acrosier Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 What are your favorite, must have, TOPS science kits and or books? I've been using BFSU for a year, but my D can't seem to get enough of science projects and I'm thinking of adding in more. Any thoughts? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acrosier Posted April 4, 2012 Author Share Posted April 4, 2012 Does anyone even use TOPS? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1bassoon Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 :hurray: Me! I use and LOVE TOPS!!! For a 9-year old, I'd say these three are "must-haves": Corn & Beans Radishes and Electricity I've had less success with magnetism. If you're comfortable with science, you could do Analysis if you're looking for chemistry. It's a little advanced, but you can probably explain it to her and help her with the concepts. Does that help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swainsonshawk Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 I do and I love them. This year we used Electricity and Magnetism. We really liked the Electricity one and were so-so with the Magnetism. We did not do every project in the book, but picked and chose which ones fit our course of study and time available. It was pretty easy to do. I did order some of the materials from the TOPS website because I didn't want to spend time driving around trying to find the material (tiny lightbulbs, the correct size wire, the right type of magnets, etc.) I also like AIMS materials, if you've seen them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thowell Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 I just ordered 3 of them for dd11 to use next year in her study of Chemistry. I hope they are as good as they look. What else do you all use with them or are they enough? I know Ruth suggested Reader's Digest and I have that in my shopping cart. I am also considering World of Science by Master Books as a Christian reference book. Hope to be able to use theses in a WTM science set up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
acrosier Posted April 5, 2012 Author Share Posted April 5, 2012 Thank you, I hadn't even looked at corns and beans or radishes! Electricity is near the top of my too long want list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted April 5, 2012 Share Posted April 5, 2012 I am a big TOPS science fan! I have used them more with my logic stage kid, but lentil science was a big hit. I will be using Math Lab and Probability as a big chunk of our 7th grade math. For 5th grade life science we used the radish unit. I really regret not doing the one on animal camouflage. I didn't use any this year for our 6th grade earth and space science year. We are using CPO science and it is very hands on. I didn't need to add anything else. Well, as we near the end of the year I am wishing I had added in the Rocks and Minerals unit...oh, and maybe Earth, Moon and Sun. See, I always regret it when we don't use TOPS. Next year will be 7th grade chemistry and we will be def. using TOPS. I have cohesion and oxidation and I might get one more. For 8th grade physical science I will prob be using CPO science again, but I am going to add in TOPS units where ever I can. CPO physical science isn't very homeschool friendly and I know I can count on TOPS to help me out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa B Posted April 5, 2012 Share Posted April 5, 2012 I am using Sound and Rocks & Minerals this coming year with dd 12. I am considering the Lentil program for dd 8 and ds 6 as well. I had it for the older two girls when they were about the same age several years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thowell Posted April 5, 2012 Share Posted April 5, 2012 I am a big TOPS science fan! I have used them more with my logic stage kid, but lentil science was a big hit. I will be using Math Lab and Probability as a big chunk of our 7th grade math. For 5th grade life science we used the radish unit. I really regret not doing the one on animal camouflage. I didn't use any this year for our 6th grade earth and space science year. We are using CPO science and it is very hands on. I didn't need to add anything else. Well, as we near the end of the year I am wishing I had added in the Rocks and Minerals unit...oh, and maybe Earth, Moon and Sun. See, I always regret it when we don't use TOPS. Next year will be 7th grade chemistry and we will be def. using TOPS. I have cohesion and oxidation and I might get one more. For 8th grade physical science I will prob be using CPO science again, but I am going to add in TOPS units where ever I can. CPO physical science isn't very homeschool friendly and I know I can count on TOPS to help me out. What books are you going to use with the TOPS units for your 7th grade Chemistry? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted April 5, 2012 Share Posted April 5, 2012 (edited) I can only give you my review of the 7th-12th grade level TOPS (which I would NOT use with students younger than the stated age, BTW), since that is what we have used and I am familiar with. From past threads on TOPS, I have heard people say the elementary aged ones of Lentils; Corn & Beans; Radishes; and Electricity (gr. 3-8) were all good. For a 9yo, have you looked at the Science in a Nutshell kits, or the Idea Factory Force & Fotion kit? (No personal experience with those). We liked a number of the Educational Insights Adventures in Science kits, and, of course, the Wild Goose 3-in-1 kits are great at that age. We also enjoyed: - Science With Magnets (an Usborne book and kit) - Science with Light and Mirrors (an Usborne book and kit) - Gears & Pulleys kit (co-developed by the Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago) I really like these books: quick, simple experiments in all the areas of science (life/earth/chemistry/physics) that really work, with stuff you really do have at home -- you could EASILY do 1-2 experiments a day with these books! - "365 Super Science Experiments with Everyday Materials" (by Churchill, Loeschnig, and Mandel) - "365 More Simple Science Experiments with Everyday Materials" (by Breckenridge, Fredericks, and Loeschnig) Not familiar with this one, but it looks great: Science in Seconds. Hope something there is of help! Warmest regards, Lori D. ETA -- because I know someone will ask about what TOPS are worthwhile for middle school: - Rocks and Minerals (be sure to get the accompanying kit!) -- great for grade 6+ - Analysis (be sure to get the accompanying kit!) -- great for grade 7+ - Solutions (be sure to get the accompanying kit!) -- great for grade 7+ - Heat -- great for grade 7+ (BUT, be aware that the last half dozen experiments get into calculating calories, a high school level concept) - Oxidation -- great for high school (too much of it requires high school level concepts) - Cohesion and Adhesion -- great for grade 6+ - Motion -- great for grade 6+ - Focus Pocus -- great for grade 6+ I do NOT recommend the following TOPS units: - Pressure & Buoyancy (too many experiments didn't work) - Kinetic Model (too many experiments didn't work) - Sound (required expensive equipment; some experiments didn't work) - Light (too many experiments were not reproducible) No experience with these high school level TOPS, so can't comment: - pendulums - weighing - balancing - floating & sinking - electricity - magnetism Edited April 6, 2012 by Lori D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cschnee Posted April 6, 2012 Share Posted April 6, 2012 Electricity (#32 I think there are 2 of them) is excellent. Corn and beans too. Metric measuring was fabulouxs as well, we did it along side Life of Fred Decimals and Percents. Weighing was fidgety; we were trying to use the scale to do the Density book, but it didn't work well. Density is good though. Get a Grip and Intermediate Lentil Science are also great, though Lentil contains all of Get a Grip; wish I hadn't bought both. Balancing is good too. Pendulums was fussy too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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