LAR Posted July 31, 2012 Share Posted July 31, 2012 HBC has Science Fusion on sale in August. I'd like to buy grades 2 and 4, but am having a tough time finding a solid review. Anyone using it? I welcome any comments, pros/cons. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LAR Posted August 1, 2012 Author Share Posted August 1, 2012 No users out there? Hmm. Maybe I should spend my cash elsewhere. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetandSimple Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 We're going to use grade 4 this year, but we don't start until August 22nd. I have done most of the lesson planning, though, so I'm pretty familiar with it. So far, it looks good. There is a LOT of content. The book is huge, and there is a lot of online content also. There are also a lot of experiments. Honestly, the lesson planning was harder than I thought it would be... there is so much to wade through. I planned 175 lessons and still had to leave things out...I only selected the experiments that looked the most fun. This isn't polished, but here is our rough-draft plan: (see next post) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetandSimple Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 1. Unit 1, Lesson 1 (Watch Digital Lesson and Complete Book pages 1-13) 2. Unit 1, Lesson 1 Review (Book pages 14-16) 3. Unit 1, Lesson 1 Quiz 4. Unit 1, Lesson 2 (Watch Digital Lesson and Complete Book pages 17-23) 5. Pendulum swing 6. Unit 1, Lesson 2 Review (pages 24-26) 7. Pantry Investigation 8. Unit 1, Lesson 2 Quiz 9. Unit 1, Lesson 3 (Watch Digital Lesson and Complete Book pages 27-37) 10. Unit 1, Lesson 3 Review (pages 38-40) 11. Unit 1, Lesson 3 Quiz 12. Unit 1, Lesson 4 Virtual Lab (complete on computer and record results on lab sheets) 13. Unit 1, Lesson 4 Quiz and Read book p. 43-44 14. Unit 1, Lesson 5 (Watch digital Lesson and complete pages 45-51) 15. Unit 1, Lesson 5 Review (pages 52-54) 16. Unit 1 less 5 quiz 17. Unit 1 , Lesson 6 Virtual Lab (complete on computer and record results on lab sheets) and lesson 6 quiz 18. Unit 2, Lesson 1 Watch lesson, then complete p. 61-71 19. Unit 2, Lesson 1 Review p. 72-76 20. Unit 2, Lesson 1 Quiz 21. Unit 2, Lesson 2—Watch Virtual Lab and record results 22. Unit 2 Lesson 2 Egg Experiment, book p. 77-78 23. Unit 2, Lesson 2 Quiz 24. Unit 2, Lesson 3 (Watch Lesson and complete p. 79-89) 25. Unit 2, Lesson 3 Review p. 90-92 26. Unit 2, Lesson 3 Quiz 27. Unit 2, Lesson 4 Virtual Lab and record results 28. Read and Complete p. 95-96 and Unit 2, Lesson 4 quiz 29. Video-Based Project-- airplanes 30. Unit 3, Lesson 1 (Watch lesson, then complete p. 101-111) 31. Celery project 32. Unit 3, Lesson 1 Review p. 112-114 33. Unit 3, Lesson 1 Quiz 34. STEM p. 115-116 35. Unit 3, Lesson 2—watch online, complete p. 117-127 36. Unit 3, Lesson 2 Review p. 128-132 37. Unit 3, Lesson 2 Quiz 38. Unit 3, Lesson 3 Virtual lab 39. Unit 3, Lesson 3 Quiz 40. Unit 3, Lesson 4 (watch lesson and complete p. 135-145) 41. Unit 3, Lesson 4 Review p. 146-148 42. Unit 3 Lesson 4 Quiz 43. Careers p. 149-150 44. Unit 3, Lesson 5- watch online, complete p. 151-161 45. Cold as ice Experiment 46. Review p. 162-164 47. Unit 3, Lesson 5 quiz 48. Bird beaks experiment 49. Unit 3, Lesson 6 virtual lab and results 50. Lesson 6 quiz 51. Video project—alligators up close 52. Unit 4, Lesson 1—watch, complete p.171-183 53. Unit 4, lesson 1 review p. 184-186 54. Review p. 187-188 and lesson 1 quiz 55. Unit 4, Lesson 2 watch, complete p. 189-199 56. Unit 4 lesson 2 review p. 200-204 57. Unit 4 lesson 2 quiz 58. Unit 4 lesson 3 virtual lab—record results 59. Unit 4 lesson 3 quiz 60. Unit 4 lesson 4—watch, complete p. 207-217 61. Unit 4 lesson 4 review p. 218-220 62. Unit 4 lesson 4 quiz 63. Unit 4, lesson 5—watch, read p. 221-22 64. Acid rain experiment set-up 65. Unit 4 lesson 5 review p. 230-232 66. Unit 4 lesson 5 quiz 67. Unit 4 lesson 6 virtual lab 68. Unit 4 lesson 6 quiz 69. Read p. 235-238 70. Rainforest video project 71. Acid rain results write-up 72. Unit 5, lesson 1 watch, then do p. 243-253 73. Lesson 1 review p. 254-256 74. Lesson 1 review p. 257-258 75. Lesson 1 quiz (continued below) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetandSimple Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 76. Lesson 2—watch, read p. 259-269 77. Lesson 2 review p. 270-272 78. Lesson 2 quiz 79. Lesson 3—watch, p. 273-281 80. Lesson 3 review—p. 282-284 81. Lesson 3 quiz 82. Stem p. 285-286 83. Lesson 4 virtual lab and results 84. Lesson 4 quiz 85. People p. 289-290 86. Unit 6, lesson 1—watch, p. 307 87. Unit 6, lesson 1 review p. 308-309 88. Review, p. 310-312 89. Unit 6 lesson 1 quiz 90. People, p. 313-4 91. Lesson 2- watch, p. 315-320 92. Review p. 322-324 93. Lesson 2 quiz 94. Lesson 3 virtual lab 95. Lesson 3 quiz 96. Lesson 4—watch, then pages 327-337 97. Review, p. 338-340 98. Lesson 4 quiz 99. Stem p. 