MFW Explorers to 1850 enough science for a 6th grader?

[noah&emmasmommy]

I have been using MFW RtR this year with my 5th grader, soon to be 12 years old. I absolutely loved it, and briefly considered switching to Sonlight, but why fix what's not broken? So here's my question:

With him being a 6th grader next year, I'm a little concerned that the science in the next year cycle for MFW, which is Explorers to 1815 may not be enough to prepare him for Apologia's Gen. Science the following year.(2010-2011) I posted an earlier thread about using Apologia's Gen. Science next year, but I'm pretty sure I've decided not to do that considering the math sequence pre-requesites. However, looking at MFW's Eto1815, I'm concerned that the science might not be enough, and wondered if anyone out there has used this year with a 6th grader and what you're experience with it was?

[cbollin]

My oldest was in 5th grade when she did MFW's EX1850 and then in 6th grade in 1850MOD. We did the MFW science in both years. She's in 7th grade now and in General Science. The first module (chapter) in that program is what seems to be a learning curve for some students. It's just a step up in expectations of reading and remembering. And then taking a "real test" on it at the end. She didn't do well on that first try on the test. But ever since that she is getting A and A- on her tests in General Science. So it's working out over here.

 

In EX1850, the first semester is Taxonomy of Animal Kingdom and lots of fun. They'll get a bit more of that in General Science too. 2nd semester, EX1850, the science is Apologia's elementary Botany book. So, you get 2 programs in one year in science. So, knowledge wise, lots of science in it.

 

If you're concerned about preparing your 6th grader to be ready for General Science in 7th grade, then work on teaching him how to read from the Botany textbook (and even from textbook first semester too) and how to take notes from it especially with vocabulary words.

 

The other skill to work on to prepare a 6th grader for General science (in my opinion) is to let them set up experiments and hands on stuff from their 6th grade science materials. Write an occasional lab report (or simple write up).

 

I think you'll be fine.

 

-crystal

[Momofeat]

We are using Exploration this year, but we did the science backwards. She did botany first and has only 2 weeks worth of animal science left. My dd is in 4th grade, loves science (especially zoology) and is an excellent reader. I think she actually read The World of Animals before we even started! For her, the botany was enough but the animal studies were not. We've supplemented with lapbooks and dissections at a museum.

 

Since we've not used Apologia's general science, I do not know how well it prepares students for that. I just know that my dd needed more to satisfy her curiosity. ;)

[dhudson]

I'm finishing up our year of EXP with a 6th grader and twin 3rd graders and I think the science was great. We are a very science oriented family so we have pretty much done all the experiments and I really appreciated the Animal Kingdom. My oldest did several extra reports through out the year and the book basket really enriched our year.

 

We used the website howstuffworks.com as they had many short videos on the topics in both science books. Enchanted Learning also had some fun additional pages to fill out if I felt that we needed it.

 

Altogether, I felt it was a very foundational year for science studying taxonomy and the animal kingdoms as well as the basic of botany. I think my ds will go in to next year prepared to take that next leap into middle school Apologia General Science.