey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corraleno Posted August 18, 2010 Share Posted August 18, 2010 We're currently doing astronomy without a packaged curriculum; I'd just get some DK books and library books and an inexpensive telescope. I'd try to find a local astronomy club and go to some of their observing parties (we did this recently and it was awesome). Is there a planetarium near you? You can order a Galileoscope for $30, which will not only give you a good view of the moon, the website provides extensive activity guides for free download: one is on optical experiments (you can take the scopes apart and do experiments with the lenses) and the other is an observing guide. The main topics you want to cover are: History of Astronomy: the DK Astronomy book has a lot on this; read a biography of Galileo; build a Galieoscope, etc. Types of Telescopes: Again, the DK Astronomy book has a lot on this topic. Taking apart the Galileoscope teaches a lot about refractor scopes, and visiting an astronomy club will let you see lots of different types. Constellations and Asterisms: Any good sky guide will work, plus visit a planetarium or some astronomy club "star parties" to get an idea of where things are and how to locate them. A green laser pointer will let you point things out in your own back yard. Solar System: Learn the names of the planets, relatives sizes and distance from the sun, length of a "day," length of a "year," composition/structure, "weather," etc. Learn about eclipses and the phases of the moon. Neil Degrasse Tyson's The Pluto Files (book & DVD) combines history and science in a really fun and engaging way, while explaining why Pluto is no longer considered a planet. The Universe series (available on DVD, also on Netflix) has some great documentaries, and there are lots of other documentaries on planets. If you get the Science Channel, they're currently showing a series called Wonders of the Solar System. Stars: Learn the types of stars, lifecycle of stars, types of galaxies. DK Space Encyclopedia, Universe DVDs. Space Exploration: The DK Space Encyclopedia has a large section on this, as does DK's Moon book. There are lots of documentaries to watch, as well as Apollo 13. There are also tons of free worksheets, lapbook ideas, interactive websites, and things like that — an hour or so of googling will turn up an amazing number of resources! Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/capture/ http://www.windows2universe.org/ http://earthsky.org/tonight http://stardate.org/nightsky/weekly.php http://www.botproductions.com/stellar/index.html http://www.homeschoolshare.com/space_lapbook.php http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/index.html http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/space/teachers/liftoff/toys.html http://quest.nasa.gov/ http://planetquest.jpl.nasa.gov/ http://www.interactivescienceteacher.com/space.asp http://www.mos.org/nessie/curriculum_resources.php http://www.mos.org/nessie/lessonplans.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corraleno Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 Wow, great list of resources Regena!!! :thumbup: I've been poking around on some of those websites, my kids are going to love these! Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 The first couple are actual online curriculums. I was looking for another curriculum that was even more to my liking, but I can't find it to save my life or recall its name (sorry).... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homeschooling Hannah Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 We are finishing up a Apologia Zoology and I thought we would move onto their Astronomy, but I'm not real happy with the curriculum itself. So, any ideas for 3rd/4th grade level Astronomy...that is not young earth based. I don't mind Christian...in fact I would be really interested in a science curriculum that was deist evolutionist!!! I was thinking about using Apologia Astronomy but now I'm not so sure.:glare: What didn't you like about the curriculum? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mandy in TN Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 We are using Great Science Adventures: Space. If you have crafty children, they will like it. If you scroll through the week in review, there are a few photos of what we are doing on my blog. HTH- Mandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naturegirl7 Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 My son loves astronomy so we dabble in it. We watch lots of documentary type shows on it - think Discovery, A%E, PBS, Nova, etc. Actually just fond a whole new set on Netflix that we are eager to watch. SOOOOO many really awesome programs out there. We have some DK and Usborne books about space that are cool and great references. And some Magic School Bus books/vids about space too. And a star gazing book with pics of all the constellations... I did download the trial of REAL Science Odyssey for Life science and for Earth/Space and am excited to try it out. haven't tried anything yet, but have heard great things about it and it looks really good after thumbing thru it. gotta love the free trial too! This may be a stupid question but what does "young earth" mean? :confused: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane in NC Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 One other book to consider is 365 Starry Nights by Chet Raymo. The author introduces the reader to the joys of star gazing beginning in January. It blew me away to realize that one could see the nebula in Orion's belt without a telescope! