Science curriculum

I haven’t done 106 days of Creation – but I think the Apologia Elementary would be over the head of a 5yo….   If you do choose to do Apologia – Astronomy is considered the easiest of them

For that age, I think either 106 Days, or even just reading living books and nature study. We did 106 Days of Creation last year (2nd grade age, 7/8y) and started the Apologia Astronomy book this year (8/9y). It works well to go through 106 Days before beginning the Apologia series. Its like a fly over before coming in for a landing on the various subjects for more detailed study. 🙂 

Back in Kindergarten (5/6y) we were using Five in a Row, and didn’t do seperate subjects. For 1st (6/7y) We just read through the mammals section of the Handbook of Nature Study and the Burgess Bird Book. Ds especially enjoyed the bird book and looking up the birds we read about on allaboutbirds.org.

Melissa

Welcome!  You’ll love it here!

I didn’t have the advantage of homeschooling since the beginning.  This is our first year and our boys are in 5th and 2nd.  If I had started in K, however, I would have probably not done any formal science, just Nature Study.  I think that’s what I would recommend: just spend lots of time out-doors observing and talking about nature, reading picture books and nature readers about the things you see — bugs, birds, plants, animals, etc.  Ask questions like “What do you think it would be like to be as small as an ant?”  or “How do you think a squirl remembers where it hides all its food?”.  These aren’t right or wrong answer questions, just get you thinking and communicating your thoughts type questions.  Instill in your child a sense of wonder about the world around her and her loving heavenly Father who created all these things.  Personally, I would avoid anything too formal in K.

As to handwriting — I would definatley start in K.  If your child is starting to form letters on his or her own, then I recommend instruction in correct formation because so often they can develope bad habits.  I’m still trying to retrain both of my boys because they’ve developed such bad habits in PS.  You can do either cursive or print as you prefer.  Handwriting Without Tears is often recommended, but I’ve not used it myself.  We are using Beautiful Handwriting for Kids (Italics) that I got from Currclick. 

Welcome to the forum cekfamily!

I have a ds 5yo (6 in December) that will be doing a kinder year starting in September.  Here is what we will be using:

Scripture Memory – SCM Scripture Memory System

Math – Rightstart A math

Science/Nature Study – Outdoor Secrets and Companion (my library has all but 2 or 3 books)

Reading – Delightful Reading

Writing – Delightful Handwriting

Poetry – Now We Are Six

Character – A Child’s Book of Character Building 

Read Alouds – Aesop Fable, Farmer Boy, James Herriot and many others to transition into narration.  

Blessings on your upcoming year,

Carolyn

We did try Apologia Astronomy when my DD was 5, almost 6.  We enjoyed the first section, a general overview of the solar system.  We had fun making a paper-mache model of the solar system.  (Imagine 5 kids under six with enough slimy paper to cover two of those giant party balloons to make Jupiter and Saturn!)  After that though, when the material became more detailed about the sun and each planet, we got bogged down.  It was just a bit too much.  We could have slogged through, but I decided to leave it for later.

Instead we have done reading from The Burgess Bird book and Burgess Animal books, and this month we started 106 Days of Creation.  I think it’s a much better fit, especially because I have younger kids who tag along.  I do like the Apologia books, but I think I’ll wait a couple of years, when my DS will be 7 and we can do it together.

Joanne