Guest saramillet Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 Hello! This is my first full year homeschooling my 1st grade daughter and I am stumped on what to do with science. A few of the curriculum providers I have researched are using Harcourt Science textbooks for 1st grade, but I'm not sure if that is the route I want to take. What did you do in 1st grade for Science? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freeindeed Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 For first grade, we enjoyed Sonlight Science. Here's a link: http://www.sonlight.com/science-b.html The package contains the books, a schedule, and supplies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheApprentice Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 For first grade, we used McGruffy Science. Very hands-on and easy to implement. Just the right for the first grade attention span. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 1st grade science is having time to play outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zoobie Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 I didn't homeschool 1st, but for 2-4, we are using Evan Moor Daily Science units (picking and choosing, rearranging and not going day by day within units) as a loose spine. I add Magic School Bus episodes, Bill Nye episodes, documentaries, and other books like the DK Eyewitness guides. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 We started BFSU volume 1 and this year are starting on volume 2. Formatting is not user friendly, but the program is very meaty, flexible and should leave us very well prepared for high school (even if we don't finish all three books). One of the reasons I wanted to homeschool was to make science (and history) follow a logical progression through grade school, rather than a repetitive series of disconnected topics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2_girls_mommy Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 We did science as laid out in The Well Trained Mind chapter on science for the grammar stage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2queens&1princenmyhouse Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 We are using BFSU as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted September 11, 2013 Share Posted September 11, 2013 We did our own thing - we read lots of books and did experiments and demonstrations to go along with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amethyst Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Books. From the library. Lots of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CatholicMom Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 In first grade I think you can read books from the library. I used a lot of Usborne illustrated science encyclopedias. The kids loved them. There is SO much for a kid to learn about animals, weather, the ocean, etc, which they are usually more than happy to learn, you don't have to look far... or even use a formal curriculum. I say have fun at this age and let her explore. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nova mama Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 We have enjoyed using the lapbooks from Elemental Science. It's great if your daughter likes to cut, color, and paste, even if you are lapbook-phobic. :D It's all laid out. The program also includes lots of recommendations of books to get from the library. You can use it alone, or since it is inexpensive, as a supplement to another program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arboreal TJ Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Another BFSU user, my 1st graders eat it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagira Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 I teach BFSU to both my fifth and first graders. BFSU 2 to my ds10, and the original to my dd6. We read lots of living books and I have dd make little books with drawings, diagrams on what she learned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondchen Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Another vote for BFSU. The lesson format is not user-friendly for the parent, but I think the approach is fabulous, and DD6 is eating it up and asks to do science almost every day. I think it's fun to teach, since my own science education was abysmal and I'm learning right along with her! We supplement with living books (when we can find some at our lame library) and make notebook pages when there's something to draw or write down - it's totally low-key and flexible. If you do one lesson every two weeks you can finish the first volume in about two years, or you can pick up the pace here and there and then do longer unit studies on certain subjects, which is my plan. I love the flexibility. Oh, and the manual is cheap and the experiments use mostly household items. Most importantly for us, the topics we've covered so far are foundational to understanding the natural world (the concepts build on each other), and it's easy to connect what we're learning to everyday life. I really think that that is what makes this program so fun for us, and well worth the planning time for me at this point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelli Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 I'm using the Bernstein Bears' Big Book of Science and Nature as my outline of what to cover, then I'm adding in videos and library books to round it out. I'm also making my own notebooking pages to go along with it. It's been the best year of early elementary science I've done so far. Wish I'd figured this out when my oldest was this age! