plain jane Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 I'm having a difficult time wading through everything that's out there and am hoping the Hive can help me. I need a list of any and all curriculum, books, textbooks, etc. that would be suitable for a grade 6 student for a year of Earth Science and Astronomy. I'm looking for fairly rigorous but not over her head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 Well, I can't give you a list, but we are using CPO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewelma Posted March 2, 2012 Share Posted March 2, 2012 We have successfully used these books for 6th grade level earth science. They are not textbooks, but have really nice explanations which are appropriately difficult and detailed. The Ocean book in particular is beautiful. For Oceanography: Ocean http://www.amazon.com/Ocean-American-Museum-Natural-History/dp/0756636922/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330729099&sr=8-1 For geology: Eyewitness Earth http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Eyewitness-Books-Susanna-Rose/dp/0756610699/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330729126&sr=1-1 For Astronomy: The Way the Universe Works http://www.amazon.com/Universe-Works-Science-Jayne-Parsons/dp/140531687X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330729156&sr=1-1 For meteorology: haven't gone looking yet, sorry Ruth in NZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillehei Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 We like Science Fusion. It has a worktext and digital program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedgehog Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 My 6th grader is using Apologia Astronomy with the Notebook. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TKDmom Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 :lurk5: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freesia Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 We use Prentice Hall Science Explorer Earth Science. It has astronomy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spetzi Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 We just started CPO Earth Science. I dl the text and lab book. I also am utilizing Janice Van Cleave's Earth Science for Every Kid to fill in where the CPO labs were too much (some of their equipment is very nice and $$). It's been very good so far! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ummto4 Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 We have successfully used these books for 6th grade level earth science. They are not textbooks, but have really nice explanations which are appropriately difficult and detailed. The Ocean book in particular is beautiful. For Oceanography: Ocean http://www.amazon.com/Ocean-American-Museum-Natural-History/dp/0756636922/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330729099&sr=8-1 For geology: Eyewitness Earth http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Eyewitness-Books-Susanna-Rose/dp/0756610699/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330729126&sr=1-1 For Astronomy: The Way the Universe Works http://www.amazon.com/Universe-Works-Science-Jayne-Parsons/dp/140531687X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330729156&sr=1-1 For meteorology: haven't gone looking yet, sorry Ruth in NZ Are they sufficiently easy for an average 5th-6th grade boy ? Which one is the simplest ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewelma Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Are they sufficiently easy for an average 5th-6th grade boy ? Which one is the simplest Possibly, but it would depend on his reading level. I was aiming for "rigorous but not over her head" for a 6th grader. Although the geology and astronomy book were at the perfect level, we are currently using the Ocean book and are finding it much more difficult than the other two. It is a very good and interesting book, but more of a sit on the sofa and do together type of book. Here are some examples chosen at random. From Earth: Metamorphic rocks are rocks that have been changed. Previously, they were igneous, sedimentary, or other metamorphic rocks. Almost all metamorphism happens deep in a young mountain ranges as rocks are folded and compressed underneath other rocks. Although rock never actually melts, the texture and nature of the rock may become like new, made of different, metamorphic crystals, with no sign of the original mineral or textures. Par of this occurs in response to pressure, and part is the result of heat..... From Ocean: An ice shelf is a huge floating ice platform formed where a glacier, or group of glaciers extends from a continental ice sheet over the sea. The landward side of an ice shelf is fixed to the shore, where there is a continuous inflow of ice from glaciers or ice streams that flow down from the ice sheet. At its front edge there is usually an ice cliff, from which massive chunks of ice break off (calve) periodically, forming icebergs. Ice shelves are almost entirely an Antarctic phenomenon, with only a few small ones in the Arctic.... Don't have the astronomy book here, sorry. We finished both the Earth and Astronomy book in about 8 weeks each. The Ocean book we will read what we are interested in and then move on. (It is 500 pages, with absolutely beautiful pictures!!) The ocean environments section (where the quote above is from) is much easier than the ocean geology, climate, and wave section. But with 500 pages there is plenty to choose from. HTH Ruth in NZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcjlkplus3 Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 Well, I can't give you a list, but we are using CPO. I keep seeing this listed and I have no idea what it is - will you please enlighten the uninformed? I'm looking for something for 6th grade next year also (we did R.E.A.L. Science Earth and Space in 2nd grade and will probably be using it for the younger two for 2nd and 4th next year since I already have it.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverMoon Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 (edited) . Edited September 16, 2023 by SilverMoon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oraetstudia Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 Elemental Science just came out with their logic stage Earth science. I think I am going to do Holt Earth Science with Kolbe Academy's lesson plans. They say 7th grade, but I imagine a 6th grader would probably be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcjlkplus3 Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 We have successfully used these books for 6th grade level earth science. They are not textbooks, but have really nice explanations which are appropriately difficult and detailed. The Ocean book in particular is beautiful. For Oceanography: Ocean http://www.amazon.com/Ocean-American-Museum-Natural-History/dp/0756636922/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330729099&sr=8-1 For geology: Eyewitness Earth http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Eyewitness-Books-Susanna-Rose/dp/0756610699/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330729126&sr=1-1 For Astronomy: The Way the Universe Works http://www.amazon.com/Universe-Works-Science-Jayne-Parsons/dp/140531687X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330729156&sr=1-1 For meteorology: haven't gone looking yet, sorry Ruth in NZ Did you these to do science like is suggested in the WTM for the logic stage? How did you decide what needed to be covered,or did you go throught the whole book (geology - I know you said you aren't doing the whole book for oceanography)? My daughter is VERY interested in astronomy (the only science she actually likes), do you think the astronomy book would work for a complete 16-18 week semester, or would I need something additional? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnointedHsMom Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 My 6th grader is using BJU 6th Science and it has a lot of earth science and astronomy in it. Also as someone else said you could look at the 7th grade book too. I feel like BJU is very rigorous though so I would be cautious about moving up a level unless the child is strong. We use the Distance Learning classes too and maybe that is what makes it more rigorous though. HTH, Paige Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 I keep seeing this listed and I have no idea what it is - will you please enlighten the uninformed? CPO is a publisher of science textbooks. If you do a search of the boards you will find many threads with more information. There is also http://www.cposcience.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
love2read Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 We're just finishing up CPO Earth Science and it's been a great experience. It's rigorous, includes lots of hands on activities, challenging thinking problems, and discussion questions. We've used so many science books over the years that I was hesitant to buy yet another set of books, but I'm so glad that I did. Last year a mom blogged her experience with it, including how she modified the labs. http://nowisthebesttimeofourlives.blogspot.com/ There is a shortened textbook free online (we bought the full book and teacher's guide) and the investigations are free online here http://www.cpo.com/home/ForEducators/MiddleSchoolEarthScience/tabid/261/Default.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewelma Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Did you these to do science like is suggested in the WTM for the logic stage? We don't really do WTM science. We don't outline, we don't write reports, and we don't do weekly experiments/demos. What we do is READ, and then we discuss. We watch documentaries and then we discuss. My dh and I pay attention to science in the news and then we discuss. Then, we do a large scientific investigation for 2 months after we have studied the topic for 7 months. I am writing up our current investigation here: http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=361740 How did you decide what needed to be covered,or did you go throught the whole book (geology - I know you said you aren't doing the whole book for oceanography)? For survey books like the geology and astronomy books, my ds read everything. These books are not incredibly long, but each spread is a different topic, so when a topic interested him, we would go to the library and get more books out. So for astronomy, when he read the spread on the moon, we got out more books on the moon. We also do some cool internet surfing. Because the oceanography book is so fat, we decided to cover the general material in the beginning (plate tectonics, spreading ridges, currents) and then pick areas of interest. He chose the Arctic and Antarctic regions to focus on. When we finish that material, if there is still time, we will pick another region of interest. My daughter is VERY interested in astronomy (the only science she actually likes), do you think the astronomy book would work for a complete 16-18 week semester, or would I need something additional? It is a wonderful survey of all the topics in Astronomy, which you could definitely stretch out for 16-18 weeks, but you would want to go to the library and get out additional books on topics of interest to have enough to read for that length of time. Also, we find that good documentaries really help to solidify the material in their heads. HTH Ruth in NZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcjlkplus3 Posted March 31, 2012 Share Posted March 31, 2012 We don't really do WTM science. We don't outline, we don't write reports, and we don't do weekly experiments/demos. What we do is READ, and then we discuss. We watch documentaries and then we discuss. My dh and I pay attention to science in the news and then we discuss. Then, we do a large scientific investigation for 2 months after we have studied the topic for 7 months. I am writing up our current investigation here: http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=361740 For survey books like the geology and astronomy books, my ds read everything. These books are not incredibly long, but each spread is a different topic, so when a topic interested him, we would go to the library and get more books out. So for astronomy, when he read the spread on the moon, we got out more books on the moon. We also do some cool internet surfing. Because the oceanography book is so fat, we decided to cover the general material in the beginning (plate tectonics, spreading ridges, currents) and then pick areas of interest. He chose the Arctic and Antarctic regions to focus on. When we finish that material, if there is still time, we will pick another region of interest. It is a wonderful survey of all the topics in Astronomy, which you could definitely stretch out for 16-18 weeks, but you would want to go to the library and get out additional books on topics of interest to have enough to read for that length of time. Also, we find that good documentaries really help to solidify the material in their heads. HTH Ruth in NZ Thank you! you have been very helpful :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Create Your Ritual Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Ruth, we are headed into 6th Grade Earth Science studies for next year. Could you share what documentaries you used over the past year? I would love to look into adding them, but I am never certain of what has value and what doesn't. Thanks so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arch at Home Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 We also used Prentice Hall. It a good basic text. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haiku Posted April 11, 2012 Share Posted April 11, 2012 Holt has their Science and Technology Short Course books. There are Inside the Restless Earth, Earth's Changing Surface, and Water on Earth. Tara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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