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Prentice Hall Science Explorer series: How much written work do you require?


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I am looking at my PH science books, and they look great. But as I'm planning how best to use them (I don't have TM or anything else--just the books), I'm wondering how much the kids should write and how much I should allow them to do orally.

 

We use TOG and also teach a few languages, so I'd say our school days are pretty full, and adding in this much science work seems like it might push them over the edge of too much to do in a day. How do you work it? Do you play it by ear, or do you require certain sections to always be written, such as Checkpoints or Section Reviews, for example?

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My children are 12 and 9 and completely different learners so I expect a little different from each.

 

Visual kinestetic child (DD12) must read the chapter first, then go back and take notes. She answers the check point questions aloud to me during her second reading (while she is taking notes) and then she has to write the questions and answers to the Section Review questions.

 

Auditory child (DS9) reads the chapter aloud to me, answers check point questions aloud to me as he is reading. If he is having a hard time remember some info then he writes the answers to the section review in his notebook.

 

I give each of them a test after every chapter.

 

HTHs,

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My kids read the sections. Depending on what the age and the topic, I might have them write the bold faced word's definitions and draw and label some of the pictures. For example, my 8th grade dd is reading the human anatomy book right now. She has drawn several cells and labelled, etc.

 

We do the questions orally.

 

I don't test.

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I'm weak on science, and I'm probably overcompensating. :glare: It's easier than trying to get him to discuss it with me.

 

:lol: I feel the same way. Science is what often gets dropped if we get busy, although this year I am working hard to not let that happen, and I want to continue the trend as we move into PH for 6th grade.

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We are going to use the Guided Reading Workbook, and it looks very doable. If you wanted to do a bit less, you could consider the Adapted Guided Reading Workbook.

 

I bought the books used and haven't explored the website. I'm trying to go for maximum retention but not overload them with busy work, and I suppose I can't quite decide (by looking at the types of questions/activities) what is overload and what is essential and beneficial.

 

Thanks for the suggestion--I'll have a look and maybe it'll clear some things up for me.

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I think in the end I'll just have to start and see how it goes--it would be easy to add in extra things (or remove them) as needed. Science is about the only subject where I feel out of my comfort zone--I'd really rather just read about it and not worry about experiments or activities! :blink:

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Have you done many activities/experiments? I am looking at our Animals book, and to do them I'd have buy worms and things, but obviously I only need a few and not enough for a classroom. Any tips?

 

Sigh. Can't I just go back to the good old days of watching Magic School Bus videos for science?? :banghead:

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I'd really rather just read about it and not worry about experiments or activities! :blink:

 

Honestly, that is all you really have to do. My kids are all very "science smart." I can count on one hand the number of science experiments I have planned for my k-8 graders over the last 15 yrs.

 

Observation in nature is one thing we do all the time. Planned in the house science......never.

 

Hasn't hurt my kids one bit. Though I do have to say they do "play" science stuff on their own. (things like building potato guns, etc)

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I don't want to short-change them, and feel that I don't at all in other subjects. My dd is pressing me for more (and tougher) science--she is planning on a pre-med major and just the thought of all that science she needs is freaking me out. I'd much rather teach Latin or history or Greek or music or math or.....:tongue_smilie:

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Last year (fifth grade), we did science as a read aloud and ds orally answered the questions. We also did the labs, and made posters and diagrams (parts of the cell, etc.). And, we supplement with United Streaming videos, on average one video a week (they are 15-20 minutes long).

 

This year ds (12-6th grade) did the same AND started reading sections to himself and answering questions in writing, including the chapter end questions. He easily was able to complete a section a day. Once or twice a week, we read the sections together; those days he reads to himself we discuss the section after he's written the answers.

 

Next year, we'll do the same AND do the online quizzes AND start taking reading notes. Basically, each year we're working on new study skills to prepare for high school: reading for comprehension, writing complete short answers, test-taking, and note-taking.

 

At this pace, he completes 3-4 books a year. The labs have been simple to set up and quick to complete. He really likes them and they add a great deal to comprehension as well.