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simka2 Posted August 19, 2010 Author Share Posted August 19, 2010 I was thinking about using Apologia Astronomy but now I'm not so sure.:glare: What didn't you like about the curriculum? First off...I'm not sold on Young earth creationism, and I want my kids to be fluent in evolution, and/or intelligent design theory. Apologia is very YEC exclusive. Even though I am a Christian, I really struggle with constent refrences to God and his creation/ plan. IT's not that it's bad, per se...but it almost seems to make it choppy. I really want the kids to be able to immerse themselves in the "science" of the subject...and then later step back and go "WOW! God really is amazing!" or "I'm not sure that all this could have happened in 6 literal days." If they choose to see God's work in His creation...I want it to be because "they" see it. With Apologia it feels like the constant refrences are there to make sure the child doesn't stray to far in their scientific reasoning without "God" being right there. I realize I'm not phraseing this well, but suffice it to say I want them to discover the God factor, not have it constantly brought to their attention. Dare I say...it almost cheapens it? Hope that helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simka2 Posted August 19, 2010 Author Share Posted August 19, 2010 We are using Great Science Adventures: Space. If you have crafty children, they will like it. If you scroll through the week in review, there are a few photos of what we are doing on my blog. HTH- Mandy I do have crafty children!!!! I will have to look more into this!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simka2 Posted August 19, 2010 Author Share Posted August 19, 2010 (edited) This may be a stupid question but what does "young earth" mean? :confused: If you believe in the literal 7 days of creation, you would believe in a "young earth." Hope that helps! Edited August 19, 2010 by simka2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TKDmom Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 Even though I am a Christian, I really struggle with constent refrences to God and his creation/ plan. IT's not that it's bad, per se...but it almost seems to make it choppy. I really want the kids to be able to immerse themselves in the "science" of the subject...and then later step back and go "WOW! God really is amazing!" or "I'm not sure that all this could have happened in 6 literal days." If they choose to see God's work in His creation...I want it to be because "they" see it. With Apologia it feels like the constant refrences are there to make sure the child doesn't stray to far in their scientific reasoning without "God" being right there. I realize I'm not phraseing this well, but suffice it to say I want them to discover the God factor, not have it constantly brought to their attention. Dare I say...it almost cheapens it? This is exactly how I feel. I took a chemistry class once where the professor mentioned God one time. It was something like, "Look at how amazing this is. And people think this happened just by chance <sarcasm>" His statement has always stuck with me. I think part of the reason I can still remember what he said is because it was so unusual. If he had been saying things like that every day (or every other sentence the way Apologia does), I would have rolled my eyes and learned to tune him out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myfatherslily Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 Even though I am a Christian, I really struggle with constent refrences to God and his creation/ plan. IT's not that it's bad, per se...but it almost seems to make it choppy. I really want the kids to be able to immerse themselves in the "science" of the subject...and then later step back and go "WOW! God really is amazing!" or "I'm not sure that all this could have happened in 6 literal days." If they choose to see God's work in His creation...I want it to be because "they" see it. With Apologia it feels like the constant refrences are there to make sure the child doesn't stray to far in their scientific reasoning without "God" being right there. I realize I'm not phraseing this well, but suffice it to say I want them to discover the God factor, not have it constantly brought to their attention. Dare I say...it almost cheapens it? Oh, thank you for saying this! I completely agree and this is exactly why I can't see us using the series beyond Astronomy. "The heavens declare the glory of God"! I study the universe and am dazzled by a God so big. But I don't like shoving it down my children's throats and jamming the thoughts into their little heads. I want them to discover it on their own. Half the time it's seem more like a Sunday School study than science. On the other hand, some families really like that and it's not something that is bad. It's just not what I'd prefer. My SIL is using this book right now with her children as well and they love it:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SophiaH Posted August 19, 2010 Share Posted August 19, 2010 This list of science resources for K-5 on the Old Earth Creationism blog is very helpful. She gives a disclaimer at the top of the list. None of the resources are YEC-focused. ETA: I really like the Big Bang! book and the God's Creation series as supplements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simka2 Posted August 20, 2010 Author Share Posted August 20, 2010 Oh, thank you for saying this! I completely agree and this is exactly why I can't see us using the series beyond Astronomy. "The heavens declare the glory of God"! I study the universe and am dazzled by a God so big. But I don't like shoving it down my children's throats and jamming the thoughts into their little heads. I want them to discover it on their own. Half the time it's seem more like a Sunday School study than science. On the other hand, some families really like that and it's not something that is bad. It's just not what I'd prefer. My SIL is using this book right now with her children as well and they love it:) You put that so much better than I did!!! and I agree...it's not bad, it's just not a good fit for us. I am loving all the ideas here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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