Quark Chronicles: Botany (Volume 1)

ritamarj · April 23, 2015

I am looking for a living books/fun supplement to our Botany curriculum. I came across the Quark Chronicles: Botany (Volume 1) by Ernest DeVore (Author). It looks very interesting.... I would like to know if anybody used it , and what do you think ?

AmyontheFarm · April 23, 2015

I report JohnUnger's post as spam.

fourisenough · April 23, 2015

The author is the son of a member of the forum. She (the member) is also the author of the Reading Lessons Through Literature and English Lessons Through Literature curriculum (among other things). I haven't read Quark Chronicles, but plan to next fall while studying Botany with my younger girls. Hopefully someone else can give some more specific feedback.

Farrar · April 23, 2015

I'd love to hear more reviews as well. The series seems really promising. Someone linked the FB page which had a sample on another thread, if you haven't seen that.

Momto4inSoCal · April 24, 2015

Following. I'm interested in this series also.

SEGway · April 24, 2015

Just fyi, I think the author might actually be Kathy Jo's husband, not son.

I let my 9yo dd read it for a free read, and she really enjoyed it. I looked at the notebooking pages/schedule for the zoology one, but I'm not sure if we'll try that next year for a bit or just use it as another free read.

Sorry, that's not a terribly informative review, I know. I'm planning to read more than the first three-five chapters, but that hasn't actually happened yet.

desertflower · April 24, 2015

I'd love to hear more reviews as well. The series seems really promising. Someone linked the FB page which had a sample on another thread, if you haven't seen that.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=712028538925347&id=310717725723099

Ask and you shall receive. lol

I haven't heard much about it, but what I have heard are all positive reviews.

scrapbabe · April 24, 2015

Is each volume stand alone, or do we need to read Botany before Zoology?

desertflower · April 24, 2015

Is each volume stand alone, or do we need to read Botany before Zoology?

You may want to pm kristenhill. I think she has used the first 2 books.

Mimicoto · April 24, 2015

I am currently previewing the Quark Chronicles: Botany for use with my children. We'll be using it as part of the overall Wayfarer's, a complete history and literature-based curriculum, which is written by Kathy Jo Devore (we LOVE the curriculum, btw). I am really enjoying the book and think my children will find it quite engaging. It's science fiction, which I find provides an interesting juxtaposition to the subject matter. It is well written and weaves in scientific facts in an entertaining, intelligent manner ... it's neither fluffy nor dry....kinda 'just right'...I'm excited to keep reading it myself :-)) So to the OP's question, I think it would be a really good (and fun!) choice to supplement an overall Botany curriculum.

To others who might be interested, the Wayfarers curriculum uses the Quark Chronicles alongside a choice of other books, such as Botany in 8 Lessons (Ellen J. McHenry), DK Eyewitness Plant (David Burnie) and others. It isn't used as a stand-alone. A full list of science reading options can be found on Kathy Jo's curriculum Website - barefootmeanderings.com. Sorry - I don't know how to post a link here yet...There are many freebies on her site (including an impressive reading list across all subjects and grades) and lots of samples (including a sample of the Quark Chronicles) to give you a good sense of how her materials work. We've become huge fans over here... I 'think' the science book lists can be found in the free reading list (includes reading for chemistry, physics, etc etc etc, all grades). I know for sure the Botany lists can be found in the free sample of the Wayfarers: Ancients curriculum.

There is a Yahoo Group dedicated to this curriculum (Barefoot Ragamuffins) and Kathy Jo is very helpful and prompt in answering questions directly....I think its the same on her FB page, but I haven't been there myself. I am sure that if you reach out to her with questions (regarding using the Zoology edition of Quark, for example) she'll be more than happy to help you.

Long response, but I hope it helps!

kirstenhill · April 24, 2015

You may want to pm kristenhill. I think she has used the first 2 books.

My daughter read all three Sassafras books but since Quark zoology just came out, we don't have that one. :-) I can't honestly give a review of Quark botany, because I just gave it to my daughter to read and I haven't read any of it myself yet! All I know is that my DD liked it, but still likes the Sassafras series better.

desertflower · April 25, 2015

My daughter read all three Sassafras books but since Quark zoology just came out, we don't have that one. :-) I can't honestly give a review of Quark botany, because I just gave it to my daughter to read and I haven't read any of it myself yet! All I know is that my DD liked it, but still likes the Sassafras series better.

Thanks for clarifying!