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*They* have done 2 I think experiments. :D I am NOT an experiments mom. They do what they can if they want to. I did buy a kit and had every intention of doing more experiments. It did not happen. I may let them loose on the kit over the summer and they have more knowledge under their belt. We are doing the bundled Physical Science book because they both wanted more Chemistry.

 

And we also do the workbook (forgot to mention that before). Day one is what I described previously and day 2 is the workbook. We get through 2 sections per week doing science 4 times a week.

 

HTHs

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*They* have done 2 I think experiments. :D I am NOT an experiments mom. They do what they can if they want to. I did buy a kit and had every intention of doing more experiments. It did not happen. I may let them loose on the kit over the summer and they have more knowledge under their belt. We are doing the bundled Physical Science book because they both wanted more Chemistry.

 

And we also do the workbook (forgot to mention that before). Day one is what I described previously and day 2 is the workbook. We get through 2 sections per week doing science 4 times a week.

 

HTHs

Okay, I think I'll just do the experiments if we have the stuff, but if it comes to ordering flatworms for 30 students, I'll pass. Thanks for giving me permission. ;)

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I'm not sure which experiments you're looking at, but at this time of year you might be able to find your own "supplies". If earthworms will do, dig them up. Or bait some ants for your own ant farm. A few years ago we covered a large jar with black construction paper which we took off a couple times a day to see what the ants were up to, and it was pretty cool.

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pricey but full of teacher & student resources for all of the books in the series. We only got 2 books done this year - at this rate I won't scratch the surface of the TE. Btw, I have a science background and before PH, science was the subject I was most likely to scrap in a pinch. The PH are so well written that even in those crazy weeks we're usually able to plow through a chapter.

Bells

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I think in the end I'll just have to start and see how it goes--it would be easy to add in extra things (or remove them) as needed. Science is about the only subject where I feel out of my comfort zone--I'd really rather just read about it and not worry about experiments or activities! :blink:

 

alternating reading it aloud. They discuss and orally go over the chapter questions. He did some of the Calvert School tests but has slacked off testing this yr. They do almost no PH experiments or activities. Science experiments and activities are driven by my dc themselves which may or not be connected to their current science studies (currently waiting for their praying mantis' to hatch).

 

Dh doesn't feel the need to do formal science experiments or activities in k-8.

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alternating reading it aloud. They discuss and orally go over the chapter questions. He did some of the Calvert School tests but has slacked off testing this yr. They do almost no PH experiments or activities. Science experiments and activities are driven by my dc themselves which may or not be connected to their current science studies (currently waiting for their praying mantis' to hatch).

 

Dh doesn't feel the need to do formal science experiments or activities in k-8.

 

I don't ever remember having many (if any) science experiments until I got to high school. But part of it is easing ME into the whole science/lab thing. On the other hand, I did go through my lesson plans yesterday for the first book and took a more realistic look at the experiments, which resulted in about half of the them being eliminated. The ones left over are easy to do, with household things (except the owl pellet dissection--my dh has been waiting for years to do this with the kids and I couldn't let him down.... :tongue_smilie:

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The owl pellets are so much fun and super easy for you if dh is doing it with them. Have you seen the blog that is doing the nature study stuff? Barb of Harmony Fine Arts (also does Sketch Tuesday) is leading nature studies based on Ann Comstock"s nature book at her blog Handbook of Nature Study. Since you are studying animals like worms, why not look over her blog for ideas on how to do it in nature without expensive tools.

 

HTHs,

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Have you done many activities/experiments? I am looking at our Animals book, and to do them I'd have buy worms and things, but obviously I only need a few and not enough for a classroom. Any tips?

 

Sigh. Can't I just go back to the good old days of watching Magic School Bus videos for science?? :banghead:

 

We're just finishing Animals, and one experiment my dd liked was the owl pellet lab. I had picked up a kit from one of our hs conventions a few years ago. I'm sure you could find a kit online.

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The owl pellets are so much fun and super easy for you if dh is doing it with them. Have you seen the blog that is doing the nature study stuff? Barb of Harmony Fine Arts (also does Sketch Tuesday) is leading nature studies based on Ann Comstock"s nature book at her blog Handbook of Nature Study. Since you are studying animals like worms, why not look over her blog for ideas on how to do it in nature without expensive tools.

