Name: CHEC Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-06-12T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-06-14T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Denver, CO

Tagged: science

This topic has 8 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 4 years, 1 month ago by sarah2106.

Viewing 9 posts - 1 through 9 (of 9 total)

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April 9, 2021 at 9:19 pm
Ruralmama
Participant
I think I have a tenitive plan that I am satisfied with for most everything but my dd science. She doesn’t love school, she would rather play. We spend a good bit of time outdoors, live in the country, and have a family farm. So, she knows a good bit of “common” nature knowledge. I want to do something with her though.
This year she has used masterbooks lets talk science 2. Mostly, we enjoyed it. I see they have lets talk science 3 out, but it is 5 days a week, and I’m not sure I like the dialogue style….but it is 1 I am considering.
I have also looked at Apologia Botany. She may like that, she likes the looks of the notebooking journal and the experiments. I am not sure about a whole year of Botany.
I just noticed Queens homeschool science courses. She may like one those.
We have already read the Burgess bird book and the SCM pond and stream course. Her older brother is going to do Jacks Insects and her little brother outdoor secrets. I don`t think either is really right for her. I am not sure I’m up for writting my own, but maybe. Any thoughts? I’m interested mainly in plants and animals for her.
April 10, 2021 at 5:52 am
Ruralmama
Participant
I looked at Ambleside last night, maybe I could use that as a jumping off point to make my own. I want some plants in there and some kind of journal. Perhaps I could add in either The Tree book for Kids and their Grownups and/or the Burgess flower book or Buckleys Plant Life in field and Garden. I want her science to be 2 readings a week with writing or drawing or project or experiment or extra research to be done then or later.
Any thoughts on any of these or the above post ideas are appreciated.
May 5, 2021 at 7:09 am
kaymckenzie21
Participant
We just got some land and want to start our family farm, so are going to use the book Farm Anatomy for science next year for my 2nd and 4th grade boys. https://www.amazon.com/Farm-Anatomy-Curious-Country-Rothman/dp/1603429816/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=farm+anatomy&qid=1619106757&sr=8-1
Then we will use this notebook to go along with it. https://dailyskillbuilding.com/product/farm-notebook/
We plan on visiting other farms and studying their practices so that it can help us with our own farm, and then have the boys do the hands on work of taking care of the animals and garden as we get them and study them. Anything they are interested in or want to know more about, we can get books or search the internet. We are excited about it!
May 5, 2021 at 7:53 am
retrofam
Participant
Sabbath Mood is another option.
May 5, 2021 at 8:08 am
MissusLeata
Participant
Our co-op did Apologia Botany this year for 4-6 grades. Most of the parent complained about it. My 6th grader did fine, but most of the younger kids found it a struggle.
God’s Design for Science Botany was what I did a few years ago with younger kids and we loved it!
You could add in “The Idiot’s Guide to Foraging” (my kids have pretty much memorized that one!) and a local plant guide.
May 5, 2021 at 9:32 am
Ruralmama
Participant
Thanks for the ideas everyone. I am still thinking.
I have looked at sabboth mood and may use their botany, I just need to read the spine myself.
MissusLeata, what was hard about Apologia? My daughter likes the looks of that best, I think. I would have her do the junior journal. Really my biggest hesitation here is no animals which I would like to do too and the textbooky nature of it.

May 5, 2021 at 12:28 pm
MissusLeata
Participant
Ruralmama…..I really don’t know for sure. Alot of our families take a more gentle approach with grade school and I think it was just too textbookish. And several parents complained. I’m not a big fan of Apologia. My oldest did Land Animals and Flying Animals and found inaccurate information. I hear the High Schoool books are good.
May 5, 2021 at 12:49 pm
Ruralmama
Participant
I think we will do 1 term of Sabbath mood plants then 1 term of God’s design for animals with extra books to read and Abeka’s 3rd grade animal research project (this child likes notebooking stuff).
Last term will be forest biomes including local forests and rain forests. Animal research project can go into this unit. I think I have to plan this one and if animals takes to long so be it;)
Thanks for all the ideas;)
May 5, 2021 at 9:45 pm
sarah2106
Participant
I just did Apologia botany with my 3/4th grader. We had so much fun! We take it slow and steady, three days a week, and do pretty much all the hands on activities to really bring science “to life” I know it is not a one size fits all, but we have enjoyed all the elementary Apologia books. I used to think one year on one subject would get tedious, but it has always worked out.
Last year we did the elementary Chem/Physics when my middle was in 6th grade and it has been his favorite science so far, even my 2/3rd grade enjoyed it, the experiments were fun. I learned so much and my oldest was in 8th grade and she would listen in and it helped her Physical science make even more sense. It was fun how it worked out last year.