341-342 100. Lesson 5 virtual lab 101. Lesson 5 quiz 102. Unit 7, lesson 1—watch, then p. 361 103. Lesson 1 review, p. 362-364 104. Lesson 1 review, p. 365-366 105. Measuring liquids experiment 106. Lesson 1 quiz 107. Lesson 2 virtual lab 108. Lesson 2 quiz 109. Careers p. 369-370 110. Lesson 3 virtual lab 111. Lesson 3 quiz 112. Lesson 4- watch, p. 373-379 113. Lesson 4 review, p. 380-382 114. Lesson 4 quiz 115. Stem p. 383-384 116. Unit 8, lesson 1—watch, p. 389-99 117. Lesson 1 review, p. 400-402 118. Lesson 1 quiz 119. Lesson 2 virtual lab 120. Solutions experiment, p. 403 121. Lesson 2 quiz 122. Lesson 3—watch, p. 405-413 123. Lesson 3 review, p. 414-416 124. Kitchen chemistry experiment 125. Lesson 3 quiz 126. Stem p. 417-418 127. Lesson 4 virtual lab 128. Lesson 4 quiz 129. People p. 421-2 130. Unit 9, Lesson 1—watch, p. 427-439 131. Lesson 1 review p. 440-442 132. Review p. 443-444 133. Lesson 1 quiz 134. Lesson 2 virtual lab 135. Lesson 2 quiz 136. Lesson 3, watch, p. 447-453 137. Lesson 3 review p. 454-458 138. Lesson 3 quiz 139. Lesson 4 virtual lab 140. Lesson 4 quiz 141. Careers p. 461-2 142. Lesson 5 – watch, p. 463-469 143. Lesson 5 review, p. 470-472 144. Lesson 5 quiz 145. Conductors experiment 146. Lesson 6 virtual lab 147. Lesson 6 quiz 148. Stem p. 475-6 149. Unit 10, lesson 1—watch, then p. 491 150. Lesson 1 review p. 492-4 151. Cereal experiment 152. Lesson 1 review p. 495-6 153. Lesson 1 quiz 154. Lesson 2 virtual lab 155. Balloon experiment p. 497 156. Lesson 2 quiz 157. Electric experiment p. 499 158. Lesson 3 virtual lab 159. Lesson 3 quiz 160. Lesson 4- watch, p. 501-509 161. Lesson 4 review p. 510-514 162. Lesson 4 quiz 163. Careers, p. 516 164. Lesson 5- watch p. 517-525 165. Build an electromagnet experiment 166. Lesson 5 review, p. 527-528 167. Lesson 5 quiz 168. Stem p. 529-530 169. Unit 11, lesson 1 watch—p. 535-546 170. Unit 11 review p. 548-550 171. Unit 11 review p. 551-552 172. Unit 11, lesson 1 quiz 173. Lesson 2 virtual lab 174. Unit 11, lesson 2 quiz 175. Careers/stem p. 555-558 Let me know if you have any questions that I can answer. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomandlorih Posted August 1, 2012 Share Posted August 1, 2012 Not a user but remembered seeing it on the Free Homeschooling thread..here.. http://cenes.pasco.k12.fl.us/?page_id=200 Of course.. it may not be there for the whole school year and then you would have missed it on HSBC.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LAinVA Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 We're going to use grade 4 this year, but we don't start until August 22nd. I have done most of the lesson planning, though, so I'm pretty familiar with it. So far, it looks good. There is a LOT of content. The book is huge, and there is a lot of online content also. There are also a lot of experiments. Honestly, the lesson planning was harder than I thought it would be... there is so much to wade through. I planned 175 lessons and still had to leave things out...I only selected the experiments that looked the most fun. This isn't polished, but here is our rough-draft plan: (see next post) I just started getting into ScienceFusion (3rd grade)that I purchased the last HSBC sale. I've got the teacher/student set up with logins; but I can't figure out how to assign a lesson. So say you want to assign the digital lesson 1; how did you go about doing it? I went through the lesson on the teacher edition and I am very pleased with how everything looks. The worktext is as much as a full textbook in PS. I was going to follow both the digital and parts of the text path. I just need to figure out how to get the assignments to show up. BTW, your schedule looks great!:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momma4Boys Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 :bigear: anyone else? I am considering this as well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyofsixreboot Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 We've got grade 5 my 3rd and 6th grader will work through in a " do the next thing" way. We don't start school for a couple weeks so I don't know if I'll need to beef things up for 6th grader or cut back for 3rd grader. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaxonHomeschool Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 I just started getting into ScienceFusion (3rd grade)that I purchased the last HSBC sale. I've got the teacher/student set up with logins; but I can't figure out how to assign a lesson. So say you want to assign the digital lesson 1; how did you go about doing it? I went through the lesson on the teacher edition and I am very pleased with how everything looks. The worktext is as much as a full textbook in PS. I was going to follow both the digital and parts of the text path. I just need to figure out how to get the assignments to show up. BTW, your schedule looks great!:001_smile: In the teacher edition, if you click on a unit and lesson that you want to assign, the Lesson Level Resources will show up on the right side of the screen. Click on Lesson Student Resources, and check the box under Assign for any resources you want to assign. Then click the "A" button and you will be taken to a page where you can name the assignment, select student(s), and select an availability and due date. Thanks--I hope this helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LAinVA Posted August 8, 2012 Share Posted August 8, 2012 In the teacher edition, if you click on a unit and lesson that you want to assign, the Lesson Level Resources will show up on the right side of the screen. Click on Lesson Student Resources, and check the box under Assign for any resources you want to assign. Then click the "A" button and you will be taken to a page where you can name the assignment, select student(s), and select an availability and due date. Thanks--I hope this helps! I wasn't totally crazy! I called and there was some sort of glitch that they have to fix. They tried it on their side and it didn't work either. I was feeling pretty inept before I called them! Thank you though for getting back with me. Can't wait to start planning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AimeeM Posted August 8, 2012 Share Posted August 8, 2012 Would this program work well for a visual learner who very much enjoys science? She would be using the middle school modules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth in SW WA Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 In the teacher edition, if you click on a unit and lesson that you want to assign, the Lesson Level Resources will show up on the right side of the screen. Click on Lesson Student Resources, and check the box under Assign for any resources you want to assign. Then click the "A" button and you will be taken to a page where you can name the assignment, select student(s), and select an availability and due date. Thanks--I hope this helps! I should have read this before spending an hour on the phone with tech support (in India) today. He couldn't help me assign the lessons. Now I see how to do it based on your instructions. And it works. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth in SW WA Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 Would this program work well for a visual learner who very much enjoys science? She would be using the middle school modules. I will know more after we get going. The middle school modules are very meaty. The student text/workbooks are excellent. Did you try the sample? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AimeeM Posted August 15, 2012 Share Posted August 15, 2012 I will know more after we get going. The middle school modules are very meaty. The student text/workbooks are excellent. Did you try the sample? Yes and it looks great. I am, however, concerned with a few posts I've read about how difficult it can be to implement. Please let me know how it goes for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth in SW WA Posted August 16, 2012 Share Posted August 16, 2012 (edited) Yes and it looks great. I am, however, concerned with a few posts I've read about how difficult it can be to implement. Please let me know how it goes for you. It's over 100 degrees here today so we're cooped up inside. Seemed like a good day to start with Module A: Cells & Heredity. We watched the student interactive portion. We then read a few pages of the first chapter (along with the audio portion), stopping to fill in the blanks and discuss, make diagrams, etc. This will be our routine and it fits with her learning style. It's a nice blend of computer, audio/visual, workbook, discussion. I'm not going to 'make assignments' on the website since we'll be doing the program together. We won't be doing the tests but will do the unit quizes. I'm still searching the depths of teacher resources for the answers to the workbook pages. Calling customer service tomorrow. I'm sure it's right in front of me but I don't see it. :tongue_smilie: ETA: I found the answers to the workbook pages. Right where they are supposed to be. :) The content is very through for a young student. I don't expect dd to master/memorize all the vocab and content. The feel of this first module reminds me of Biology: Exploring Life by Campbell which I own. HTH! Edited August 17, 2012 by Beth in SW WA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AimeeM Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 It's over 100 degrees here today so we're cooped up inside. Seemed like a good day to start with Module A: Cells & Heredity. We watched the student interactive portion. We then read a few pages of the first chapter (along with the audio portion), stopping to fill in the blanks and discuss, make diagrams, etc. This will be our