................... Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 So I was at a convention this weekend and listened to Shirley Solis of Lifetime Books and Gifts (academic CMer). She is just a treasure! Anyway, I shared with her how I just dislike Science and she said she just uses Living books like Biogrpahies, or things like the Nature Readers, or Story of Inventions...and she uses the Handbook of Nature Study as a spine..but all in a relaxed way. Her oldest son started high school using Apilogia Amd he is doing great- and all they ever did was living books. I'm not a super driven academic WTMer...I'm kinda relaxed about it. So I'm Not concerned with being as academic "as possible" in this area. But I'd like to hear from those who have tried this, if it was stressful for you to always be on the lookout for more books...I'm already on the lookout for books for two kids, myself, and history...lol (I don't like Sonlight's books in this area..I really would prefer mostly bios and story books related to Science.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lexi Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 I would love a booklist that broke down living science books by topic. I hope someone has some ideas to share. We plan to do Apologia Astronomy in the fall with lots of library trips!!! You can never have too many books! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
................... Posted March 28, 2011 Author Share Posted March 28, 2011 ITA. I bought Apologia Botany for next year. I thunk that's a nice middle road between books and a textbook. But it's not living books. I would just love to find something for Science that I love as much as SOTW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homemama2 Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 When my oldest was in first grade we did the Let's Read and Find Out Science books (these would probably be fine for your youngest, although not your oldest.) My library had the whole series and we lined them up according to the WTM (animals, then human body, then plants). I think you can do this, but it would take planning so there wouldn't be gaps... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Critterfixer Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 I love The Story of Science Series by Joy Hakim. What is really nice is that it is chronological so that I can pick the individuals that I think I would like to know more about. And she does list original sources for many of the scientists. Her style was engaging for me. I stayed up well past midnight just to finish Newton in the Center because I couldn't put it down. The one thing about Hakim that I didn't like is that it was not as focused on the natural science of things, more about chemistry, physics, etc. I do agree about plenty of nature study for biology. I particularly liked the CM philosophy of studying the surrounding area and recording the plants, animals etc in that particular region. But I do wish there was more dissection, more experiments handy. Oh, well. More for me to research. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 My kids are only 8 and 5 but we read A LOT of living science books (plus a lot of living history and living math books). I don't find it stressful to search for books because I love researching stuff and so I enjoy it, but for someone who wasn't that interested in the work, I can see where it would be trickier. I seek out books in all kinds of ways (here, Mothering.com, homeschool blogs, barefoot books site, etc.) I usually read reviews on amazon, then if it sounds good, I order it from the library. Then I look at the "if you liked this book, you might like these also" area of amazon and end up adding another 30 books - going down dozens of rabbit holes that way. Same with if I like a book a lot, I'll look it up on amazon and see if the author has other books, or order others in a series, similar books, etc. It works so well for us! Oh, I just thought of some other places I get book ideas (and more rabbit holes), and I'm sure there are more also. - http://www.besthomeschooling.org - HEM Magazine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
my2boysteacher Posted March 28, 2011 Share Posted March 28, 2011 How about Beautiful Feet's History of Science? http://www.bfbooks.com/History-of-Science-Study-Guide Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto2Cs Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 A few more links... Science Book List: Paula's Archives Living Learning Science (a curriculum, but they have book lists) Living Books Curriculum (again, a curriculum but has book lists) Living Book List for Science Readable Science I am totally thinking of going this route! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalmia Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 There is a thread on the Accelerated Board with more suggestions for science/nature living books. The Living Year by Richard Headstrom (changes through the seasons) The Year of the Turtle by David M. Carroll Wild Season by Allan W. Eckert (narrative food chain--highly recommended but warning, bunnies get eaten!) The Edge of the Sea by Rachel Carson (marine ecology--rocky shore) Discovering Amphibians by John Himmelman Discovering Moths by John Himmelman The Our Living World of Nature series by McGraw-Hill: e.g. The Life of the Forest (Jack McCormick); The Life of the Pond; The Life of the Desert etc. (Good for in-depth biome/habitat study) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 Nice recommendations from the last two posters! I wonder if you all have similar living history and living math links as well? (and whatever else!!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybear Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 I believe there is a yahoo group for living science. It's late here now (should be heading to bed) but I can check it tomorrow. Also, off the top of my head: Archimedes and the Door of Science Galen and the Gateway to Medicine Starry Messenger and Tree of Life both by Peter Sis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Critterfixer Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 (edited) I once contacted Peace Hill Press about recommendations for science/medicine literature to add to my ever growing bucket list of books to read and they put me on to search Great Books lists. There are a number of them, but I don't know how many would be suitable for kids. Adaptations can be hard to find. I have enjoyed both The Librarian who Measured the Earth and Sea Clocks, which are reasonable reading for short attention spans. Sea Clocks is a really remarkable story. I also loved Starry Messenger. Out of curiosity, why is science such a sticking point? I find all sorts of great history, literature, reading, spelling, art, and writing curricula; yet science seems to be hard to come by. I realize that people have different opinions about the theory of evolution among other things; but that's simply the way science is. The whole background of science is people discovering things, their theories being debunked or built upon, new discoveries, more theories blown out of the water, old truths being rediscovered. Surely this is something that we should share with children, most