good science curriculum

[vlgimmelli]

I am looking for a good science curriculum, my son is 11 years old. Also is there a free online book that is good for science? What is your favorite and most enjoyable science study that you have done or are doing?

thanks

[Poke Salad Annie]

We are simply reading through some spines, most of which are older. My dh and I had a talk this morning about science, and he feels that much of the writing around just after 1958 was very good (competition after Sputnik). I am not suggesting to use all older books, just saying that some of the older ones are nice, and not dumbed down.

 

I would advise going to the library and letting your son choose some titles which he finds interesting. He could read and write narrations, and do some experiments to go along with his readings, making lab sheets for each one. This would make a nice science notebook, and would be essentially free, except for a few supplies such as paper and whatnot. If you don't have a microscope, see if you can find one used in good shape.

 

There is a very nice mp3 on the Peace Hill Press website for Science from a Susan Wise Bauer lecture. You may find that it will give you more direction. I highly recommend it, and it's only about $4.

Edited September 9, 2010 by Poke Salad Annie

[Hedgehog]

I've seen some clips on http://www.youtube.com of science experiments, if there was anything you wanted to do/see but didn't have the money to buy the stuff or if it was a bit dangerous to do at home!

[Ruth in NC]

You can check out this free book, Inquiry in Action.

 

http://www.inquiryinaction.org/

 

Ruth in NC

[MelissaMinNC]

I think that The Storybook of Science is free at mainlesson.com. It would be a lot of printing, unless you want to read it online, but it might give you some good ideas for topics you could look for at the library?

 

Just taking a stab...

 

:)

Melissa

[Poke Salad Annie]

Had another thought...

 

Corraleno posted a nice astronomy study which can be done without a bought program guide here:

 

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=204929&highlight=astronomy&page=2

 

I loved her advice, and am in the process of finding an inexpensive telescope. Could her ideas work for you?

 

One more thing....Do you have a copy of The Well Trained Mind? There are so many ideas in there to get you started with science which are age-appropriate. If you can't buy one, see if your library has a copy or could inter-library loan one.

[vlgimmelli]

Thank you for the wonderful advice. I will go to the library and pull out some books to study and work on. Also I will check out the website on astronomy.

Thanks

Lillian

[HollyDay]

This is a difficult question because what one family considers good is not what another family would like.

 

You could do a survey course like BJU or Apologia General.

 

You could do a unit study like NOEO or one of the Apologia elementary science books.

 

You could get Usborne Mystery and Marvels along with Encylopedia of Science and use those as spines.

 

You could do The Way Things Work.

 

You could do a History of Science by BF.

 

Your library might also be a great place to start. We unfortunately do not have a great library and we can only check out books for 3 weeks. So, I've had to purchase books or use curriculum.

[Mom-ninja.]

You can get free lesson newsletters from How To Teach Science

[Pippen]

If you're looking for hands-on, my 11yo daughter really liked the REader's Digest How ____Works series last year. There's a number of books based on topics (Body, Weather, Nature, Science).

 

http://www.amazon.com/How-Nature-Works-Parents-Secrets/dp/0895773910/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1284143615&sr=8-1

[stripe]

I think that The Storybook of Science is free at mainlesson.com.

Also at google books; I bought a copy (the one published by Yesterday's Classics).

 

Like Poke Salad Annie, I have found a strangely large number of unusually interesting old science books used. I find most of mine at library sales, including experiment books for kids and other encyclopedia type books. Keep your eyes peeled -- you never know what you'll find.