routine and it fits with her learning style. It's a nice blend of computer, audio/visual, workbook, discussion. I'm not going to 'make assignments' on the website since we'll be doing the program together. We won't be doing the tests but will do the unit quizes. I'm still searching the depths of teacher resources for the answers to the workbook pages. Calling customer service tomorrow. I'm sure it's right in front of me but I don't see it. :tongue_smilie: ETA: I found the answers to the workbook pages. Right where they are supposed to be. :) The content is very through for a young student. I don't expect dd to master/memorize all the vocab and content. The feel of this first module reminds me of Biology: Exploring Life by Campbell which I own. HTH! We were looking at the Cells and Heredity - is it as child friendly and "cool" (as Autumn put it) as the sample lesson? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth in SW WA Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 We were looking at the Cells and Heredity - is it as child friendly and "cool" (as Autumn put it) as the sample lesson? I think so. I would wait unti HSBC has another sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syllieann Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 It looks really neat but I'm turned off by how difficult it is to view samples. I also don't understand how you use it w/ a 2nd child. Can you purchase an additional year of online support or would you need to purchase an entirely new set? It's very unclear in info available how much of the program is online vs. on a cd/dvd. Would it even be possible to use it without purchasing the online support? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth in SW WA Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 It looks really neat but I'm turned off by how difficult it is to view samples. I also don't understand how you use it w/ a 2nd child. Can you purchase an additional year of online support or would you need to purchase an entirely new set? It's very unclear in info available how much of the program is online vs. on a cd/dvd. Would it even be possible to use it without purchasing the online support? I thought the samples were quite thorough. For the middle school modules, it appears that multiple kids can watch any element of the online portion. It doesn't keep track. You can log in and out of the program to watch and re-watch. Skip around. Whatever. Dd is writing in her consumable workbooks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AimeeM Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I think so. I would wait unti HSBC has another sale. I think HSBC's sale runs until the 31st. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syllieann Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I thought the samples were quite thorough. For the middle school modules, it appears that multiple kids can watch any element of the online portion. It doesn't keep track. You can log in and out of the program to watch and re-watch. Skip around. Whatever. Dd is writing in her consumable workbooks. Thanks for the link! I couldn't access anything from the hmh homepage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alafdahl Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I've read all the comments about Science Fusion. Can you please tell me which version was purchased, digital or print? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AimeeM Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I've read all the comments about Science Fusion. Can you please tell me which version was purchased, digital or print? Each purchase comes with both digital and print, I believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alafdahl Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Each purchase comes with both digital and print, I believe. Are you happy with your purchase? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth in SW WA Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Are you happy with your purchase? I am. The price was $27 for 1 middle school module for 1 year. I bought 3 modules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AimeeM Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 Are you happy with your purchase? I haven't purchased it - just read a million reviews and thought about it. Lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AimeeM Posted August 17, 2012 Share Posted August 17, 2012 I am. The price was $27 for 1 middle school module for 1 year. I bought 3 modules. How much more did you spend for labs? How teacher intensive ARE the labs? I know there are some *virtual* labs, but I've also read that there are hands on labs necessary for the "meat" of the program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth in SW WA Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 How much more did you spend for labs? How teacher intensive ARE the labs? I know there are some *virtual* labs, but I've also read that there are hands on labs necessary for the "meat" of the program. I did not buy the lab materials. They will do the virtual labs in SF and online elsewhere as well as outsourced labs with a tutor (winter) and another local class. If dd was using the program as intended (late middle school) I would stick more closely to the script. We do so much science that I'm not trying to align them all. They seem to enjoy random exposure to topics. Try the logic board for info on the SF hands-on labs. