AimeeM Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 We do not have time for both this upcoming year. DS6 will be in first grade. He does love science, but he does NOT like anything messy. I have BFSU and I'm (personally) in love with it, but I wonder if I should just go literature-based with this kiddo, this year, so that I'm not stretching myself too thin (because I also have a kiddo first year in high school at home AND I have The Marvelous Flying Marco to tend to). I've never taught first grade before, so I'm a bit worried that if I ditch BFSU for the year, and just go literature-based, that I'm doing him a disservice :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 BFSU will keep. Actually, the literature will keep too. Have him watch every science doco in the library system and he'll be fine. Maybe he can get Marco hooked on science docos. That'd be swell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carriede Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 You can still use BFSU. Supplement the demontrations with YouTube videos, read the suggested books, have discussions, follow the topics. Or you can do the messy part and have him talk you through it so he doesn't touch anything. Hope that helps! Either science will be good. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmrich Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 Do you have a library nearby? If so grab some books related to what you are doing with BFSU, and read them whenver you get the chance. Have your highschooler read to your first grader; my kids are always amazed how great science books are for little kids. It will seriously take like 10 minutes. Have him watch science videos as well; kids can gain a lot from a quick video. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah0000 Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 I use BFSU primarily to guide discussion of topics and for the book lists which I simply add into our bedtime reading time. I only do the activities that can naturally be incorporated into our nature walks, park play, even bath time. We're not very far into it but I've not found the need for separate science time so far. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 How about letting BFSU drive your science book selections? You could check off quite a few of the lessons by reading books, he could read about different materials without having to go collect different examples, check! Same with air, gravity, sound,, etc. I don't know that the demonstrations are particularly "messy", the C-thread is physics, D is earth science, but mostly rotation, gravity, map directions, etc. B (physical science) has some messy potential, but also a lot of representation at the library. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternallytired Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 I have yet to find much that is messy in BFSU...but maybe I'm not looking hard enough. Most of it is demonstrations done with around-the-house objects or sorting pictures or objects. In fact, I am adding quite a bit of hands-on because that's what really engages my kids. BFSU has a decent literature list included for each topic. I'd suggest, like PP, that you use BFSU and lean heavily on the lit aspect. You can take your time with it and spend time watching videos on various topics, doing the occasional hands-on, and reading lots of books. After all, it's intended to take more than one year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirstenhill Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 I'm not currently using BFSU directly, but I try to keep the foundational concepts in mind, especially with my 1st grader, and try and ask him questions or lead him down a line of thinking that will help me cover some of the foundational topics with him informally. Having taught volume 1 a few times at home and co-op, I find I can sort of have a "BFSU lifestyle" without directly using the demos/lessons. So, I would lean toward literature and just look for opportunities to discuss the BFSU topics along the way. That is sort of what I am doing with my 1st grader this year. He will tag along on some longer books that are targeted more at my advanced third grader as well. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AimeeM Posted August 28, 2015 Author Share Posted August 28, 2015 BFSU will keep. Actually, the literature will keep too. Have him watch every science doco in the library system and he'll be fine. Maybe he can get Marco hooked on science docos. That'd be swell. Lol - that WOULD be swell, but we don't frequent the library or the library system (long story). I can buy some, though, or see if there are some on Netflix. Any recommendations? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AimeeM Posted August 28, 2015 Author Share Posted August 28, 2015 Do you have a library nearby? If so grab some books related to what you are doing with BFSU, and read them whenver you get the chance. Have your highschooler read to your first grader; my kids are always amazed how great science books are for little kids. It will seriously take like 10 minutes. Have him watch science videos as well; kids can gain a lot from a quick video. We do not use the library. I have tons of science-related literature for his age (and much of it correlated to BFSU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AimeeM Posted August 28, 2015 Author Share Posted August 28, 2015 So discussing and reading related literature with BFSU should only take about 10 minutes a day (about)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sahamamama Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 With a high schooler, a six year old, and a marvelous flying toddler, here's what I would do: 1. Read books. These are snuggly, not messy, and snuggly is good for six. You can organize them by themes or units, and "cover" BSFU topics systematically through reading. 2. Get outside, go to nature centers, a zoo, an aquarium, a science center, a farm. Have a small garden, cook, bake, take care of a pet. Do real things with real things (at first) and keep the "science experiments" for when he's slightly older. 