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science curriculum recommendations
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I need to find a new science curriculum that I can combine ages with. I have a k/1st grader and a 3/4th grader. We have been “trying” to use Apologia,but it’s not a good fit for them. They hate it and to tell you the truth I DREAD pulling it off the shelf too. I have 3 differant books from apologia and none of them are clicking with the girls..We tried these with my boys and they hated them too. Now they are doing rainbow science and LOVE it. Any suggestions would be great!
Have you seen Sonya’s 106 Days of Creation?
Humm, After reading my post I’m wondering if there is a way to make Rainbow science work for the girls too.. I’m going to look into it more. I had been getting the boys to teach the girls what they learned while doing their experaments. The girls have enjoyed it and it helps the boys too. Maybe i don’t need a curriculum for the girls.. I’m still going to look so any suggestions are VERY welcome.
Angela
Apologia was not a good fit for us either. The books were beautiful, but way too structured. I didn’t pull them off my shelf either. I second 106 DOC. Also, Outdoor Secrets is really amazing. After the story, you can look up more on the actual plant, flower, tree, etc., and do a study on it. This is more the type of science we are looking for, especially while our kids are younger. Queen Homeschool Supplies has more living books like these for science.
HTH!
Which Apologia books do you have? I might be willing to take them off your hands. We own Astronomy and Zoology 3 and my kids LOVE them. Email me at tdrowlee AT yahoo DoT com if you want to chat about it.
Okay, as for other ideas for science: We loved using the Magic School Bus chapter books one year for unit studies, and there are quite a few series on different levels for Magic School Bus now, I reviewed them on Curriculum Choice here:
http://thecurriculumchoice.com/2010/01/magic-school-bus-books-review/
We also enjoyed reading Crinkleroot’s Nature Almanac:
http://www.amazon.com/Crinkleroots-Nature-Almanac-Crinkleroot-Arnosky/dp/0689805349
There are a lot of Crinkleroot books covering trees, mammals, animal tracks, birds, butterflies and moths, and more. They are sweet illustrations with good information.
Hope that helps some!
Tristan,
I’m sorry. I sold them all yesterday on the WTM forum. They went fast, which kind of makes me wonder if I’m the lone odd duck!
~Cindie
No, you’re not lone nor odd. Nothing works for everyone and sometimes someone buys something, not because they know it will work for them, but because they’ve heard something good about it and want to try it out. Right now, all we’re doing for science is living books and whatever we encounter with our Five in a Row studies…nothing formal at all. My guys a young. There’s plenty of time for that and we’re enjoying what we’re doing.
Thanks for the encouragement, Robin. My girls are young (6 and 3.5), so I think I was over ambitious with Apologia. A friend here went on and on about how she loved them and was going to fold her 5 year old boy in with her older girls using Apologia. I got a great deal on the Elementary Series and bought it. It didn’t work for us at all. We are doing basically what you are, using Outdoor Secrets, CLP nature readers and The Storybook of Science; just picking and choosing from one book a day. It’s a much better fit. Maybe when my girls are independent learners and older, they can do a course of their interest together or on their own. As for now, the living books are what fits us best.
Sorry to highjack the thread, but Cindie2dds, can you tell me can you tell me more about what The Storybook of Nature is like? I bought Apologia Astronomy last year and tried really hard to like it, but I just didn’t. The other books look interesting, but I’m afraid I won’t like them any better.
It’s actually The Story Book of Science. Here is a sample. Here is where I got it, they have several books by Fabre. It’s similar to Outdoor Secrets, story format for science. Instead of being stictly from the plant’s point of view, Uncle Paul (the storyteller) tells charming stories to children about insects, weather, spacial relation; general science, not plant specific. There are short chapters and interesting stories. I am embarrassed to say that I am actually surprised that my kids listen to books written over a hundred years ago. They truly enjoy and retain so much. I have learned quite a bit myself!
HTH!
ETA: I bought it from Queen’s even though it cost more, simply because that’s where I found it; and I want to support the local homeschool mom, even if I have to pay more!
I wanted to share this quote from Charlotte that I just read from Laying Down the Rails under “Observation.”
The point to consider is: The habit of observation and nature study form the groundwork for understanding science.
Charlotte’s quote: “Years hence, when the children are old enough to understand that science itself is in a sense sacred and demands some sacrifices, all the ‘common information’ they have been gathering until then, and the habits of observation they have acquired, will form a capital groundwork for a scientific education. In the meantime, let them consider the lilies of the field and the fowls of the air.”
No worries Cindie!
I agree, everyone finds different things work for their family. When we started Zoo 3 my kids were 8, 4, 3, 1, and infant. Now, several months later (ages 8, 5, 4, 2, 1) they are all able to get more from it. I read aloud in small sections, we look at pictures, and my oldest may lapbook or notebook what we’ve learned. That’s it. Experiments are the highlight for everyone. We keep it simple. A chapter often takes us much longer than 2 weeks.
Justed wanted to chime in that my boys do not care for Apologia series either and they are 9 and 5. For K, 1st and 2nd we used Christian Liberty Nature Readers and their Science books (My Fathers World and 2 others)
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