Science in the beginning , Bookshark, and Apologia's chemistry and physics

[Emma]

I am not a science person.  I'd be fine if we totally skipped it. However, I will have a 6th grader next year.  I've looked at Science in the Beginning, Bookshark, and Apologia's combined Chemistry and Physics.  I can't decide.  Which one is better?  Which one is doable and realistic?  Help!

[maize]

How about REAL Science Odyssey? 

 

But really you can still skip formal science in sixth grade, just have them pick out some books from the science section of the library and read through them every few weeks or so.

[Momto6inIN]

Science in the Beginning was great, but it was just a smidge too easy for my 6th grader when we did it a couple of years ago. And although I think it's a good solid program for elementary, I found we prefer a topic driven approach rather than a history driven approach to science. Science in the Beginning was topical, but the rest of the books in the series aren't.

 

I strongly disliked Apologia. The tone was annoying and I didn't like just reading several pages aloud and narrating for most of the year. We prefer to do a demonstration everyday after a short reading. We won't be trying Apologia again.

 

Mr. Q was good, at least for life science and earth/space science. Especially the experiments! But I didn't like the chemistry and physical science that much.

 

Next year we're trying God's Design for Science. I don't know how that will turn out yet. Obviously, we've hopped around a lot with elementary science and I'm not sure what will end up being the program we stick with (if any!) LOL

[Emma]

Science in the Beginning was great, but it was just a smidge too easy for my 6th grader when we did it a couple of years ago. And although I think it's a good solid program for elementary, I found we prefer a topic driven approach rather than a history driven approach to science. Science in the Beginning was topical, but the rest of the books in the series aren't.

 

I strongly disliked Apologia. The tone was annoying and I didn't like just reading several pages aloud and narrating for most of the year. We prefer to do a demonstration everyday after a short reading. We won't be trying Apologia again.

 

Mr. Q was good, at least for life science and earth/space science. Especially the experiments! But I didn't like the chemistry and physical science that much.

 

Next year we're trying God's Design for Science. I don't know how that will turn out yet. Obviously, we've hopped around a lot with elementary science and I'm not sure what will end up being the program we stick with (if any!) LOL

 Why oh why is science so hard?!  I haven't checked out God's Design for Science, but that's my afternoon plan.  I have such an exciting life..  I've also looked at Quark, but it seems too easy.  Maybe easy is what we need.  Maybe it would at least get covered then!

[Momto6inIN]

I should add that we love love love apologia for middle and high school. But the elementary not so much. Good luck on your search!

 

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[mom31257]

I teach the high school physical sciences for our co-op. Our co-op used the Apologia Chemistry and Physics with the elementary students, and my ds was in the group who used it. We both didn't like the book at all. 

 

It was too wordy. It seemed to me the book would make a point, and then there would be numerous examples to repeat the point. We got it the first time, so it seemed like filler material.

 

The binding was terrible with words running all the way into the middle of the book. You had to pull the book apart to read the ends of the lines sometimes.

 

There were so many experiments, and the book read as if you could stop right then and do each one. If you couldn't do it right then but wanted to keep reading, it gave away the results. This is annoying to me about a lot of science books, though. 

 

 

My favorite 6th grade science was BJU 6th grade with the online/DVDs, but it used to be with Mrs. Vick and now isn't. 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 20, 2016 by mom31257

[Emma]

I teach the high school physical sciences for our co-op. Our co-op used the Apologia Chemistry and Physics with the elementary students, and my ds was in the group who used it. We both didn't like the book at all. 

 

It was too wordy. It seemed to me the book would make a point, and then there would be numerous examples to repeat the point. We got it the first time, so it seemed like filler material.

 

The binding was terrible with words running all the way into the middle of the book. You had to pull the book apart to read the ends of the lines sometimes.

 

There were so many experiments, and the book read as if you could stop right then and do each one. If you couldn't do it right then but wanted to keep reading, it gave away the results. This is annoying to me about a lot of science books, though. 

 

 

My favorite 6th grade science was BJU 6th grade with the online/DVDs, but it used to be with Mrs. Vick and now isn't. 

Thank you for responding!  I haven't looked at BJU in forever.  Not sure we're ready for an online teacher just yet, but I'll let him look at it and see what he thinks.  I really wish someone would design a curriculum around Disney's Science of Imagineering DVDs.  They look awesome!

[mom31257]

Thank you for responding! I haven't looked at BJU in forever. Not sure we're ready for an online teacher just yet, but I'll let him look at it and see what he thinks. I really wish someone would design a curriculum around Disney's Science of Imagineering DVDs. They look awesome!

BJU at that level includes a good variety of topics. We used 3rd edition, but 4th looks like it covers the same material. The student activity manual is very good and makes the course. There are great reviews, summaries of information, and step by step lab reports.

 

http://www.christianbook.com/science-student-activity-manual-4th-edition/9781606822173/pd/281329?event=ESRCG|M

Edited April 20, 2016 by mom31257