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandra Posted August 21, 2012 Share Posted August 21, 2012 I thought the samples were quite thorough. For the middle school modules, it appears that multiple kids can watch any element of the online portion. It doesn't keep track. You can log in and out of the program to watch and re-watch. Skip around. Whatever. Dd is writing in her consumable workbooks. THANKS! I wish I'd come here before wading through the convoluted HMH website(s). I posted an overview of the program on this thread. There's a 27 minute video that takes you through it and will answer most of your questions. I just bought it through the HSBC sale, so I can't tell you anything more about it yet. I'm just excited to be able check off science for my 7th grader. I will check this out, thx. :lurk5: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanna1949 Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 Beth said, ETA: I found the answers to the workbook pages. Right where they are supposed to be. :) And where would this be?? I can't find it. (But I'm in Gr. 5, not the middle school modules.) Guess I'll have to make a phone call.:glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsmith Posted August 25, 2012 Share Posted August 25, 2012 I'm doing the 5th grade program with my s/n son. I stumbled upon the answers yesterday. I will look it up and post late tonight or tomorrow if you'd like. Beth said, ETA: I found the answers to the workbook pages. Right where they are supposed to be. :) And where would this be?? I can't find it. (But I'm in Gr. 5, not the middle school modules.) Guess I'll have to make a phone call.:glare: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanna1949 Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Yes, please, dsmith!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momma4Boys Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 i have 6 days to make up my mind:) if i do it, it will be the 5th grade level. anyone have any negative feedback yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanna1949 Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Well, I'm still trying to figure it out, and I'm afraid that by the time I do, my year will be expired!:glare: There's a LOT of info there, and I don't consider it to be very user-friendly. I wonder if classroom teachers have to take a day or two of in-service to learn the ins and outs of the program. Science has been our least explored subject, and I was hoping this option would be easier on me, the science dummy. Not so. :001_unsure: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momma4Boys Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Science has been our least explored subject, and I was hoping this option would be easier on me, the science dummy. Not so. :001_unsure: Bummer - same for me here - I was hoping it was more open and go and self directed...hmmmm... Thanks for the input - it is helpful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thundersweet Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 Others have said that it CAN be used open an go! Those of you that are having such difficulties, are you trying to lesson plan the whole year? Has anyone else just used it as open and go? I am saying, just have the dc log on and do the next thing using the pacing guide as the schedule. I know the tests need to be assigned. I need to decide what I'm doing. I'm scared to purchase! Sandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thundersweet Posted August 26, 2012 Share Posted August 26, 2012 The samples Beth gave make it look like it's open and go if you use the pacing guide. Is that what the Student Edition program looks like when you first get it or after you've assigned everything? This is a great question! So far, I am thinking open and go looks doable based on the sample that Beth posted. It never dawned on me that the sample may have looked that way because it was "assigned." Sandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thundersweet Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Bump! Hoping someone can answer the question above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth in SW WA Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 This is a great question! So far, I am thinking open and go looks doable based on the sample that Beth posted. It never dawned on me that the sample may have looked that way because it was "assigned." Sandy I am not using the pacing guide. No box-checking here. I am not assigning lessons. We just log in and go to the Resources tab, click on the module and start where we left off. Just follow the instructions in the greeting letter to set up the student(s). