Okay so now you all know I'm putting together curriculum for next year. ;-) First writing. . .now onto science. . . So who uses this--and do you like it? Pros and cons? Plus I want to know how long going through a book takes. Like for example, I'm considering doing the whole elementary science series for 4th through 6th grade science then going on from there. Plus I plan on adding a unit or two on dinosaurs. Is that too much for 3 years? We are extremely science oriented and I pretty much ditched everything I've found for K-3 science bc it was too easy for my kids. Living where we live, I guess we've just had lots of exposure to stuff and so I started making up my own curriculum. Thoughts? I need a sounding board!!! ;-)
Oh woops. . .and one more question for those of you who have used it. Does it work well to teach multiple levels? I want to use it for 4th - 6th for dd and for ds that will be 2nd - 4th but he is extremely scientifically inclined. Will that work? Thanks guys!
My kids are 10 and 8 and they do the same science. I think combining the science is a great idea. I am sure you have noticed that most science on those levels is pretty easy and a simply building from one theme to the next. Therefore, getting the younger one up to speek should not be a big deal. Besides, I would go bonkers if I had to teach botany twice. LOL. Now, as far as you putting together your own thing...I have no real advice. I have used the Chem book from Christian Kids Explore. I have also used various sources and even some old college texts for the solar system and anatomy. Today we are doing some fun anatomy stuff. My kids will be gluing the proper body systems on a body. That is super easy and fun...however the actual lesson will be more involved. For each body system they will have to write a short report. So, I kinda just made that up. But that isn't rocket science. LOL. So, the only thing I am good for is telling you that combining science is a great idea. I think it makes the whole process more fun for everyone. You can adjust levels of work or interest as you teach if you need to.
I'm good with putting together my own thing for k-3. I'm just lapbooking various topics, largely doing what they're interested in. I think really for those grades learning through observation and practicing scientific skills (like measuring) is more important than serious content. KWIM? We're studying the arctic circle now. LOL And then I have to go get lard at the grocery store so that we can talk about how animals stay warm. ;-) UGH. . .I'm not even sure where to find lard.
Yeah, K-3 is very easy. I mean if the kid knows what a mammal is and what water is then you did your job! LOL. Science can always be fun and interesting though. Maybe you can loosely follow a curriculum as to maintain a scope and sequence but indulge the areas more that your kids are interested in through other methods of research like the internet, library or college textbooks. I know a homeschooler who used college texts for her kids in elementary school for science. I personally, could not put together a science program past 3rd grade. I would need an outline or something to jump off of. I can do this for history or english but not science and math. Sure wish I had more of a science and math mind.
I'm pretty sure I have seen lard in the same area as the other oils in my stores. But for myself I plan to use vegetable shortning for a similar project here. We have been studying polar regions and have talked about animals staying warm with blubber. This weekend (when Daddy is home to help us) we will be using shortning between two ziploc bags to test how well it works for keeping your hand warm in ice water. Shortning works teh same as lard and then I don't have something in the house I won't use the rest of if teh project doesn't use it all.
That is a cute idea. I think I may try that. Well, we already studied blubber and all...but I didn't do anything cool like that.
Now see, I'll use the lard in cooking too! ;-) You'll have to pop on and let us know how it works. It sounds like we're doing the same experiment. We're doing one where you make a "blubber glove" and then to take it a step further, we're going to record the temperature and compare various insulators. We'll also do that this weekend or next. . .not sure which yet. DH is feeling under the weather and good grief mixing 5 kids and a pound of lard w/o extra help sounds awfully messy! LOL
okay, we are dong Exploring Creation through Science.... we love it! I think it will work fine for 2-4, it says 4-8 grade for it on the web site I first found it on, but its really good and easy, plus you can elaborate on the different areas, The teacher book has things written out so you can read it straight from the book if you want or highlight it and read/teach as you go. There is projects on paper and research ideas, there are questions and discussion topics.. and evolution stumpers! ds10 loves these!
hmm wait is that considering creation through science I have ds getting it for me! LOL! Considering God's Creation Eagle Wings is the brand name, Look up at cbd.com and look up Considering God's Creation http://www.christianbook.com/Christ...earch&N=0&Ne=0&event=ESRCN&nav_search=1&cms=1 There ya go! went and got the link
Well, since I'm a vegetarian, the idea of playing with lard didn't work for me, LOL. I like your ideas for taking it farther. I may have to consider that, depends on the amount of intrest the kids show. Yeah, the extra help will be nice. I only have two kids and I wasn't willing to tackle the project on my own
I have Consider God's Creation. I agree. It's excellent. I used it for K science actually. The one I'm talking about is Apologia's elementary science curriculum. So it goes. . . Exploring Creation with. . .and then goes through physical science, etc.
We are using Apologia Exp....with Astonomy. I think that it would work well with multiple ages. You can add as needed for the older students if you need more rigorous study. If I had a 4-6th grader, I would teach them and the younger students, then set them loose to learn more using the internet and other resources. I would be confident that with a little guidance students in the higher elementary grades would uncover a mountain of interesting websites or other materials in a library etc. I teach a 2nd grader with a preK looking on. the preK student picks up quit a bit actually. We have fun doing things like run around and twirling and getting dizzy playing planets and sun, moon etc.
We are doing Exploring Creation....flying creatures. My dd loves it! She'd rather do that than any other subject at this point. We do as many of the experiments as possible - though finding insects in the midst of winter is a little tough. I don't think it would be too easy for upper grades. There are suggestions at each chapter for ways to expand the learning. We don't do those but they look more like 5th-6th grade level. What I like best is that it is just one book for everything - no TE or workbooks. It is written almost like a conversation between the author and the student.
I like that it's so focused on one particular aspect. Has anyone had opportunity to compare Exploring Creation. . . with Christian Kids Explore. . . I had a plan and then I saw something else! LOL
Are you talking about the Apologia Exploring Creation series?? If so, We are doing "Exploring Creation with Astronomy" and my kids LOVE it. I am using it for my 2nd-5th graders. It has hands on projects in it and you can also get a lapbook to go with it. Next year we will be doing the Botony one. As far as how long it takes to go through the book. I couldn't tell you that because we are not consistant on when we do our Science. I'm still trying to figure out the scheduling of our homeschool. Anyhow, I hope this helps you out.
No. . .now see what I need is a 'fairy homeschooling curriculum advisor'. Someone who goes through and comparatively reviews all the curriculum that I am considering and tells me what would be the best fit for my own children, as well as my teaching style. That's it. Just one of those. ;-) But it is good to hear that others like it so well. I will most likely go with apologia high school science and so I'm just contemplating the two. I refuse to keep looking at science. . .I must stop. . .oh but wait. . .I also saw Lyrical Life Science also has geology and earth science! AHHHHHHHH!!!!
My dd is doing the Christian Kids Explore Chemistry and she absolutely loves it! BUT, I have not compared it to any other curriculum neccesarily. She did the Exploring Creation with Astronomy last year and really liked that too! So, I'm really no help, I'm just letting you know we've tried them and liked them!
