science help

The book Home Learning Year by Year by Rebecca Rupp is a fantastic resource that shows what most states expect for each grade level. Recently I was researching 3rd grade for my sis in law because we were considering having me hs her daughter for the rest of the year but she would then go back to ps for 4th grade. One thing that was interesting to me is how the science evolved through each grade. They seem to cover the same subjects over and over again just getting a little more in depth each time. I also looked at my niece’s science book and have to say it really didn’t look that hard. If having your child do well on the state test I would look over the areas covered in the book I mentioned above and then it would be fairly easy to find both living and topical books at  your library for those subjects. Some things may even be covered in your nature study such as climate and weather related items. Just be sure they know some of the proper terminology. HTH!

Becky

I have a 3rd grader this year too, and I had been very nervous about the “test”.  My anxiety was getting the best of me.  Somehow, I had convinced myself that they were going to come and take my children away if my 3rd grader didn’t “pass”.   Silly, I know, but it had paralyzed me.  I spoke with another CM mom at my church whose eldest has graduated college and is going to seminary, and her youngest is 6th grade, with various ages in between.  She let me know that one year all she taught for science was botany, and her children still did fine on the tests.  Then I found out, by God’s grace, that I don’t even have to send our test results anywhere in our state…just keep them on file for 3 years.  I would advise not to worry!!  I agree with the previous post to teach to the child, not to the test.  Do your research and let the facts speak for themselves.  So many of our worries are unfounded and serve only to imprison us as I found out.  Hope this helps!!