serendipitous journey Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 My little one is awfully interested in astronomy, and the summer seems a good time to do this, but he's not quite 6 yet. Has anyone had luck with Apologia's Astronomy (Junior) for this age? I am not committed to the faith-based part of Apologia, it just gets such good reviews. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristinannie Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 I bought the RSO Earth and Space for my DS5 who wants to be a "spaceman." It is a great program for littles. Very hands on and lots of fun info! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest RecumbentHeart Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 Don't forget that you can pick up the Intellego Astronomy unit study (for K and up) free today from the Homeschool Buyers Co-Op Smartpoints Vendor Hall after picking up their 500 smartpoint giveaway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kchara Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 It might be a little much for him at that age. I haven't looked into the Junior Notebooks, so I'm not sure how in depth they go, so take it FWIW, but it does get rather in depth in many parts, and it would probably be overkill at his age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monalisa Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 it was too much for my 8yo dd. i dropped it and went to just library books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serendipitous journey Posted May 8, 2011 Author Share Posted May 8, 2011 I was afraid it would be too much for him, but it looks like fun ... sounds like it would be better saved for when he's older. I'll check out the recommendations given ... one resource we have loved which is more literary than scientific is Douglas Florian's "Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars" book of space poems. Any others that have hit the sweet spot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amie Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 Love these!!! http://www.amazon.com/Stars-H-Rey/dp/0547132808/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1304882815&sr=8-1 http://www.amazon.com/Find-Constellations-H-Rey/dp/054713178X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1304882815&sr=8-2 (this one especially) We like to check them out from the library periodically (many good libraries will have them). My son loved them even as a toddler. We may be a bit nerdy over here though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momtoccm Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 We're just finishing this up. I did it for my 5th and 2nd graders, but my kindergartener chose to participate every time. It was her favorite part of our school year. She really liked the projects. Some of it did go over her head and I sometimes had to stop and explain things in a simpler way, but she learned so much. I'm amazed by how much she's retained and can discuss. I did try to get some simpler books every week that were more interesting to her. We didn't do the notebooks; just some lapbook things that we're doing as a review. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXBeth Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 I was thinking about doing it with my DD (5.5) until I got to look at it in person this weekend. I think she could handle it as a tag-along with an older sibling, but since she's my oldest I'm waiting on it. It's VERY in depth with lots of vocabulary and lots of small words on each page. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 DK Eyewittness Space DVDs! Totally fab! Get him a pair of bionoculars and go look at the stars with a glow in the dark constellations book. I also second Real Science Odyssey Earth and Space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 DK Eyewittness Space DVDs! Totally fab! Get him a pair of bionoculars and go look at the stars with a glow in the dark constellations book. I also second Real Science Odyssey Earth and Space. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joysworld Posted May 8, 2011 Share Posted May 8, 2011 These are the books I'm using for our Space study this upcoming year. I think Apologia would be above her head. JMO. Mission to Mars (Lets Read and Find Out) What the Moon is Like (Lets Read and Find Out) The International Space Station (Lets Read and Find Out) The Sun: Our Nearest Star by Franklyn Mansfield Branley What the Moon Is Like by Franklyn Mansfield Branley Why Does the Elephant Need the Sun? by Robert E Wells The Moon Book by Gail Gibbons Is There Life in Outer Space (lets read and find out) The Planets in Our Solar System (Lets Read and Find out) The Big Dipper (Lets Read and Find Out) Eclipse: Darkness in Daytime (Lets Read and Find Out) The Moon Seems to Change (Lets Read and Find Out) Journey into a Black Hole (Lets Read and Find Out) The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System by Joanna Cole One Small Square, The Night Sky by Donald Silver Stars: All Aboard Science Reader Station Stop 1 by Jennifer Dussling Comets, stars, the Moon, and Mars : space poems and paintings by Douglas Florian The Planets by Gail Gibbons Galaxies by Gail Gibbons Star Gazers by Gail Gibbons If you Decide to Go to the Moon by Faith McNulty The Magic School Bus takes a Moon Walk Space Songs by Myra Cohn The Earth, Planet Number Three by Franklyn Mansfield Branley Magic School Bus Sees Stars Magic Bus: Out of this World The Nine Planets by Franklyn Mansfield Branley Can you Hear a Shout In Space by Melvin Berger Do Stars Have Point? by Melvin Berger Were Are the Stars During the Day by Melvin Berger Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serendipitous journey Posted May 9, 2011 Author Share Posted May 9, 2011 Thank you all for the insight & the resource suggestions -- and that extensive book list! several of which are current favorites, so I'll have to check out the rest. I've been avoiding Real Science for some reason (not a good one -- some subliminal dislike) but will head over there with an open mind. And my library did have the H.A. Rey books, so they're on request for us now ... thank you again! -- ana Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoVanGogh Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 I know most have said it would be too much for that age, but I wanted to chime in and say that my son loved it! We started the book in the fall before he turned 6 that winter, so - granted - he was closer to six. But it was, in no way, too much for him. It is going to depend so much on the child and the child's interests and abilities. I pulled the book off the shelf the other day, thinking about selling it and DS wanted to keep it and read again. When he opened it up he said, "Oh, yeah. I remember studying this book." And I know he retained the information, because we play an astronomy trivia game and he always beats me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TracyP Posted May 9, 2011 Share Posted May 9, 2011 I know most have said it would be too much for that age, but I wanted to chime in and say that my son loved it! We started the book in the fall before he turned 6 that winter, so - granted - he was closer to six. But it was, in no way, too much for him. It is going to depend so much on the child and the child's interests and abilities. I pulled the book off the shelf the other day, thinking about selling it and DS wanted to keep it and read again. When he opened it up he said, "Oh, yeah. I remember studying this book." And I know he retained the information, because we play an astronomy trivia game and he always beats me! :iagree: I am using it with a 7yo too but my 5.5 yo is the one who always wants to keep going. He has also retained surprisingly well. I believe that is because he had an interest and requested astronomy. It definitely depends on the child but maybe don't write it off completely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpidarkomama Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 My son was 5-1/2 when we started it, and he LOVES it (we're almost done now). He's retained virtually everything we've learned. I've had each of the kids (ages 4, 5, and 7) keep their own notebook (DS3 just hangs out). After we do the chapter as story time, we put the chapter questions on the board and discuss the answers. Then DD7 writes 4-5 sentences about the planet we learned about. DS5 dictates 3-4 sentences, and DD4 dictates 1-3 sentences. Then we do some kind of art project to make a picture of the planet. I've tried to make each project different and that has been a BLAST. So, I really think if they're really interested and very much into science, it's no problem at all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom@shiloh Posted May 10, 2011 Share Posted May 10, 2011 We did that book three years ago with children ages 3 -10. My 3, 4, and 6 year olds have retained quite a bit from that even though they were just listening in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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