Choosing Science 2nd grade

[buttacol]

I have been trying to decide among several different science curriculums to use next year. The three I am deciding among right now are Exploring Creation with Astronomy by Apologia, R.E.A.L. Science Earth, and Science through Children's Literature by Butzow.

 

I intend to use lots of library books and living books we own on the subjects of astronomy and earth science, but I am looking for something to keep us on track and simplify my planning.

 

Any thoughts?? Or if you have used other Astronomy/ Earth Science books please tell.

[Mallory]

We used R.E.A.L Science for earth (and life), but next year for chemistry we are using the schedules at easyclassical.com. Their earth schedule uses Exploring Creation through Astronomy and many other books.

 

Like I said, I only have had the chemistry schedule in my hands, but I think it looks really good, and can't wait to get started next fall.

 

I have heard people say that the nice thing about the Exploring Creation series is it is very easy to just pick up and read on the couch. But one of the things I am so excited about the easyclassical schedule is having all of the hands-on planned, even with a list of what you need for next week on this weeks schedule. It also comes in a 3-ring binder with dividers for 36 weeks that I have added our history schedule to. I think that R.E.A.L Science, if you add lots of library books like we do, is a good mixture of hands on and reading (but by itself the reading list is a little skimpy).

[dragons in the flower bed]

Any thoughts?? Or if you have used other Astronomy/ Earth Science books please tell.

 

I have not used it yet, just sorted it out and begun to prepare to use it, but I like Elemental Science's plans.

 

It's well suited to supplementation with whatever you find at the library or have on hand, because only a few core books are used. Other programs seemed to expect me to check out or buy precisely the book they recommended for each subtopic, which was just too much for me to keep up with.

 

The ongoing activities are cool: making a rock and mineral collection, keeping a moon diary.

 

I also think the pace and content will be a good balance for a little kid who isn't very knowledgable or very motivated in this area yet. It's neither too light or too intense.

[TundraAcademy]

Noeo Biology I was an easy scheduled course for us to follow. Everything is included - experiments and books.

[Tess in the Burbs]

We enjoyed 1st grade science this year and will do it again next year for earth science/astronomy. The schedules are perfect and has library lists as well as shopping lists for upcoming experiments. I love the books they choose as spines...books I would have chosen for myself but this is scheduled for me!

 

http://www.easyclassical.com

[mcconnellboys]

Earth Science/Astronomy using the Visual Factfinders as my spines (but you could use anything):

 

Planet Earth – 18 weeks

 

Sections:

 

Our Planet: 2 weeks (2 spreads each week, plus experiments and other reading)

 

The Land 4 weeks (3 spreads each of first three weeks and 2 the last w/exp., etc.)

 

Water 3 weeks (2 spreads first two weeks and 1 the last)

 

Weather and Climate 3 weeks (2 spreads each week)

 

Landscapes 3 weeks (2 spreads each week)

 

Past, Present, Future 3 weeks (2 spreads first two weeks and one the last)

 

 

I know we include a lot of extra reading, but at this age, I do science for one hour daily. You could easily cut down on the extra reading – we can never read ALL the great books out there! (Too bad….)

 

 

Extra reading tied to various spreads:

 

The Earth in Space -

 

Earth and Space, Susan Mayes and Sophy Tahta

Earth Picturepedia pages 6-9

You’re Aboard Spaceship Earth

 

Gravity and the Earth –

 

Autumn Across America

Spring Across America

Winter Across America

(Summer?)

all by Seymour Simon

Let’s Explore Seasons and Weather

 

The Structure of the Earth –

 

Magic School Bus: Inside the Earth

Picturepedia pages 10-11

 

 

 

Land, Water, and Air –

 

Magic School Bus: Waterworks (?)

 

Earthquakes –

 

Kids’ Science – experiments from earth section

Danger! Earthquakes, S. Simon

Danger from Below: Earthquakes Past, Present and Future, Simon

Earthquakes, Simon

Picturepedia pages 16-17

 

Volcanoes –

 

Volcanoes, Simon

Volcanoes and Other Natural Disasters

Picturepedia pages 14-15

 

Plate Tectonics –

 

Usborne What’s The Earth Made Of?

Picturepedia pages 12-13

 

Mountains –

 

Mountains, S. Simon

 

Rocks –

 

The Rockhound’s Book, S. Simon

Let’s Go Rock Collecting

Picturepedia pages 18-19

 

Minerals and Gems –

 

Rocks and Minerals at Your Fingertips

Picturepedia pages 20-21

 

Frozen in Time –

 

Magic School Bus in the Time of the Dinosaurs

New Questions and Answers About Dinosaurs, S. Simon

Picturepedia pages 22-23

Other dinosaur books listed on reading list, including easy readers

Archaeologists Dig for Clues

 

Shaping the Earth –

 

One Small Square: Cave

Picturepedia pages 24-25

Caves: Hidden Worlds (A First Discovery Book – Scholastic)

 

The Work of Ice –

 

Icebergs and Glaciers, S. Simon

Picturepedia pages 30-31

 

 

Oceans and Seas –

 

How to be an Ocean Scientist in Your own Home, S. Simon

Magic School Bus: Ocean Floor

Kids’ Science – experiments from water section

 

The Life of the Ocean –

 

Oceans, Simon

What Makes an Ocean Wave?

Usborne What’s Under the Sea?