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonFaerie Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Is this program completely online, including the labs, and in the worktext? Or are there hands-on labs and activities that have to be done? How teacher -intensive is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsmith Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 I was having a lot of trouble accessing the teacher edition until I switched from Google Chrome to Internet Explorer. Once I switched to IE and enabled pop ups from the site, I had no problem accessing it. After logging in, click on the main part of the screen, titled Resources. Next, click on Science Fusion Teacher Access Grade ___. (In my case, it is grade 5.) On the left, it will show a list of units, and on the right, a list of resources available. Click on the unit you need on the left side, and then click on the lesson needed, also on the left side. On the right side of the screen, select Lesson Teacher Support. It will bring up a list of resources for that lesson, including the Teacher's Edition. Clicking on that will bring up a PDF of the TE. If you are the lecturing type, there is also a nice PowerNotes presentation to go along with the print edition. Hope that helps! I wish there were videos that explained the teacher resources in detail. It is a bit confusing! Yes, please, dsmith!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsmith Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 I don't think the program has to be online at all (for the student, at least) if you don't wish it to be. There is a work text that comes with the program, and for each lesson there is an inquiry that goes with it. You would have to go online and print the needed resources for that. PowerNotes presentations are available to match the book, which could be useful for lecture material. The program could also be done only using the online digital lesson, but the inquiry is still done offline. There are some completely digital labs, but I'm not sure how many there are. With ds, we are doing a combination of digital/online. He loves the text, but also likes the online aspect. We haven't been doing every inquiry, at least for the first unit. I haven't looked ahead very much. It's taken some time to get used to the layout and familiarize myself with what's available. I keep finding new things every time I spend some time looking around. Is this program completely online, including the labs, and in the worktext? Or are there hands-on labs and activities that have to be done? How teacher -intensive is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joyofsixreboot Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Here's how our first two weeks have gone. I have a 3rd grader and 6th grader using grade 5. They just get on and do the next thing. The 6th grader is dodging the exercises is the print book. I found quizzes, etc in the teacher edition. We're just doing the next thing so no assigning anything. So far they are doing fine. They don't enjoy anything but at least this is getting done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thundersweet Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Here's how our first two weeks have gone. I have a 3rd grader and 6th grader using grade 5. They just get on and do the next thing. The 6th grader is dodging the exercises is the print book. I found quizzes, etc in the teacher edition. We're just doing the next thing so no assigning anything. So far they are doing fine. They don't enjoy anything but at least this is getting done. Why are they not enjoying it? If I purchase, I will also have a 6th grader using it. I was planning to purchase middle school modules a,b, and c. Is there anything in particular they complain about? I am still up in the air about this program. I need to just decide already! I wish I didn't have to purchase all the modules I want up front. That would make it so much easier. I wish this was an ongoing buy with HSBC. Then I could just try 1. Sandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deanna1949 Posted August 27, 2012 Share Posted August 27, 2012 Thank you, thank you, thank you!! All I needed to do was to turn off the pop-up blocker!:blushing: It is beginning to make a little more sense. Is there any way to print the teacher's edition? