LAmom Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 I have a 2nd grader and K. Looking for a science program for them. I have MFW Adv but am not crazy about it. Didn't really like the MFW 1st science either. Think it is the Usborne books! I do add to the book basket where I can. Anyways, what is recommended? Elemental Science? Apologia? Anyone compare and contrast these and others? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick_Mom Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 When I had kids that age, we loved Considering God's Creation. To my knowledge, it's not a WTM recommendation, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmommaof4 Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 With my 2nd grader we are doing the dinah zike curriculum Great Science Adventures. Its multiage K-8 I think, but i like the foldables and the little minibooks that we read from. It incorporates evthing, including experiements and projects, even some nature study in the biology themed books. Best of all theres a download version, so I can make as many copies as I need! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodland_Mom Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 Last year we did MFW Rome to the Reformation and I substituted R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey during the first semester because we had just studied the human body. Science Odyssey uses real books, it is easy to implement and there are plenty of hands on science projects. If you're interested, you can download a free 10 week trial from their website: http://www.pandiapress.com/real_science.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey during the first semester because we had just studied the human body. Science Odyssey uses real books, it is easy to implement and there are plenty of hands on science projects. If you're interested, you can download a free 10 week trial from their website: http://www.pandiapress.com/real_science.htm We have been happy with RSO as a spine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 I like the Magic School Bus books for this age. Read them over and over. Try some of the experiments that they mention. Go to science and natural history museums and talk about what they teach. Often. Those moves will be better than any textbook for this age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halcyon Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 You might enjoy BFSU as both kids can do it together. But if that seems too hard to implement, we're going to be trying Elemental Science, which seems very popular on these boards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristavws Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 I used RSO when my boys were in K and 2nd - we really enjoyed this program. This year, we are using Elemental Science Earth Science http://www.elementalscience.com/ . My boys are now in 2nd and 4th. I did not think that RSO would provide enough challenge and interest for my oldest. Thus far, we are really Elemental, although I should also mention that we are supplementing it with several of the Science in a Nutshell kits. Krista Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy in NJ Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 I like the Magic School Bus books for this age. Read them over and over. Try some of the experiments that they mention. Go to science and natural history museums and talk about what they teach. Often. Those moves will be better than any textbook for this age. My biggest waste of time and resources was science curriculum purchased in the grammar stage. Do yourself and your dc a favor and "unschool" science when they're little. Get good books (the Magic School Bus being some), read them, get some hands-on "stuff", and "do" science. Focus on a handful of topics (insects, dinosaurs, the human body) and enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momtoccm Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 For those ages, I would use Magic School Bus books or just choose a topic and get library books. We're using Apologia Astronomy this year with grades 5, 2, and K. It's our first time with a real science curriculum and I'm only doing it to have a little more structure for my 5th grader. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
plain jane Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 We have been happy with RSO as a spine. This. :) We supplement with living books and are really loving science. I used RSO when my boys were in K and 2nd - we really enjoyed this program. My boys are now in 2nd and 4th. I did not think that RSO would provide enough challenge and interest for my oldest. Thus far, we are really Elemental, although I should also mention that we are supplementing it with several of the Science in a Nutshell kits. Krista And this. I'm on my second year of RSO and while I really like the program, I would not use it for a child older than 3rd. It's too bad their Physics program isn't out yet. I wonder if it will be geared for the 4th grade level? I found that their chemistry was just right for third. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
parias1126 Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 REAL Science is wonderful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie in VA Posted October 3, 2010 Share Posted October 3, 2010 (edited) My biggest waste of time and resources was science curriculum purchased in the grammar stage. Do yourself and your dc a favor and "unschool" science when they're little. Get good books (the Magic School Bus being some), read them, get some hands-on "stuff", and "do" science. Focus on a handful of topics (insects, dinosaurs, the human body) and enjoy. :iagree: And lots of outdoor time to observe. It's amazing what getting a bird feeder and investing in some good quality birdseed and some bird guide does. Even when my backyard was tiny, we observed nearly 30 kinds of birds and learned a lot. Edited October 3, 2010 by Angie in VA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 I think you could easily combine them in BFSU. There are extra activities suggested at the end of each lesson, so you could extend each lesson with the 2nd grader with more reading and writing activities. BFSU is secular, but it does not contain any lessons that would be considered controversial, such as evolution. Oh, and it is very inexpensive--less than $30. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotDaMama Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 I used RSO when my boys were in K and 2nd - we really enjoyed this program. This year, we are using Elemental Science Earth Science http://www.elementalscience.com/ . My boys are now in 2nd and 4th. I did not think that RSO would provide enough challenge and interest for my oldest. Thus far, we are really Elemental, although I should also mention that we are supplementing it with several of the Science in a Nutshell kits. Krista What is RSO? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mallory Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 What is RSO? Thanks. REAL Science Odyssey by Pandia Press. It used to be called R.E.A.L. Science and is always being confused with Real Science for Kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LAmom Posted October 4, 2010 Author Share Posted October 4, 2010 I think you could easily combine them in BFSU. There are extra activities suggested at the end of each lesson, so you could extend each lesson with the 2nd grader with more reading and writing activities. What is BFSU? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagira Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 What is BFSU? Building Foundations of Scientific Understanding. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d.html/ref=redir_mdp_mobile/180-6642928-5301848?a=1432706101 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LAmom Posted October 4, 2010 Author Share Posted October 4, 2010 Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotDaMama Posted October 4, 2010 Share Posted October 4, 2010 REAL Science Odyssey by Pandia Press. It used to be called R.E.A.L. Science and is always being confused with Real Science for Kids. Thanks, I could not find it on the acronym list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 I like all the things Julie mentions and also like the Let's-Read-and-Find-out-About-Science book series for this age.... One Small Square is also nice, but some kids just don't like this series.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama2Many4 Posted October 9, 2010 Share Posted October 9, 2010 Right now we're using Apologia Zoology 1 with my 2nd grader. I also supplement with The complete book of science when we need some gentler approach days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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