Dianthus Posted August 10, 2023 Share Posted August 10, 2023 (edited) My ds just asked of he could do physics for science so I've been looking at science programs. We have just been reading. I think it would be fun to do a structured program with experiments and am now considering Sonlight Science D. I like the many texts and experiments. Is there anything similar that anyone could recommend. Anything with more physics? I would like something my other ds can do with him. They will soon be 9 and 12. I don't want Noeo, already tried and don't like. Have done bookshark science (secular sonlight) when my older child was K - 2 and we enjoyed it. I suppose I'm worried about Sonlight being too time consuming. I'd prefer 20 min of science per day. I think this may be more. We've done Mystery Science for a couple years and I'd like something else. It would be a change to add formal science for the boys but I feel they'd enjoy it, if I can find the right program. Edited August 10, 2023 by Dianthus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Green Bean Posted August 10, 2023 Share Posted August 10, 2023 (edited) Cathy Duffy reviews a bunch. https://cathyduffyreviews.com/homeschool-reviews-core-curricula/science Secular or close enough: Real Science Odyssey https://www.pandiapress.com/real-science-odyssey/ Real Science 4 Kids either the Building Blocks or Focus On versions; the info repeats level 1-4 at a deeper level for 5-7. Start at Bk 5 for BB. Focus On series does the same from Elem to Middle. https://gravitaspublications.com/ This one is often cited as BFSU made doable. https://scicurriculum.com/sci/ Elemental Science- very WTM-based but has a few different options. https://elementalscience.com/ Religious: Apologia- Lots of topical books to choose from elem to high school https://www.apologia.com/ Beren Builders- Jay Wile's series https://bereanbuilders.com/ecomm/ If you used Bookshark before and enjoyed it, why not use them or Sonlight again? HTH! Edited August 10, 2023 by Green Bean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caffeineandbooks Posted August 10, 2023 Share Posted August 10, 2023 You might like the free simple machines curriculum from Wildflowers and Marbles. It uses David Macaulay's The Way Things Work Now, and although it's aimed more at your sixth grader, I think a third grader could tag along. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dianthus Posted August 11, 2023 Author Share Posted August 11, 2023 6 hours ago, caffeineandbooks said: You might like the free simple machines curriculum from Wildflowers and Marbles. It uses David Macaulay's The Way Things Work Now, and although it's aimed more at your sixth grader, I think a third grader could tag along. We have The Way Things Work Now from the library right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dianthus Posted August 11, 2023 Author Share Posted August 11, 2023 I have Apologia Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics. Wow, the lab kit is $155! And should I get notebooks books for $25 each. $200 is a lot. How long would this take per day? I don't see lesson plans. Elemental science looks good except the middle physics is too advanced and the grammar physics will be on the light side for ds11. But that's OK, I guess. I'm looking for easy and fun, and I like that it uses usborne encyclopedias. It can be 5 day or 2 days per week which sounds great. Anyone used this? Christian Kids Explore Physics looks like the perfect age range for both boys. Has anyone used it? Very affordable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverMoon Posted August 11, 2023 Share Posted August 11, 2023 Bite-size Physics by Science Jim is great for those ages and has hands on projects using common household objects nearly every day. My older kids adored it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
countrymum Posted August 11, 2023 Share Posted August 11, 2023 We used apologia botany and flying creatures last year for different children. I did but the notebooking journals. They gave a schedule in them and have lots of cut and paste lapebook style notebook pages. There are questions in the books themselves though that you could just answer on paper or make your own diagram for. Check your textbook to see. I did get the notebook journal again for 1 child and the other child is doing something different this year but I would not have gotten it again for him. Both of these books were 2X a week all year and took like 15-45 min a time depending on whether there was an experiment or detailed notebook page that they did or if they just read the text. Also I didn't buy lab kits ...just a few harder to find items from home science tools. I looked at the list of what the lab kit included and bought what Walmart and I didn't likely have. The kids both enjoyed their chosen books. You can totally make your own schedule for the book if you want or buy just 1 notebook for just the schedule and have the boys do different pages for each chapter. There are lots of pages per chapter and even my daughter didn't use them all. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dianthus Posted August 16, 2023 Author Share Posted August 16, 2023 (edited) I've started with the Apologia since I have it. I thought I'd order the audio CD to give my voice break. Ds11 is complaining because he already read this book (though I think he only read the beginning) and says it's boring and the experiments are things like "drop a paperclip and piece of paper and see which falls faster." Just perusing youtube, it looks like this has some good experiments. Can any one comment who has used this? Called Sonlight and they said the lessons are 40 min, and that is just too long for 4 days per week. I would like to use Apologia since it's here and seems like it's thorough, but I also understand not wanting a dry textbook and very basic experiments. Edited August 16, 2023 by Dianthus 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xahm Posted August 16, 2023 Share Posted August 16, 2023 Have you looked into Science Mom? She's doing physics as the "live class" this year, but she has recorded Earth Science, Chemistry, and Biology. The Earth Science is free, but there's a charge for the others. They are very enjoyable, pretty deep, and not at all dry. There are note pages provided that teach note taking and help kids focus, and the are several hands on activities in each. Science Mom and her husband Math Dad banter a little with Math Dad taking the role of the confused person who needs more explanation. Some kids have found that distracting or confusing. That's the main complaint I've heard about it, but my kids really enjoyed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dianthus Posted August 16, 2023 Author Share Posted August 16, 2023 No, I don't want to do anything online or video based. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dianthus Posted August 17, 2023 Author Share Posted August 17, 2023 Ds11 was very interested when I was adding poprocks to my husband's shopping list since it was on the experiment list. "Get a lot, Dad!" So I'm plodding ahead with Apologia for now. About to order the cd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brittany1116 Posted August 17, 2023 Share Posted August 17, 2023 On 8/11/2023 at 2:40 AM, Dianthus said: I have Apologia Exploring Creation with Chemistry and Physics. Wow, the lab kit is $155! And should I get notebooks books for $25 each. $200 is a lot. How long would this take per day? I don't see lesson plans. Elemental science looks good except the middle physics is too advanced and the grammar physics will be on the light side for ds11. But that's OK, I guess. I'm looking for easy and fun, and I like that it uses usborne encyclopedias. It can be 5 day or 2 days per week which sounds great. Anyone used this? Christian Kids Explore Physics looks like the perfect age range for both boys. Has anyone used it? Very affordable. IIRC there is little to order that you wouldn't have in the house or find at the dollar store. We are going back through the chem side only this year. The Apologia lessons are pretty brief. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dianthus Posted August 24, 2023 Author Share Posted August 24, 2023 Apologia is going well! The experiments have been fun. Not notebooking though. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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