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest saramillet Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Oh wow!!! Thank you all so much for the wonderful recommendations!!! I feel so much better... :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SevenDaisies Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 BFSU here as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dzingirl Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 I bought BFSU first and while I love the idea of it, I just didn't have the time or energy to figure out how to use it. I gave up on that pretty quickly and went with Real Science Odyssey from Pandia Press (they're having a 25% off sale right now, btw). I like their products and find them easy to implement. You can download generous samples of their products on the website to see if you like it. Also I don't know for sure if this is still the case, but you used to be able to get the Mr. Q Life Science for free on his website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sobeknofret Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Seconding the REAL Science Odyssey. We're using it and Darth loves it so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piper Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Using REAL Science Odyssey here, too, and loving it. When my dd (now 8) was in 1st grade, we just did some fun experiments off the internet from time to time, studied and grew some seeds, made a seed collection, that kind of thing - all very low-key. During her outside playtime, she also developed a keen interest in roly-polies, which we followed up with library books and a lapbook. (It was so fun seeing how much she learned about them just from interest-led observation!) My ds6, who is now in 1st, gets a bit of a different experience, since I decided to use RSO with both of them at once. We all love it, and the labs are really fun, and quite simple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bnwhitaker Posted September 12, 2013 Share Posted September 12, 2013 Noeo Science Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alicai Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 I bought BFSU first and while I love the idea of it, I just didn't have the time or energy to figure out how to use it. I gave up on that pretty quickly and went with Real Science Odyssey from Pandia Press (they're having a 25% off sale right now, btw). I like their products and find them easy to implement. You can download generous samples of their products on the website to see if you like it. Also I don't know for sure if this is still the case, but you used to be able to get the Mr. Q Life Science for free on his website. Same thing here. In 1st grade, we did Real Science Odyssey: Life and she loved it. Lessons are short but solid and always involve a hands-on project/experiment. We're using RSO again this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lots of little ducklings Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 Ditto on NOEO science-- and if cost is a concern for you, there is no need to purchase the science books (all living books such as Usborne encyclopedias) if you are willing to use the library instead. The TG is great for guidance and the lab kits are a lifesaver for me. No more scrambling to collect everything I need for one simple experiment. A super help for someone wanting a classical/Charlotte Mason approach but not really sure where to start. Plus, my DS6 loooooves it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 In first grade there is really no need for a formal textbook to have great learning. Use Usborne books. I really liked the Sonlight science for younger grades specifically because of its reliance on Usborne books and story-format books about famous scientists and inventions. They also have a great experiment line-up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skeeterbug Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 I'm using the Bernstein Bears' Big Book of Science and Nature as my outline of what to cover, then I'm adding in videos and library books to round it out. I'm also making my own notebooking pages to go along with it. It's been the best year of early elementary science I've done so far. Wish I'd figured this out when my oldest was this age! Have you by any chance shared the notebooking pages on your blog? I'd love to see them! I'm planning to start this book with my 6yo soon (with 3yo listening in!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skeeterbug Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 I love Let's Read and Find Out science books for this age! There are many of them in a multitude of subjects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H_Household Posted September 13, 2013 Share Posted September 13, 2013 We love Sassafras Science by Elemental Science. It's an adventure series about some twins who ride on invisible zip lines to study things. Vol 1 is on animals and she's coming out with Vol 2 which is human anatomy. My kids LOVED it so much and learned a lot! http://www.sassafrasscience.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dahliarw Posted September 14, 2013 Share Posted September 14, 2013 We kind of use elemental science. I end up reworking it every year and then realize it was dumb to buy because I changed so much! Upon recommendation here, I bought one of the magic schoolbus science kids (human body). It has some fun stuff. Not enough "information", but all you need for some simple experiments. Totally easy to look at the experiments and find books with information at the library. I think I will continue with different MSB kits with my younger kiddos in coming years. It's fun, and easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BatmansWife Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 I would also suggest Noeo. 1st is the perfect age to start it. I regret that we're just starting Noeo with my 4th grader; their Biology 2. Wish we would have started at the beginning in 1st grade because now we've missed out on the first 3 levels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sunshine1221 Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 I like my science to be outside or hands-on; my DS 7 is using The Nature Connection Workbook by Walker and some Young Scientists Kits. We also have a Discovery Streaming subscription to help out with curious questions :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristi26 Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 For first grade, we did our own thing with the Magic School Bus videos and then doing an experiment, reading some books on the subject, and making lapbooks to go with it. I needed free and/or cheap last year. If I were going to do it again, I'd probably try this: http://www.pandiapress.com/?page_id=50 It's REAL Science Odyssey from Pandia Press and looks really fun! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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