scrapbabe Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 I do not have a scientific bone in my entire body, but am the mother of 3 boys who do. I want so badly to give them a great science education, but have no idea where to start. I want something with a lively text, and maybe even a "living" approach - no dry textbooks. I want some real MEATY experiments to go with it. I want it to be user friendly (DVD would be nice) so my kids can pick it up and go. I want it to be educational but fun and entertaining. I don't want to pay big bucks for it. I love the idea of supercharged science, it's got the great experiments - not so much text (it needs more) but a HUGE price tag. Rainbow Science looks good, but maybe not enough MEAT in the experiments. I've had Christian Kids Explore but the experiments are really lacking. Don't know much about BJU or Apologia except they look dry. Any thoughts?:bigear: What I really want is the living book approach like Christian Kids with the meaty experiments of Supercharged Science taught on DVD by someone who knows what they're doing. Ahh, am I only dreaming? Smiles, Shalynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razorbackmama Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 How old are your kids? I was going to suggest Apologia. It's text is pretty lively. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIch elle Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 http://www.libraryvideo.com/ssl/default.asp?mscssid=S62XBJ8X6MST9KF985SVJ8QAMFKB291E Now we watch science & history on Discovery Education Streaming (membership). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrapbabe Posted April 1, 2009 Author Share Posted April 1, 2009 My kiddos are 4, 9, and 12. So we're gearing towards the older and letting the 9 year old come along for the ride. Smiles, Shalynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsrevmeg Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 My kids love Apologia. We have not found it to be dry at all. Even my oldest, Mr. "I want to be a NASA scientist" has learned things, but it has not left his brothers in the dust. Kelli Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larissa Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 It's at noeoscience.com and it doesn't have DVDs, but the experiments are all packed and ready to go. There are living books and it works for multiple ages. We've liked it. Larissa in NJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terabith Posted April 1, 2009 Share Posted April 1, 2009 That's an age span that's going to be difficult to really work with all the ages. What kind of science do you want to do? Bio, physics, chem, earth science? What I'd be tempted to do would be to get Rainbow Science for the 12 year old. That starts with physics and chemistry, and he can do it all on his own. For the 9 year old, I would aim to cover similar subjects through a combination of either Real Science 4 Kids or Christian Kids Explore, along with some living books (such as some listed from the Noeo levels). And then with both of them share either the Young Scientists Club or pick a kit from Supercharged Science and work through it (Physics of Light; Motion and Sound, or Electricity). It would probably be cost prohibitive to get more than one or two of those. For the poor little guy, I'd get the Sonlight Discover and Do dvd, watch the Magic School Bus regularly, and regularly sort of pick a science "theme" (dinosaurs, desert, woods, rainforest, bugs, spiders, reptiles and snakes, big cats, elephants, bats, solar system, water cycle, human body, sound, light, simple machines, states of matter, etc) and get a bunch of books on the topic from the library. (Find them by going to that area of the children's section and looking on amazon.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrapbabe Posted April 1, 2009 Author Share Posted April 1, 2009 Hey Terabith, I love your ideas for the 9 year old and 4 year old. Do you have boys at home too? I'm excited about trying those things out. Thanks to the rest for the ideas. I started looking at Apologia to find out more details. I'd heard of them before but didn't take time to look as I thought it would be too textbooky. I found out they now have an Apologia Academy and offer online science classes. Enrollment started yesterday I think. I browsed through the info, looked at samples online, talked to by 12 year old, and took a huge leap of faith and enrolled in the General Science class. I am really looking forward to it. I think it'll be so good for him! I'm feeling pretty good about it! Thanks for your responses! Smiles, Shalynn:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terabith Posted April 2, 2009 Share Posted April 2, 2009 The Apologia Academy sounds great! And the fact that it's online should be good for all of you guys. Nope, no boys here, but girls who like science. And while I'm not a scientist, I find it interesting and sorta wish I could be. (Darn that being awful at higher math!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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