 

HTHs,

I'll go check that out. Thanks for the tip! :001_smile:

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We used the guided study book to answer the questions. That was plenty. Occasionally, I would require a paper on a topic. The guided study book helps outline the chapters and learn basic key concepts! We love the series!

 

Would they work with earlier editions? My books are pretty old--2000.

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I don't ever remember having many (if any) science experiments until I got to high school. But part of it is easing ME into the whole science/lab thing. On the other hand, I did go through my lesson plans yesterday for the first book and took a more realistic look at the experiments, which resulted in about half of the them being eliminated. The ones left over are easy to do, with household things (except the owl pellet dissection--my dh has been waiting for years to do this with the kids and I couldn't let him down.... :tongue_smilie:

 

Science experiments can be a lot of fun or very frustrating. We've done some Delta, and Thames and Kosmos science kits over the years and enjoyed them.

 

Happy experimenting!

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I don't want to short-change them, and feel that I don't at all in other subjects. My dd is pressing me for more (and tougher) science--she is planning on a pre-med major and just the thought of all that science she needs is freaking me out. I'd much rather teach Latin or history or Greek or music or math or.....:tongue_smilie:

 

 

You know what? Most of the P-H chapter projects and such are student-driven. If you want lively teaching, rather than just read text/fill in questions, how about getting a compatable Science In a Nutshell kit? I am using P-H Inside Earth, and found Science In a Nutshell "Rock Origins" and "Changing Earth" go really well.

 

Of course, you can skip experiments and such, but I don't see any compelling reason to. They are fun and really liven things up. I would find reading a science book and answering questions alone forgettable and boring. We simply schedule hands-on science time one a week and buy kits to accomplish the hands-on time with little prep.

 

HTH!

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Would they work with earlier editions? My books are pretty old--2000.

 

You can go online and buy the $1.25 Interactive Textbook for the book you want to use. They will have all the Guided Reading and Enrichment worksheets on them. THey also have little video clips and interactive animations. The website says you can only order them with a Textbook purchase, but go right ahead and order them anyway. Prentice Hall will fill your Interactive Textbook order without any other purchase.

 

That's what I would do.

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You know what? Most of the P-H chapter projects and such are student-driven. If you want lively teaching, rather than just read text/fill in questions, how about getting a compatable Science In a Nutshell kit? I am using P-H Inside Earth, and found Science In a Nutshell "Rock Origins" and "Changing Earth" go really well.

 

Of course, you can skip experiments and such, but I don't see any compelling reason to. They are fun and really liven things up. I would find reading a science book and answering questions alone forgettable and boring. We simply schedule hands-on science time one a week and buy kits to accomplish the hands-on time with little prep.

 

HTH!

 

Thanks, Tami, and I agree with you. Actually, buying kits is about the only way experiments DO happen around here. I've never used the Nutshell kits, so it would be new to them.

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You can go online and buy the $1.25 Interactive Textbook for the book you want to use. They will have all the Guided Reading and Enrichment worksheets on them. THey also have little video clips and interactive animations. The website says you can only order them with a Textbook purchase, but go right ahead and order them anyway. Prentice Hall will fill your Interactive Textbook order without any other purchase.

 

That's what I would do.

So how does one get an "access code" to register for Success Net, which is where the website took me when I clicked on "Interactive Textbooks"?

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So how does one get an "access code" to register for Success Net, which is where the website took me when I clicked on "Interactive Textbooks"?

 

 

Just go to the "With Purchase, add Interactive Textbook"...(it is $1.25). Add it to your cart instead of clicking on it. You may have to go to the second page to find it.

 

HTH!

 

If you have trouble, let me know what book you are using and I will send you a link. THe website is hard to navigate.

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Just go to the "With Purchase, add Interactive Textbook"...(it is $1.25). Add it to your cart instead of clicking on it. You may have to go to the second page to find it.

 

HTH!

 

If you have trouble, let me know what book you are using and I will send you a link. THe website is hard to navigate.

 

Found it--thank you!!

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