I don't like Science :(

Nina, I don’t do experiments either. I like nature study, but am not someone for projects. My husband and I both have chronic health conditions, so they’ve had to get used to doing things solo, too. My children do experiments and nature study and reading pretty much on their own and at your children’s ages, they can do experiments on their own. I read books aloud, but that’s it.

My son uses the Apologia series on his own; he has since age 7. He does the experiments himself. They both read the Christian Liberty Readers indeoendently then narrate. They go outside and collect creatures and study them on their own. I don’t particpate in that either as it creeps me out; but they use our field guides and library books to learn along with observation. I read aloud living science books and A Child’s Geography and after that, the AIG science series; again, they will do the experiments themselves.

I guess, to put it in a nutshell after i’ve rambled on so is-yes. They can do the ‘active’ science on their own and lots of independent reading. I do recommend the Apologia for ease of use and story like approach. In fact, some days, your oldest can read aloud or they can take turns. How you want to do it up to you. The CM way is by narration, which Apologia follows, along with notebooking. To make it easier for you, you can purchase the pre-made notebooking books and let the children run with it.

HTH and is clear on what I was trying to say, Rachel

No problem! I was thinking that due to the age of your oldest, you will have to figure out how to move him more into the higher sciences next year while the next two work together, still independant from you, except for your read alouds. If you want some ideas, I’d be happy to try to help.

There are other science programs that are popular on this forum that you may want to glance at or get info. from others on; I don’t know what you’re familiar with, I’m only familiar with Apologia and AIG.

Rachel

Hi Nina,

You know, even Jay Wile, author of many of the Apologia curriculums, says that hands on experiments are not imperative for getting a good science education! Here are some thoughts about science.

First, don’t underestimate the value of Nature Study for all your ages. Keep reading, and/or having your kids read good, living nature books! Get outside. Collect, observe, and journal if you want.

Second, for your oldest who is getting to the age where studying the “hard sciences” is more appropriate, I understand that is is harder to find Living Books to cover these subjects. They do exisit I know, but they are fewer than those for Nature Study. One series that is “Living Book-ish” is the Real Science 4 Kids series. You might want to check these out, if your 12 year old is into reading on their own. There are experiements that go along with this series, but they are not essential. Just reading would be adequate.

Also though, I have come to appreciate the many DVD offerings in the science world. I know they are not very “CM ish”, but I find them effective for demonstrating many of the hard science ideas. Some DVD resources we have appreciated are:

* The Biology 101 series, available from http://www.answersingenesis.org

* Other DVD titles from http://www.answersingenesis.org

 * The Bill Nye DVDs. http://www.billnye.com Many of these titles are available on youtube, and can also be found on Direct TV if you have it. We DVR them. He presents short, entertaining, experiements and lessons on a WIDE array of science topics.

* The Modern Marvel series on the History Channel. These are available via Netflix, as well as on  Direct TV. We DVR these too. Lots of science, technology, engineering and history. Our whole family loves this series.

For my 10 year old, I “do” science with him and everyone else by way of Nature Study. Then, I supplement him with additional read-alone books (like Real Science 4 kids) and an assortment of science DVDs.

At some point, probably highschool, we will likely take advantage of some of the lab science courses at our local Junior College. Or, perhaps we will enrolled in some to the live online science courses offered by Apologia. They are expensive, but really look excellent, as they offer students a live feed of an instructor, and a format to interact live with the rest of the class.

HTH!

When you reach biology, the course from Science Shepherd has all the experiments on a DVD, so your child can watch them being performed but you don’t have to mess with it in your own kitchen. Look at the 9th grade row on the Science chart for details.

I used to not like experiments either. But, two of my boys love them. I now buy kits that contain everything needed. I think I really hated looking for all the stuff. We have had good success with Delta Science in a Nutshell Kits and we, also, order from Home Science Tools. The kids can do them if they clean up after themselves. I keep science stuff in the kitchen.

We have a nature shelf for the kids to put their finds. They have a large pill box to keep found bugs. My older boys love Christian Liberty Nature Readers. Nature study is part of our lives even if we don’t teach it. My husbsnd and I just love to be outside and our kids go with us. We encourage stopping and picking up of animal bones, flowers and rocks. We go hiking, to the beach, and my husband takes them boating.

My 5th grader does an oral narration which I type for him. He sometimes draws a picture or we photograph it. My Grade 2 student keeps a main lesson book. He draws pictures and I do captions.

My oldest is in Grade 8. He reads from the Usborne Science Encyclopedia. He looks at the internet links, watches online experiments, and does a written narration. He has Aspergers and this has worked best for him. He enjoyed the younger Apologia books, but did very little experiments or notebooking with them. He still learned a lot. We are going to use the Apologia High School Books next year. It was a bit overwhelming for him this year.

Sonlight has Discover and Do dvds that have many great experiments on them – performed for you!!  We have a couple of them from two years when we used sonlight.  Our kids still enjoy them, and they are great if you don’t want to perform them yourself.  I think there may be four or five available now.

Gaeleen

I actually didn’t care for sonlight’s science (mostly their book choices, but I dislike Usborne books – they’re like reading in attention deficit disorder mode for me), but I do like their dvd’s.  Quite a few of the experiments do line up with the ones in 106 Days of Creation.  And there is plenty of other experiments to learn from.  I think they have five science dvds now.

You could try having the kids watch the dvd’s and narrate back what they’ve learned, with some supplemental reading, perhaps. 

I would also second the Apologia Science series – you can always try doing them without the experiments, or have the children do the easier ones themselves, and just have the kids narrate back what they’ve read to you. We have one child that wants to do every experiment there is, and others who like to watch only; children who like extensive journals, and children who would rather just verablly narrate back – as long as it’s retaining, I think it’s okay either way.

We also use the Christian Liberty Nature Readers – they are good.