T'smom Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 I have a group of hs'ers that is mostly 1-2nd graders and we were thinking that we would like to get together to do science projects next year. We're all doing different things for science, so I'd like to do a variety of topics. I'd really like it to be very hands on. Does anyone have any really great books to recommend for fun science experiment/projects. I know I could probably pull this together from a ton of different sources, but it would really be easier to have one main source. I'm not really a fan of VanCleave books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirstenhill Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 I think BFSU actually works really well for this. I did 16 weeks from volume 1 last year with 1st and 2nd graders, then I am doing 8 more weeks of different BFSU lessons with 1-3rd graders this winter/spring (after taking a break from BFSU to do a human body semester using various scholastic printables this past fall). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
City Mouse Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 I love the activity books from AIMS Education Foundation (AIMS = activities integrating math and science) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T'smom Posted March 3, 2014 Author Share Posted March 3, 2014 I actually have BFSU, so if I could use that, it would be great. I like the book, it just seems so haphazard that it's hard for me to plan out. I will check out AIMS. I definitely want something with fun activities! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCelebi Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 I have a soon-to-be second grader, a 4.5yo and a 2yo. We are going to use The Nature Connection, Mudpies to Magnets, and The Young Scientist Club for extra experiments and RSO Life Science as our spine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fdrinca Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 We have a science unit in our co-op that is really "hands on," with lots of experiments and projects. It's not my favorite class, though. It doesn't add that much to our school experience, and I'd almost rather it be a different topic altogether. There isn't an overarching theme, no knowledge building on previous knowledge, nothing furthering their nascent idea of the scientific method. I'd be really attracted to a science class that integrated BFSU or some other gentle, non-workbooky curriculum that moved forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T'smom Posted March 4, 2014 Author Share Posted March 4, 2014 We have a science unit in our co-op that is really "hands on," with lots of experiments and projects. It's not my favorite class, though. It doesn't add that much to our school experience, and I'd almost rather it be a different topic altogether. There isn't an overarching theme, no knowledge building on previous knowledge, nothing furthering their nascent idea of the scientific method. I'd be really attracted to a science class that integrated BFSU or some other gentle, non-workbooky curriculum that moved forward. This is an interesting perspective. It seems that the group of moms I have been talking with are wanting more fun/social interaction from this than specific science content. We all have different science curricula that we are using on our own and I thought it would be hard to find something that would be unifying. But no one has articulated those thoughts yet, so I guess I should float that idea around. It's not a "real" co-op, it's just a few moms who like each other and don't really like the other options, so we're getting our kids together to do some fun art and science projects and socialize. But maybe we could meet those goals while doing some more serious learning. Hmmm, lots to think on!! Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrsH Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 I agree that bfsu could really work. While it is confusing in terms of what order to do it in, I don't think it's haphazard. It's definitely possible to turn it into units, as often there are 3-4 lessons in a strand that delve more and more deeply into a topic. Also, have you seen the interest boards for it? My kids do a science group using Engineering I'd Elemental materials from the museum of science in Boston. Each unit is 4 weeks and includes a hands-on project. It's very well done, but not quite as affordable as bfsu, of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Actually, I just put together something very similar last semester -- a 1-hour, hands-on science class for gr. 1-3, and then again for gr. 4-6. While the focus was hands-on, the first 10 minutes or so was explaining the overarching concept, and then the students moved through 4-5 experiments at centers, with each experiment bringing out a different aspect of the overall concept. Also, I worked it so that the concepts were somewhat related from week to week, so we could build on previous knowledge, and refer back to previous experiments and concepts for explanations and making connections with the current week's topic and experiments. MASSIVE amount of time investment for me because I pulled the whole thing together (not from a single spine resource), but everyone loved it. Earth Science week 1 = structure of Earth, plate tectonics week 2 = volcanoes week 3 = earthquakes week 4 = rocks (3 types/how formed) week 5 = rocks (rock testing) week 6 = erosion and land forms Chemistry week 7 = water chemistry week 8 = states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) week 9 = pH, acid & base week 10 = Christmas Chemistry (misc. fun, slightly holiday related experiments) Did you see the recent thread on project-based engineering? Lots of fun stuff there! Also, building structures and experimenting with different building materials and testing strengths. What about spending a class experimenting with slowing descent/cushioning fall by building contraptions out of recyclable materials, putting a raw egg in it, and a parent drops them one by one from a second story or top of a ladder to see how they succeeded/failed? Physics topics are super and can often be contained single-class units: - magnets - electricity - light & optics - sound - flight - rockets - motion - simple machines Good luck! Science in the young grades is super fun! Warmest regards, Lori D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HSmomof2 Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 I did a 'for fun' co-op class with that age group using the Magic School Bus DVDs and corresponding lesson plans/experiments on Scholastic.com. We covered lots of different topics, did a lot of experiments, and had a lot of fun. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freeindeed Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 I currently teach FIAR to K-2nd graders. The science experiments and activities are one of their favorite parts, so I'm also thinking about a science class for next year. Following this thread! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T'smom Posted March 7, 2014 Author Share Posted March 7, 2014 Actually, I just put together something very similar last semester -- a 1-hour, hands-on science class for gr. 1-3, and then again for gr. 4-6. While the focus was hands-on, the first 10 minutes or so was explaining the overarching concept, and then the students moved through 4-5 experiments at centers, with each experiment bringing out a different aspect of the overall concept. Also, I worked it so that the concepts were somewhat related from week to week, so we could build on previous knowledge, and refer back to previous experiments and concepts for explanations and making connections with the current week's topic and experiments. MASSIVE amount of time investment for me because I pulled the whole thing together (not from a single spine resource), but everyone loved it. Earth Science week 1 = structure of Earth, plate tectonics week 2 = volcanoes week 3 = earthquakes week 4 = rocks (3 types/how formed) week 5 = rocks (rock testing) week 6 = erosion and land forms Chemistry week 7 = water chemistry week 8 = states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) week 9 = pH, acid & base week 10 = Christmas Chemistry (misc. fun, slightly holiday related experiments) Did you see the recent thread on project-based engineering? Lots of fun stuff there! Also, building structures and experimenting with different building materials and testing strengths. What about spending a class experimenting with slowing descent/cushioning fall by building contraptions out of recyclable materials, putting a raw egg in it, and a parent drops them one by one from a second story or top of a ladder to see how they succeeded/failed? Physics topics are super and can often be contained single-class units: - magnets - electricity - light & optics - sound - flight - rockets - motion - simple machines Good luck! Science in the young grades is super fun! Warmest regards, Lori D. This is great! A couple of us are doing the WTM recs for 2nd grade for earth/space topics, so those first few would fit right in. There is a ton of stuff on Pinterest, but I was kindof hoping to find it all already in a book for me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.