Picturepedia pages 26-27

 

The Seashore –

 

One Small Square: Seashore

Picturepedia pages 28-29

 

Rivers –

 

The River: A First Discovery Book (Scholastic)

Picturepedia pages 32-33

 

Lakes and Swamps –

 

One Small Square: Swamp and Pond

 

The Atmosphere –

 

Kids’ Science – experiments from air section

Weather, Simon

Weather: A First Discovery Book (Scholastic)

Eyewitness Explorer: Weather

Picturepedia pages 36-37

 

Climate –

 

Picturepedia pages 38-39

 

Winds and Storms –

 

Magic School Bus: Inside a Hurricane

Magic School Bus: Electric Field Trip (?)

Lightning, Simon

Storms, Simon

Tornadoes

Why Does Lightning Strike? Questions About Weather

Picturepedia pages 42-45

 

The Types of Clouds –

 

Picturepedia pages 40-41

 

Rain and Snow –

 

This is the Rain

 

The Changing Scene –

 

A Handful of Soil, Simon (includes soil experiments, I think)

One Small Square: Backyard

Usborne What’s Under the Ground?

 

Polar Regions and the Tundra –

 

One Small Square: Arctic Tundra

 

Temperate Woodland –

 

One Small Square: Woods

 

Grasslands –

 

One Small Square: African Savannah

 

Deserts –

 

One Small Square: Cactus Desert

Deserts, Simon

Picturepedia pages 34-35

Tropical Rain Forests –

 

One Small Square: Tropical Rainforests

 

Natural Resources: Energy –

 

Magic School Bus: Water and Electricity books? If not used previously….

 

Conservation –

 

Picturepedia pages 46-47

 

 

 

Stars and Planets – 18 weeks

 

Sections:

 

Cosmic Time and The Solar System – 9 weeks

(3 spreads week 1 and 2 spreads other 8 weeks, with experiments)

 

Beyond the Solar System – 1 week, three spreads, with exps.

 

The Stars – 3 weeks, 2 spreads per week, w/ exps.

 

Observing the Skies – 2 weeks, 2 spreads per week w/ exps.

 

Space Exploration – 3 weeks, 2 spreads per week w/ exps.

 

 

Extra reading listed by spread:

 

A Timescale of the Universe –

 

How to be a Space Scientist in Your own Home, Simon

The Universe

 

Beginnings –

 

Kids’ Science – experiments from sky section

Destination: Space, Simon

Our Solar System, Simon

Space Picturepedia pages 26-27

The Earth and Sky: A First Discovery Book (Scholastic)

 

 

The Sun –

 

Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System

The Sun, Simon

I Didn’t Know That the Sun is a Star

 

The Planets –

 

The Long Look Into Space, Simon

The Planets in our Solar System

Looking at the Planets

 

Mercury –

 

Mercury, Simon

 

Venus –

 

Venus, Simon

 

The Moon –

 

The Moon, Simon

The Moon Book

 

The Earth and the Moon –

 

Earth, Our Planet in Space, Simon

 

Mars –

 

Mars, Simon

 

Jupiter –

 

Destination, Jupiter

Jupiter, Simon

 

Saturn –

 

Saturn, Simon

 

Uranus –

 

Uranus, Simon

 

Neptune –

 

Neptune, Simon

 

Minor Planets and Meteoroids –

 

Comets, Meteors and Asteroids, Simon

 

Comets –

 

The Long Journey From Space, Simon

 

The Milky Way –

 

Eyewitness Explorer: Night Sky

One Small Square: Night Sky

Mysterious Lights and Other Cases, Simon

Night Sky Sticker Book (DK)

 

Clusters and Superclusters –

 

Galaxies, Simon

 

The Life of a Star –

 

Stars, Simon

Star Walk, Simon (poetry)

Stargazers

Do Stars Have Points?

 

Extraordinary Stars –

 

Stars: A new way to see Them, H.A. Rey

The Starry Sky

Picturepedia pages 40-41

Discovering the Stars

 

The Moving Sky –

 

Space Picturepedia pages 6-9

 

The Constellations –

 

Find the Constellations, H.A. Rey

Look to the Night Sky: An Introduction to Star Watching, Simon

 

Optical Astronomy –

 

Picturepedia pages 38-39

 

A Rocket to the Moon –

 

Can You Hear a Shout in Space?

I Didn’t Know That you can Jump Higher on the Moon

Picturepedia pages 10-11, 14-15, 22-25

Moonwalk: The First Trip to the Moon

 

Artificial Earth Satellites –

 

Picturepedia pages 18-21

 

Space Probes –

 

Space Sticker Book (DK)

 

Life in Space –

 

Picturepedia pages 12-13

 

Space Shuttles and Space Stations –

 

Picturepedia pages 16-17

 

The Future in Space –

 

Picturepedia pages 42-47

[asher]

:thumbup: Whoa, Regena! You gotta love this board!

[buttacol]

Thanks everyone. I am going to try the easy classical lesson plans next year, since I already have many of the listed books.

[Bambam]

with my 1st grade girl. She really enjoyed it. It is a gentle, full of interesting information, with a few really cool activities (making ice cream for the Pluto chapter - very cool!)

[nutmeg]

with my 1st grade girl. She really enjoyed it. It is a gentle, full of interesting information, with a few really cool activities (making ice cream for the Pluto chapter - very cool!)

We used this one with 4th and 2nd grade girls and had a great time with it.