Yes, AIG is alittle textbooky, but you don’t have to use it that way. Use it as a guide, not a textbook. The lessons are short, so that’s taken care of. It has a read aloud section; instead of asking questions, have them narrate.Since you have the topics there laid out for you, find living books for the children to use for that “lesson”, expanding and keeping wihth the CM model. There are hands-on activities as well.
Another option for science, for grades 3-up (which is really the earliest time to start “formal” science) would be “Considering G-d’s Creation”.
Up unitl then, or whenever you start, just use living, Creation-based books, fact books from the library, Creation science videos, use First Nature Guides and observe the outdoors, marveling at His Creation and promote the Creation Notebook as it encourages observtion skills. If you’re inspired and curious about Creation, they will be, too and them learning about it will become effortless for you as they will be self-motivated learners. This way of doing things, as opposed to using AIG or any other “prepared curriculum”, CM friendly or not, will allow you to include all the children. Also, you could use the “BAckyard Scientist” Series for project ideas for almost all your children. May I also suggest the Jonathan Park Series (cheapest at Amazon). Also, I suggest subscribing to either Nature’s Friend-,http://www.naturefriendmagazine.com/ or Creation (by Creation Ministries International)http://creation.com/creation-magazine or Creatin Illustrated-http://www.creationillustrated.com/
Just my personal opinion here, because I don’t know your reasons and it’s your business; but as some of your children get older, one or two may be real science lovers. My son is and I haven’t used Apologia as a “curriculum” at all, but he LOVES to read them for himslef and do the projects for himself. He has been given them for Holidays and B-days just as if they were “regular” books. He wants all of them everntually; he has 4 of them and read through them all more than once.
If you need ideas where to get Creation products at the best prices, other than at used bookstores and library sales (inc. videos), let me know.
Rachel