secular science resources you may not have heard of...

[cschnee]

I've come across a couple of really great science resources I'd like to share:

 

1. Books by Bryce Hixson

http://www.teachersource.com/Books_SoftwareAndVideos/BryceHixsonBooks.aspx

 

I have "Photon U" and it is done as 15 chapters of "Big Ideas" with 2-3 experiments and explanations for each idea. It also has many science fair extensions and is humorous.

 

2. "Stop Faking It! Finally Understanding Science so You can Teach It" series by William C. (Bill) Robertson

http://learningcenter.nsta.org/search.aspx?action=quicksearch&text=stop%20faking%20it%20series

 

These are supposed to be read by "teachers" to help them teach their subject matter, but I think they could easily be used by home schoolers. He has you do experiments first and then read the explanations. I have the book on "Light" and it is very humorous and well done.

 

I can't decide which of the two I will use for the "light" part of my grade 6 physics program next year. Probably "Photon U" as it is a little easier to understand.

[*Jessica*]

Thank you! It looks like Bryce Hixson has a blog, too! http://www.seriouslyfunnyscience.com/ There are some cool things there.

[KAR120C]

I've come across a couple of really great science resources I'd like to share:

 

1. Books by Bryce Hixson

http://www.teachersource.com/Books_SoftwareAndVideos/BryceHixsonBooks.aspx

 

I have "Photon U" and it is done as 15 chapters of "Big Ideas" with 2-3 experiments and explanations for each idea. It also has many science fair extensions and is humorous.

 

 

There's also an online store at http://www.looseinthelab.com/ -- one of the best places for small quantities of the less-common chemicals (and everything you need for the books).

 

I taught a Chemistry camp for three years running, using two of his books - I know one of them was Le Boom du Jour, but I don't remember which of the others we used....... it's been a while and I've used several more since! :)

 

One thing I really loved about Photon U was the science fair planner in the back. I've recommended that to a LOT of people (and lent my copy to several... I don't think I ever got it back from the last one!) I assume it's in other books too, but that's the one I'm sure of. It's a perfect combination of guidance and freedom -- showing you how to start with something someone else has done but not copy directly, and then how to schedule out a project with enough emphasis on background research and hypothesis-development before the experimenting begins. DS adapted that for his own science fair planning, and it has worked out extremely well.

[Dmmetler]

Another good, secular series for younger kids is the Basher science books. Each takes some of the major concepts of a discipline and personifies them in kind of a Japanese art character style-sort of like Pokemon with science themes. They go well beyond what many kids' science books do, but are still very approachable.

 

 

 

http://basherbooks.com/usa/welcome.html

 

I found ours at a small, independent bookstore near a college campus (which makes me wonder if college kids are using them as study aids), but amazon also sells them.