especially the understanding that even great minds get it wrong sometimes. Edited March 29, 2011 by Critterfixer Late thoughts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GnomeyNewt Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 My DD loves Science, so we do a curriculum for science that has a lot of experiments, but we do a lot of living books too. Her grandma has been sending her this series Lets Read and Find Out Science (What Makes Day and Night, Forces Make Things Move, etc). She really enjoys these books. Here are some other Science series: Magic School Bus books/show (covers just about everything) One Small Square series (African Savannah, Arctic Tundra, Backyard, etc) All Aboard Science Reader series (Magnets, Lightning: It's Electrifying, etc) Math: A Math Adventure series (Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi,Sir Cumference and All the King's Tens, etc) Math Is Categorical series (How Long or How Wide?: A Measuring Guide, On the Scale, a Weighty Tale, etc) I know that Noeo Science has literature based science mixed with experiments and so does WinterPromise. I don't think these only have living books, but there are some there that you could use for suggestions. Also anything about Gnomes will teach a lot of science, such as tinkering and nature (actually that is mostly me, but works well for her). :) I will have to look up all of the above suggestions! I'm always looking for ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lifelearnin' Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 Simply Charlotte Mason has a great list of living science books too. Here's the link. http://simplycharlottemason.com/planning/scmguide/science/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
................... Posted March 29, 2011 Author Share Posted March 29, 2011 All of these suggestions were a great start. I will also look for the yahoo group. Love all the links, thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybear Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 Here is the link to the living science group. If you look in the files section, there are some great book lists. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LivingScience/?yguid=263780269 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuzor Posted March 29, 2011 Share Posted March 29, 2011 I will be making my way through these suggestions as well. Thanks ladies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnL Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 :lurk5: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsMe Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 You can also go to www.heartofdakota.com and look up their packages and see what they use for science. They use all living books; like Galen, One Small Square Series, Albert Einstein:Young Thinker, Pasteur's Fight Against Microbes, Birds of the Air, John Audubon, Thomas Edison, Pioneer Sampler, Wright Brothers, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momto2Cs Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Nice recommendations from the last two posters! I wonder if you all have similar living history and living math links as well? (and whatever else!!) History: Paula's Archives Living Books Curriculum: American, World A Book in Time Penny Gardner's A Charlotte Mason Approach... Sonlight Beautiful Feet TangleWood Ambleside Online Math: Math Reader Lists Math Classics Math Readers Building a Children's Math Library Living Math Booklist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy to monkeys Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 yesterday's classics has a great selection of living science books on a variety of topics. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ann@thebeach Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 I really like Penny Gardner's list and have used it a lot. The BF History of Science is next on our list now that both my oldest kids can do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birchbark Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 Thanks for all the lists! I recently acquired a copy of All Through the Ages (organized history booklists) which I love. As I was paging through it, I wondered if there was anything similar for science. So this thread is very helpful. We have done science pretty much exclusively through living books; in the early years just by stumbling on stuff, and more recently, through HoD. I am convinced it is the way to go for elementary years. My DS loves science and I am continually blown away by how much he knows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybear Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 (edited) Adding another link: http://charlottemason.tripod.com/elemsci.html http://charlottemason.tripod.com/hisci.html Plus, just browse around while you're there. Lots of lovely ideas. Edited May 1, 2011 by woolybear forgot something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 Ladies, thank you! These links and lists are so helpful! I recently was given the Milestones in Science kit and want to supplement it. Bedell and SOW cover science, but after finishing Genesis, my main curricula aren't providing enough material for me, and I'm wanting a bit more. I'm especially interested in biographies. When it comes to scientist biographies, middle school level is where I'm at :-0 And I'm okay with that :-) I'm aiming for scientific literacy, and middle school level materials are aimed towards that goal. I find high school and college level materials too specialized and non applicable to daily life. They bore me and often go right over my head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joysworld Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 I've requested 'Science Through Children's Literature' from the library. I'm anxiously awaiting for it!!! I really like the relaxed approach to science. We are just going to read books on different topics that I want us to cover, and we are in a projecty mood, we may do one, if not, then we won't. I'm off to look at the other books some have mentioned:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8filltheheart Posted May 1, 2011 Share Posted May 1, 2011 If you do a forum search under my name and science, you should find a lot of posts on this topic. It is the only way I teach science through late middle school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medieval Mom Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 I just found these lists from the NSTA. I haven't searched through all the books, but there are a great quantity found here! I can't vouch for whether the titles are living books, but it's worth researching :) Have fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helena Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 Great thread! My book list is growing. :001_smile: Here's another: How to Think Like a Scientist http://www.amazon.com/How-Think-Like-Scientist-Scientific/dp/0690045654 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagira Posted May 19, 2011 Share Posted May 19, 2011 A list of living books for Science I refer to often. http://www.redshift.com/~bonajo/sciencebooks.