something like Real Science 4 Kids that is Christian?

[ProudGrandma]

that's basically it.  

 

if not, I am considering Abeka.  Any thoughts and opinions on that one?

[SilverMoon]

.

Edited June 13 by SilverMoon

[ProudGrandma]

yeah, I looked at that.  But, my son just did the Chemistry/Physics from Apologia for upper elementary and wants to do something different.  The only other option Christian Kids Explore offer is Creation Science.  Which doesn't look bad, but I am also wondering if there is enough to keep him busy.  After using Apologia and the journal notebook they have, I think this might fall really short.   I am just not sure.  If you have used this, and can speak to that, please do.  I really want to know.  thanks.

[SilverMoon]

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Edited June 13 by SilverMoon

[Matryoshka]

Um, Real Science 4 Kids is written by a young-earth, creationist Christian. :confused1:

 

So, something like Real Science 4 Kids that's Christian would be... Real Science 4 Kids.

[ProudGrandma]

it is?  I just read the review by Cathy Duffy and I was sure she said it was a secular program.  I am going to go back and check again.  thanks.

 

[Syllieann]

It's "neutral," not young earth. So it just leaves out things that might offend certain subsets of Christians. I thought the author was ID, but not specifically young earth, though I can't find anything to back that up so I could be remembering incorrectly.

[ProudGrandma]

I went to the website and there is nothing saying that they authors are Christian.   I know that this doesn't make it a bad program...just not all that I would like a science program to be for my middleschooler.   So I was just curious if there was something else out there that I might consider.

 

thanks.

[Matryoshka]

it is?  I just read the review by Cathy Duffy and I was sure she said it was a secular program.  I am going to go back and check again.  thanks.

 

She doesn't quote the Bible or explicitly talk about origins (one way or the other), but the author (Rebecca Keller) is definitely a Christian creationist aka intelligent design proponent.  From Wikipedia:.

 

In 2008, Keller wrote and directed the development of a series of interdisciplinary companion texts called Kogs-4-Kids , which show how science is connected closely to all other areas of study and how it affects everyday life. The categories for the Kogs series are: history, language, philosophy, arts, technology, and critical thinking.^[4]

Although professing to be an advocate of “open inquiry†in science, Keller is a proponent of intelligent design.^[5] She has often spoken at intelligent design conferences about and provided testimony for allowing students to “critically evaluate†all scientific data that support and/or oppose scientific conclusions.^[6]

Her view has been summarized in her GravitasGeeks blog as: “In the sciences, let’s teach what we know, and admit what we do not actually know. Let’s train children to explore authentic inquiry, evaluate the evidence, and decide for themselves what conclusions they might draw. There is nothing more important for children studying science than to learn to ask ‘What if?’ and then to be free to follow the data wherever it leads.â€^[7]

 

Edited March 11, 2016 by Matryoshka

[SparklyUnicorn]

It's not entirely neutral, but it is very subtle.  Stuff like, "This was designed to do XYZ."  Natural science isn't usually worded in a way to suggest it was designed in any which way. 

 

I do think it could be acceptable to religious and non religious people though.  Heck I didn't even notice those things until someone brought it up. 

 

 

Edited March 11, 2016 by SparklyUnicorn

[SparklyUnicorn]

I vaguely recall something called Rainbow Science.  No experience with it.  Maybe someone else knows about it. 

 

 

[PinkyandtheBrains.]

RS4K is not secular, it just isn't overtly YEC either.

[lexi]

I would choose Real Science 4 Kids. We are Christian and use that. I find it works well with our worldview. It's not "preachy" like Apologia. So I like the tone better.

CKE is not as in depth in my opinion.

If you wanted overtly Christian and in depth then I would pick BJU over Abeka as BJU science is solid and I've heard the DVDs are really great if you want some visual learning. I find Abeka less interesting and more work bookish. It doesn't fit my kids' learning styles.

[Peaceful Isle]

My fourth grade son is doing real science 4 kids this year and we love it. We are Christian, and picked the curriculum because of it being neutral. If you want a Christian science that talks a lot about God and Creationism point of view, I would go for BJU over abeka. My dd11, and dd13 are using BJU science this year and learning a ton! 

Edited March 11, 2016 by Peacefulisle

[ProudGrandma]

thank you for this....I do appreciate it.  I am looking it over more seriously again.

[SilverMoon]

On 3/11/2016 at 4:12 PM, SparklyUnicorn said:

 

 

Edited June 13 by SilverMoon

[ProudGrandma]

Is Real science 4 kids pretty independent? My son wants to his studies mostly on his own.

[Sahamamama]

If he's going into middle school, and he's done some science before, would he be ready for Apologia's middle school science courses?

 

http://www.apologia.com/195-junior-high