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lillehei Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 I have one ds in grade 4 and one dd who is almost done with module A. Here are some of my thoughts: The pacing guide for 4th grade is ridiculous. To get him to finish the book he would almost have to do two lessons a week and that was way too much for him. I just schedule one chapter a week. I do spend the time assigning lessons (which I must say is slow and a pain but once I got used to it, it has been fine). I just go to the Teacher Edition online and go to lesson level and then start with assigning the digital lesson for monday, the quiz for wednesday (which he has to review in the book and there is a helpful printout as well for kids with reading comprehension issues), and then the inquiry flipchart on friday. He has a scientific notebook which we use for his experiments. For my 6th grade dd, who is doing module A, I assign the lesson for monday, the quiz for wednesday (using the book as review), and we do experiments on friday and saturday. We have had to really pare down on the number of labs because it was TOTALLY overwhelming doing 3-5 labs per chapter. My husband is a scientist and we just sit down and pick one (maybe two if they are short and very interesting). She loves microscopy so we have done quite a bit of that and stayed away from the labs that take over 1/2 hour. Some last over an hour! Ugh. I think the interesting thing for us is that we do it almost 100% online. I do the assigning (and printing if necessary) and they do the work with no help from me. They study for the tests and I look at the results on ThinkCentral. The labs I find to be incredibly time consuming and we have had to buy quite a few things or just skip labs due to costs. My dd has found that some of the Virtual Labs, in particular mitosis and meiosis, were scheduled wrong. She had only had the lesson for mitosis but the virtual lab scheduled by ScienceFusion to go with it was on mitosis and meiosis and she hadn't even studied meiosis yet. She was very frustrated. We have had that happen a few times. 1 pp said her kids weren't enjoying anything and that is where I am finding my kids. Science was SO fun last year (we did Apologia Human Anatomy and Physiology). I am not a good young earther and really wanted a secular science and thought ScienceFusion was going to be the answer to my prayers. It has turned out to be a little bit of a letdown. From the difficulty in scheduling to the monstrous labs and the lack of enthusiasm from the kids, it has kind of frustrating because I was so excited about it. I also think ScienceFusion has not really made any changes to ThinkCentral to help homeschoolers. You can tell it is obviously made for a classroom setting. My PhD husband really wants them to continue with ScienceFusion next year because he wants them to have a very solid science background. I feel torn because the kids don't enjoy it. Surely there has to be a secular science that comes with labs and materials. If so, I haven't found it. Jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beth in SW WA Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 My PhD husband really wants them to continue with ScienceFusion next year because he wants them to have a very solid science background. I feel torn because the kids don't enjoy it. Surely there has to be a secular science that comes with labs and materials. If so, I haven't found it. Jen Jen, Sorry to hear it isn't working as you had hoped. I had low expectations going in which is probably why I like it so much. We aren't doing labs here and I'm not 'assigning' so it is open & go for us. The content is fabulous. Dd9 has learned a ton about cells this week in a format she enjoys. For $27, it is perfect for us. I am green with envy that your dh is able to help teach this -- and that you are game for doing labs at home. What a gift. :) We get to the mitosis/meiosis chapter next week. My ds saw what dd9 is learning about cells and said he didn't cover that until 10th grade bio. Not sure if I should be happy about that or not. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thundersweet Posted August 29, 2012 Share Posted August 29, 2012 Jen, Sorry to hear it isn't working as you had hoped. I had low expectations going in which is probably why I like it so much. We aren't doing labs here and I'm not 'assigning' so it is open & go for us. The content is fabulous. Dd9 has learned a ton about cells this week in a format she enjoys. For $27, it is perfect for us. I am green with envy that your dh is able to help teach this -- and that you are game for doing labs at home. What a gift. :) We get to the mitosis/meiosis chapter next week. My ds saw what dd9 is learning about cells and said he didn't cover that until 10th grade bio. Not sure if I should be happy about that or not. :tongue_smilie: My plan is to follow Beth. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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