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MellowYellow Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 Great suggestions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairy4tmama Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 :lurk5:These are great lists! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oraetstudia Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 A useful book on the subject is Maureen Wittman's For the Literature. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0979760909/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 The NSTA list isn't officially out for 2012, but there is a sneak peak, if you download the pdf here: http://www.nsta.org/pdfs/2012OSTBList.pdf I love their book lists. I've gotten so many great ideas from their yearly lists. http://www.nsta.org/publications/ostb/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laughing lioness Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 Tiner has a series of books: The history of Medicine, The World of Math, etc. that are excellent. Don't forget MSB- simple but good, and Dvd's- Moody. Intro to Bio and Intro to Chem by Wes Olsen (he is marketing for high school but there's nothing younger kids can't handle) that are a great, visual intro to bio and chem. Both Moody and Olsen's stuff are young earth creationists. Reasons to Believe has some resources for kids here- old earth creationists. Mags: Science News, Nat'l Geo for kids, Ranger Rick, Nat'l Geo, etc. Web-sites: NOAA, NASA, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagira Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 Another list I refer to again and again - http://www.pennygardner.com/sciencebks.html Living books is a great way to study science! As of Monday, we are going to incorporate more of nature studies than we've been. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Legomom Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 (edited) Loving this thread! I have puts load of the recommended books on hold at the library and some on my Amazon wishlist. Right now I am really wanting to supplement our science with living books, so this has been great. Edited February 13, 2012 by Karen in Eastern WA typo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleIzumi Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 Has anyone mentioned the Max Axiom books yet? LOVE those!! Also the Vicki Cobb (I think) books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 Just this week, I grouped all my books by subject and was shocked to see how few science books I own, in comparison to the other subjects. Yes, I have several sets of encyclopedias and access to a great city library, and brain pop, and I haven't skimped monetarily on what I have bought...but the volume of what I have shocked me :-0 So now I have an excuse to buy more books :-) I'm just not sure what I want to focus on. I'm not going to buy books just to buy books, but I do want to balance my home library a bit, and look more to see what is out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicholas_mom Posted February 12, 2012 Share Posted February 12, 2012 :lurk5:Thank you ladies for wonderful thread. I wish we could have this as a sticky somewhere? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuzor Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 I have already reserved several of these titles at my local library. You ladies rock! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmichigan Posted February 13, 2012 Share Posted February 13, 2012 I'm not sure where I shared this before, maybe the logic stage subforum. This is the website I use. If you choice the grade level and what type of science you will get hundreds of book choices. You can narrow this by topic if you choose. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fairy4tmama Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 I'm not sure where I shared this before, maybe the logic stage subforum. This is the website I use. If you choice the grade level and what type of science you will get hundreds of book choices. You can narrow this by topic if you choose. This is awsome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4Kiddos Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 Here are some of the books we have and love: Book for younger ages: Jim Arnosky books- we especially like his Field Trips, Crinkleroot, and All About Books Fun with Nature and other Take Along Guides The Big Bug Book by Taylor and Green Flip Flap Body Book Moonfinder Science Through the Microscope Kingfisher Flying and Floating What is an Atom? by Gabriel Reuben- This is an older book but my kids really like it Snowflake Bentley How Ben Franklin Stole the Lightening What's Inside and See How They Grow series Eyewitness Science series- we like Light and Electricity Older ages: Handbook of Nature Studies The Wonders of Creation series Snowflake books by William Bentley Famous Firsts in Medicine by Crook Famous Men of Science by Bolton Giants of Invention by Tharp Landmark books about science/biographies- Wright Brothers, etc. "Immortals of Science" series Books of particular interest to my boys (i.e. we are in danger of wearing these out!): The New Way Things Work The Ultimate Book of Cross Sections Free Science Books We Have Enjoyed (Google or Homeschool Freebies): Little Busybodies The American Boys Book of Beetles, Bugs and Butterflies This is all that I can think of for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted February 14, 2012 Share Posted February 14, 2012 Paula's Archives has my lists posted but the link is to a broken GeoCities link someone created years ago. I have all my lists at my blog now (in my signature line).... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MellowYellow Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Great book suggestions, thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pgr Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 What an awesome thread - this is exactly what I have been looking for! Thank you! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunnyDays Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 Wow, these are incredible suggestions!! Thank you for all the great ideas. Science is an area that's easy for me to slack in, and I think these will be really helpful in beefing things up a bit!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybear Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 The NSTA list isn't officially out for 2012, but there is a sneak peak, if you download the pdf here:http://www.nsta.org/pdfs/2012OSTBList.pdf I love their book lists. I've gotten so many great ideas from their yearly lists. http://www.nsta.org/publications/ostb/ Great lists! I've never seen this before. Do you know if they have pages for the previous years that are laid out the way the sneak peak for 2012 is? I like seeing the book covers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted February 28, 2012 Share Posted February 28, 2012 Great lists! I've never seen this before. Do you know if they have pages for the previous years that are laid out the way the sneak peak for 2012 is? I like seeing the book covers. Not sure about that. I haven't seen it, but you might go digging around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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