bethben Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 I am looking for a curriculum that explains science through experiments. What I'm not wanting is a curriculum that explains stuff through reading and then throws in an experiment to reinforce the text. Does this make sense? More experiments, less text....is there such a thing? I'm not real good on just going through an experiment book. I need a little bit more structure. I'm a little flighty that way. Beth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mooooom Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 http://www.topscience.org/ These are books with experiments, it's definitely a learn-by-doing curriculum. I'm pretty sure there are samples online. The only downside is that some of the "easy to find household items" are no longer so easy to find - things like film canisters and tin cans that you can cut both ends off of easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Alte Veste Academy Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Try Delta's Science in a Nutshell Kits. They include everything you need to do for lots of experiments and supplies for 1-3 kids. Very cool. Light on explanations and zero book recommendations. :001_smile: http://www.delta-education.com/siansplash.aspx?subID=5&menuID=17 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deeinfl Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Home Science Adventures. You can see this at hometrainingtools.com I did this our second year of homeschooling and my son loved it and had a love of science because of it for a very long time. :) HTH, Dee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sands31210 Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Agreeing with the recommendation for Home Science Adventures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 More experiments, less text..Beth REAL has a lot of hands on and projects that are done in a sitting. Kiddo has liked them ALL very, very much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bethben Posted April 6, 2009 Author Share Posted April 6, 2009 Are you talking about real science for kids or R.E.A.L. science? Beth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calandalsmom Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Young Scientist club kits are what we use http://www.theyoungscientistsclub.com/ We get them at Rainbow Resource. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pata Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Have you thought about just getting a Janice Van Cleave book and working throught that? They are basically books of experiments with alittle explaination, just enought for you to understand the science at work in the experiment. Each one is organized by topic, such as Biology for Every Kid, Earth Science for every kid and so on. I use them alongside of the Usborne books, but I think that you could let them stand alone for an all experiment type program. You should be able to check them out from your library. Just thought I'd throw a non-curriculum option in there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Are you talking about real science for kids or R.E.A.L. science?Beth R.E.A.L. I was in a rush to get to my carpool and skipped the .'s. :) p.s. I just got the scratch and dent Chem level I and am I pleased. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth Conley Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 The idea of getting Janice Van Cleave books sounds very cost effective to me. I'm using two of her books now. The ideas in her books are great. I particularly recommend Chemistry for every kid. It makes Chemistry accessible and fun. Her experiments and activities are very practical, and have life applications we can all relate to. http://www.amazon.com/Janice-VanCleaves-Chemistry-Every-Kid/dp/0471620858 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth Conley Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 I'm currently leading a mixed group of elementary age kids through an engineering class. One of the most useful experiment kits I invested in was an electronics "snap kit" from Radio Shack. These are too cool! They're well worth the 30 - 150 dollar investment, (your choice), and you can perform 50-400+ meaningful activities/experiments with a kit, depending on which you chose. It's my favorite! By the way, the engineering approach to Science has brought the kids the most relevant Science I've ever encountered. It's not pie in the sky or abstract, it's concrete, and they get to do it! I just bought a kit to build a clock. (Only 5 bucks, there's a catch here somewhere!) Gears, a pendulum, and all sorts of wonderful applications of the same. I can't wait to fiddle with this one! Anyway, experiments and science kits are nice, but usually the best ones are shockingly expensive. A great deal can be learned by taking the "exploring engineering approach". You get to buy a lot of toys, build stuff, blow stuff up, fire stuff off, and generally get messy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine State Sue Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Exploration Education is another one. It's linked in my signature. An added bonus is that it comes with all the materials as well. Makes it easy to implement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veritaserum Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Another vote for Pandia Press REAL Science and Young Scientist Club. My kids love both. Science is by far their favorite subject. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bethben Posted April 7, 2009 Author Share Posted April 7, 2009 Would it be a strange course of science to take where all I do is the physical/chemistry side of science - the mostly get kids really loving science course? I did like the REAL science chemistry. Are they coming out with physics also? I think my kids would LOVE science if all I did with them were the wow experiments. I guess my goal is for them to love science and think it's great rather than learn a bunch of random facts. They would learn along the way anyhow. Science has been my new "figure this one out". With the first child, you question your path and then when you have that down, you can move on. I've got history,math and spelling down - now the rest of the subjects. Apologia for elementary seemed like the way to go, but there's not enough experiments and too much reading for science to be thought of as fun. I will admit that I like it, my ds somewhat...I will have to ponder this one. Beth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allearia Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 The Pandia Press REAL Science Odyssey. The books have a one page overview of the topic to read out loud then two or three labs or activities related to the topic. There are also recommended readings to get from the library but the heart of the program are the labs. We have loved Life Science! We just ordered the Earth and Space and expect to get it this week, and when I saw they were selling the Chemistry at a good discount because they were damaged I ordered that too. They have great samples on their website so you can read through and do a few weeks to see if it is what you want. I think they will be coming out with Physics by next year or so so we hope to do all four for our elementary science years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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