3. When the kids are in bed at night, I would then study BFSU for myself, so I could grow in my own understanding of the principles and concepts. So much of BFSU is like teaching the parent how to have science-related explorations and conversations with children. If you study it until you internalize it, then you can still actually "do" it without formally "doing" it. KWIM? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AimeeM Posted August 28, 2015 Author Share Posted August 28, 2015 9th grader, not 9 year old :) That's part of my problem - she's on a completely different track (obviously) than my 6 year old. With the age gap, and the learning differences/disabilities, I'm having to teach absolutely everything separately - and I'm panicking a bit looking at the amount of time I have vs. what the amount of time I want, lol. ETA: Whoops. Did you edit or did I misread? :D That's what I would like to do. We do field trips pretty freqently anyway, but he really doesn't care much for being outdoors for longer than 5 minutes., so it's more a chore than anything (iow, not enjoyable). I think it's a great idea for *me* to study BFSU and just apply it more naturally. Thanks! With a high schooler, a six year old, and a marvelous flying toddler, here's what I would do: 1. Read books. These are snuggly, not messy, and snuggly is good for six. You can organize them by themes or units, and "cover" BSFU topics systematically through reading. 2. Get outside, go to nature centers, a zoo, an aquarium, a science center, a farm. Have a small garden, cook, bake, take care of a pet. Do real things with real things (at first) and keep the "science experiments" for when he's slightly older. 3. When the kids are in bed at night, I would then study BFSU for myself, so I could grow in my own understanding of the principles and concepts. So much of BFSU is like teaching the parent how to have science-related explorations and conversations with children. If you study it until you internalize it, then you can still actually "do" it without formally "doing" it. KWIM? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jackie Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 It is entirely possible to implement BFSU without having science class. I do have a "science class time" with DD but only because she would throw a fit if I ditched the class time because she would then not acknowledge all our science was "doing science". Even so, we have one BFSU-themed science class weekly and all the rest of our science consists of books, documentaries, Magic School Bus episodes, science toys, and subscriptions to Brain Pop and The Happy Scientist. Netflix has Magic School Bus, Bill Nye the Science Guy, Cosmos, Blue Planet, The Life of Mammals, David Attenborough Wildlife Specials, National Geographic Amazing Planet, The Crimson Wing, Microcosmos. And I'm sure many others, that's just what's on the Watchlist for my daughter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monica_in_Switzerland Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 I am agreeing with others- use the BFSU flowchart to help you choose books that fit the various topics. Discuss afterwards any connections to previously learned topics. Done. My kids FAVOURITE documentaries at that age: - The Magic Schoolbus!!! - Popular Mechanics for Kids The Magic Schoolbus is so awesome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted August 28, 2015 Share Posted August 28, 2015 Lol - that WOULD be swell, but we don't frequent the library or the library system (long story). I can buy some, though, or see if there are some on Netflix. Any recommendations? Unless you're YE, everything David Attenborough has ever made. Some of your American geology and disaster vids are quite good too. The style is kind of emotive and repetitive, but the graphics are great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AimeeM Posted August 28, 2015 Author Share Posted August 28, 2015 Unless you're YE, everything David Attenborough has ever made. Some of your American geology and disaster vids are quite good too. The style is kind of emotive and repetitive, but the graphics are great. Nope - not YE, so that works nicely. Thanks! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluegoat Posted August 29, 2015 Share Posted August 29, 2015 The best luck I have had with BSFU is to use it like the people here have mentioned, as a kind of topical guide. I like it almost like the Handbook of Nature Study, we look at things and the information that I have in my head about the principles that seems interesting to them may or may not get mentioned. The most important part is noticing the experiential aspects. But - that very much comes out of my view of early science teaching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Twain Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 I teach BFSU volume 1 over three years. Now and then I choose a lesson and go through it slowly with my child. It often takes three days to teach one lesson. Then I have my child copy sentences (which I write out) and draw pictures about the main principles of the lesson. These are filed in the child's science binder and added to year by year If you teach it in this manner, you can do BFSU a little at a time but not be stressed about it at all. Of course add in science lit as you have opportunity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarahjokim Posted August 31, 2015 Share Posted August 31, 2015 Lol - that WOULD be swell, but we don't frequent the library or the library system (long story). I can buy some, though, or see if there are some on Netflix. Any recommendations? In addition to Magic School Bus, Octonauts, and Popular Mechanics for Kids my son loves Planet Earth, Life, and Human Planet which are all on Netflix now. You could also look at the app BrainPop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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