NormaElle Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 I am a new homeschooling mom of a bunch of kids. The school-age range is from preK through 5th grade (with a couple little ones in as well). For right now, we're doing Astronomy, with me doing read-alouds and us discussing, followed by a youtube video or two. We're enjoying it, but I'd like something more formal for next year. I'm looking for a science curriculum that is as "open and go" as possible. My kids had very little science education in their previous school, so beginner material should be fine, as long as it's engaging. I'd like to have everyone working together. I'd like to do something as cheaply as possible, but not silly things to fill time. I recognize that in some programs, the hardest part is getting all the materials together. I'd rather compile all the materials over the summer than purchase an overpriced "package". But I'm open to most possibilities (nothing Christian in nature, and prefer to avoid discussion of origins as much as possible). Thanks! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 (edited) Nancy Larson Science SuperCharged Science (but is $$) McRuffy Science (might be too basic) NOEO Level 1 Real Science 4 Kids (mine LOVED this one! Bring on the marshmellow molcules!) Real Science Odyssey (Pandia Press) K12 (all 3 of my younger ones are using the same level fine. You can get by with just the one log in for K-5) Oak Meadow Science is split out as a separate book around 4th grade, I believe? There is another one that is strictly physical science but the name escapes me. HTH! Edited December 9, 2015 by Paradox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slache Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 Nancy Larson Science SuperCharged Science (but is $$) McRuffy Science (might be too basic) NOEO Level 1 Real Science 4 Kids (mine LOVED this one! Bring on the marshmellow molcules!) Real Science Odyssey (Pandia Press) K12 (all 3 of my younger ones are using the same level fine. You can get by with just the one log in for K-5) Oak Meadow Science is split out as a separate book around 4th grade, I believe? There is another one that is strictly physical science but the name escapes me. HTH! Exploration Education? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAgain Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 Mystery Science? It's free, fun, and is a general overview of science rather than a specific branch. Each lesson starts with video that self pauses for the kids to brainstorm, ask/answer questions, and take notes. They move on to a simple activity that has them explore the concept being taught, and there are options for extra videos/links afterward. Each study takes approx 4-6 weeks, and you choose the order of study for your kids (so if you want to do astronomy, you'd move from The Spinning Sky to Spaceship Earth, and then possibly move on to a study of planet Earth with The Birth of Rocks and The Work of Water to finish the year) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Tick Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 BFSU doors not meet all your requirements, it is not open and go. However, you could conceivably use the same base lessons for everyone for most of next year. If you are planning to spend some of the simmer doing prep *and you are interested*, you could probably get it together. I would buy at least the first two books ($20 each). Then I would come up with a list of which lessons you want to do in which order (or use one of the lists from their website). I would aim the lessons for lower elementary. Your youngest could participate in demonstrations and many of the lessons. Your older students could pre-test demos and do additional reading, and perhaps do some of the later lessons on topics you've already covered. It requires more up front work on your part, but everybody is more-or-less together and you decide input and output. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 Are you looking for something that you can all do together? One year, we all did The Scientist's Apprentice, considered a one-year curriculum: https://www.brightideaspress.com/shop/the-scientists-apprentice/ You can use it for a variety of ages, and though it isn't an open-and-go type of book, it requires very simple house-hold items. For example, in one chapter when they talk about aeronautics, you make paper airplanes. It is a Christian-based book, but I don't remember Christian ideas being discussed. Though it's possible -- I just don't remember for sure. However, I don't like Science books taking on the role of religion and discussing origins of life, etc, either, so I think I would remember if it were heavy in that area. It looks like it might not be published anymore, but it's still available new on Amazon for about a dollar (by third party sellers). You would need only one book, but then would make copies of some of the pages. I supplemented with children's videos (usually just ones I could find at our library that had to do with the subject at hand). My kids really enjoyed the curriculum! Oh, I just found a review on it that might be helpful: https://www.theoldschoolhouse.com/Homeschool_Reviews/reviews.php?rid=873 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverMoon Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 (edited) . Edited May 23 by SilverMoon 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UCF612 Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 We are enjoying Home Science Adventures by Stratton House. Very open and go. Everything is included for the demonstrations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaceful Isle Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 You could pick a sonlight science level, and do it with all your kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momto6inIN Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 Mr. Q is pretty good. It's not overly expensive (I think he has a sale around January-ish) especially if you just print in b&w at home. I like the experiments and you could put the kit together on your own over the summer. I find it to be very open and go. It is secular and does not discuss origins at all. I really like that the approach to labs and the lab report sheets that you can print from his website. I don't combine my kids together in it, but you certainly could. I used to try to keep my girls together for science, but it was just too hard to make something accessible and engaging for the 1st/2nd grader and also challenging enough for the 5th/6th grader. I ended up letting the younger daughter watch Magic School Bus videos and do some kits along with those, and getting Mr. Q for my older daughter. This is working much, much better for both of them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NormaElle Posted December 14, 2015 Author Share Posted December 14, 2015 Thank you so much for all these great suggestions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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