Has Anyone used Queen's Discovering Nature Series?

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  • July 24, 2011 at 4:57 pm
    MamaSnow
    Participant

    Has anyone used any of the books in Queen’s Discovering Nature Series?  What did you think?  I am looking at possibly using All Nature Sings http://www.queenhomeschool.com/productpages/Discovering%20Nature%20Series/discoveringnatureseries2.html next year with my dd6.  The other books look too old for her as yet, but this one looks as if it may be a good fit.   Any thoughts?

    Jen

    July 24, 2011 at 7:27 pm
    HeidiS
    Participant

    Cedargirl has seen the younger ones, I have the Parables of Nature and Marys Meadow – they are AWESOME:)

    Chock full of the readings so you don’t need to purchase the book as well, and at least 4 activities for each lesson, usually something to do with classifying, labelling, sketching, researching things like bees, flowers, creatures. This will be perfect for us especially on those weather days when it is just too nasty to get out! I think they are winners:)

    July 24, 2011 at 9:00 pm
    cedargirl
    Participant

    Yes, I am stoked about these nature studies! My DS 6 is going to do All Nature Sings. DD9 is going to do Parables in Nature and is very excited to get going on it. I like the stories they read in them, the activities, and the fact that it makes a nature book of their own when they are done. The format allows you to do as in-depth study as you want to, depending on how they do their topic research in certain activities. Really it’s set up how I want them to be learning with nature study… Like the next step to expiring what they have read and seen, KWIM?

    July 24, 2011 at 9:52 pm
    martajoy
    Participant

    I was wondering I have a DS 10 and a DD 7 can I do one study for both or should I split them up? I would like to do one so we can talk about it and maybe even go explore…but if I meet in the middle which should I choose?

    Thanx! 🙂

    July 25, 2011 at 12:05 am
    MamaSnow
    Participant

    Thanks for the feedback all.  =)  Just wondering what kind of resources do you use (or plan to use) for the “research” activities? Do you just look things up online?  Or are there any particular books that you have found helpful for looking things like this up for those assignments?  We will be using this overseas and won’t have library access, so I want to make sure that I’m prepared with the resources we might need.  We will have internet access and we also have the World Book encyclopedia on the computer….but we wouldn’t be able to go to the library and find a book about raccoons or whatever the topic of the week was.    I don’t mind buying other resource/reference type books if we will need them…just wondering if I need to plan for that or not. Smile

    Jen

    July 25, 2011 at 12:37 am
    cedargirl
    Participant

    Martajoy, depending on your children’s reading level or if you are going to read aloud with them, they may find Mary’s Meadow or Parables in Nature fine to do with them. DD9 chose Parables because she really liked the sample story given. when it arrived I went through it and was very happy with it. Or you could do Walk with Aunt Bessie with both easily. They do need their own copies though, to make their own nature books as the copyright doesn’t permit copying.

    Jen, you would do fine with those resources to look up info with! We have a small selection of nature and animal books on our shelf we will use and the Internet. If the weather permits us to drive in the winter we will trek into town to the library but it’s not what I am banking on. If there was something in particular you wanted to focus on in the lessons you could pick up a field guide but I think Internet and world book would give them good info outside the story itself.

    July 25, 2011 at 2:08 am
    MamaSnow
    Participant

    Thanks!  Sounding more and more like this might be a good fit for us next year….

     

    July 25, 2011 at 1:06 pm
    Titus2mama
    Member

    oh wow,  those look awesome, now I am torn!  Was planning on doing apologia but for my younger kids who have never done science these look so neat!!

    July 25, 2011 at 2:34 pm
    HeidiS
    Participant

    I did Apologia Land Animals when my dd wa 9/10 and I kinda wish I had waited and done it later. They are so rich in vocabulary and in depth stuff, but they are certainly textbooks, even though beautiful ones:) The Nature Study series covers much of the same information in a much gentler, more integrated way, and they are a fantastic intro into the world of plants, animals, birds, etc. I like what bookworm ( I think it was you) said in another post about the tendency to ‘feminize nature studies’- its true but we don’t have to do that. The boys can classify rocks, get grubby looking for worms, seashells, etc, climb trees for leaves- so much. The Apologia book didn’t leave us much time or space for ‘getting out there’ if you kwim? The book took a lot of time, and we did the lapbook pages with it so it was hands on but it still took a lot of time I think would have been better spent learning how to observe, classify, really touch feel and see things- then move into the books. Just my opinion but if your kids are under 10-11 I would wait- there is lots of time for the books later on!

    July 25, 2011 at 5:05 pm
    martajoy
    Participant

    THANK YOU Cedargirl!! 🙂

    July 25, 2011 at 7:05 pm
    Titus2mama
    Member

    Thank you for the advice

    August 29, 2011 at 7:34 pm
    Michelle Anglin
    Participant

    Hi guys! I know I’m on a little late on this topic, but maybe someone here will be able to answer my questions.  We, my 7th, 4th, and 1st graders are getting ready to finish 106 days, which we have loved btw. I’m having a very difficult time deciding where the Lord wants me to go with science.  I don’t believe that its Apologia.  But coming across this thread, and looking at Queen’s, I’m wondering if this might be where we are being lead.  What do you ladies think about doing Parables from nature with all three of my kids.  We do most subjects together, and yes I would read the story out loud.  Also, is there a book list? Like extra books that would go along with this like in 106 days?  Or would I just have to figure that out on my own?  Also, we will start doing Outdoor Secrets in September one day a week.  Do you think that would be too much with Parables from Nature? 

     

    Thank you all so much in advance and God Bless you and your families and homeschools! 

    August 29, 2011 at 10:25 pm
    Homeschooling6
    Participant

    I’ve been looking at these as well. I’m torn too because I already own Apologia but Queen’s looks more like it might get done. Less stress for mama too 😉

    Before I buy I’ll chew on this for a while.

    Thanks for all the feedback.

    Linda<><

    August 29, 2011 at 10:46 pm
    Ladyofthehouse
    Member

    Shellyanglin, I am doing Outdoor Secrets and the Companion with my 6 and 5 year old and my littles and we love it. However, I do feel like it would be way too light for your older two without adding some more age appropriate books to read along with the various themes. Maybe others on here have used it for older kids and would have suggestions…….?

    I haven’t used Queen’s but it is on my list for later :o)

    August 30, 2011 at 2:04 am
    Shannon
    Participant

    shellyanglin, We just started Outdoor Secrets and the Companion. My boys are 5yo. I find it works best to schedule a handful of the lessons together, and then not do any for a while. For instance, the first five lessons deal with apples and so we are doing them now over the course of a few weeks. Each lesson is very short/light, so I think doing only one a week would be spreading it out too much.

    Best,

    Shannon

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