What's exciting in science? What will you be using next year and for what grade levels?

Christine

I just love Apologia Science. We've also used Dinah Zike's "The World of..." science books which was fun but a little paper, scissors and mess intensive for 5. I finally invested in The Handbook of Nature Study and it was well worth it.

My teen boy is very into kits. Chemistry and Electronics right now, but he's also enjoyed Crime Lab and Optics. I imagine not too long from now he'll be wanting to build a rocket.

We have a blank wall behind our sink in the kitchen that I keep covered with a poster of some topic. Last month was the skeletal system of the human body. This month it's the periodic table. It's amazing what you can learn when your brain would otherwise be loafing!

Sorry, forgot to mention ages. We don't really have grade levels, everyone is just kind of working at their own level. But we have 15, 13, 10, 8 and 5.

Currently my oldest daughter is doing Apologia Physical Science. Next year she'll do Apologia Biology and my youngest will do General Science. My son and middle daughter didn't do well with Apologia. My daughter is using Basic Science Mysteries this year for 7th grade and will continue with their 8th grade course next year. I think it's called Natural Science Mysteries. They are both by Paradigm Accelerated Curriculum. I really like Apoligia and it has been great for my oldest daughter and I think it will work well for my youngest. It just isn't a good fit for my other two kids, though.

Hi Lori,
Can you tell us what Paradigm Accelerated is?
Christine

Christine,
Well, I only know about their science since that's all we've used. Basic Science Mysteries and Natural Science Mysteries are written in a narrative style, much like reading a mystery story. Instead of a huge textbook, the student has a small worktext with about 15 lessons in it. I think there are 10 worktexts for the year. After every 5 lessons there's a quiz, and after each worktext there's a test. There's also an activity book for each worktext. We just started with it this year and my daughter is moving pretty slowly through it, but so far it's a better fit for her than Apologia. Here's the link if you want to learn more: http://www.pacworks.com/bsm_details.htm It used to be available through Christian Book Distributors but I'm not sure that it is anymore.
Lori

I took a look at their catalog, but I can't really see the difference between PAC and Lifepacs. Are there any hands-on stuff like experiments to do?

Anji,
No, there's really not any hands-on stuff or experiments to do. That's the one thing my daughter doesn't like about it. This weekend we bought an experiment book to supplement her science for next year. What she likes most about the lessons is they're written in story form, like a mystery story. She said each lesson makes her want to read more to find out what happens, so it holds her interest. I haven't used Lifepacs but I think the format is similar. The big difference is the mystery format of PAC.
Lori

Anyone here use Apologia elementary books? Curious to see what they're like.
Christine

Our Five in a Row FIAR curriculum is very thorough in social studies, language arts, visual & fine arts, applicable math and science.

However, when we were reading aloud ADAM AND HIS KIN my oldest son Ethan was asking so many questions about creation. I bought each of my sons a copy of HOW DOES GOD DO THAT? for the coming year. It's an earth science curriculum that is creation-based. You know, it just approaches the whole creation vs. evolution stuff as a non-issue. The earth was created by God, no questions or himm-hawing (is that really a word?? LOL ) around.

We love Apologia. My oldest son has used General Science, is currently using Physical Science and will use Biology next year. My other three will be using an elementary book -- either Botany or Zoology I, or maybe both (we've already used the Astronomy book). Dc#2 will be doing the work. The other two will mostly just be listening to me read and watching the experiments.

We just finished with Mind's Eye, a Thames & Kosmos kit. It's an expensive kit, but there is so much stuff in it, and it's very well done. My boys loved it, and I may buy another of their kits.

Christine,

You can read sample modules of the Apologia elementary science books at the Apologia website. Go to the main page, select "Elementary Science" in the left-hand column, click on the cover of the book you're interested in, and select "Sample Module" under the book cover on the new page.

Hey alegnab,
Glad you like to chat!
What was Astronomy like? I'm looking at one of those for next year, too.
What's the kit you're talking about?
Blessings,
Christine

Ds did a lot of narration for the astronomy book. He did some notebook pages that were suggested activities, and he did some projects. I don't remember much of what he did, though. The author's website has a couple of reviews of the book. Here's the address: http://www.jeanniefulbright.com .

The address for the Thames & Kosmos website is http://www.thamesandkosmos.com/products/main.html . As I stated, we used the Mind's Eye kit. We got it from Timberdoodle, which sells for lower than the list price. The list price for the Mind's Eye kit is $70, but Timberdoodle's price is $57.75. For some reason, it doesn't come up at the site when I type in the name, but if you look under "Science Kits" in the left-hand column, it'll come up, along with the other kits. The website address is http://www.timberdoodle.com . I think the kits would be great for kinesthetic learners. Some of the items require assembly, and my son enjoyed assembling them.

Do y'all do much notebooking, or lap booking?
Christine

Hi, I'm new, but wanted to comment about Apologia Science - We love it! It is creation based science and Jeannie gives God the glory for His work. Very family/user friendly (This was my first year as a homeschooler) We used the Elementary Astronomy. This coming year we will be using Zoology 1, and hopefully make it through Zoology 2 as well. The resouces listed in the book as well as on the Apologia site are wonderful. And her method is for Notebooking, and this is not intimadating because under the elementary textbooks part of the site you can download notebook corresponding to the book you are doing. I had the priviledge of meeting Jeannie at a curriculum fair and seeing first hand her own daughters notebook. (pictures of the notebook are also on the web-site). I am sold on this science program and plan on using it right through High School!

Hi Ann Marie,
I got to review Jeannie Fulbright's books for my next book and they were lovely! What a beautiful job and what a great website she has. It's www.jeanniefulbright.com, isn't it?
Christine

I can tell you, as an 18 year-old, home schooled high-school grad that Apologia is an amazing science program. I used General Science, Physical Science, Biology and Chemistry. I will be starting nursing school very soon and I am completely prepared as far as science goes.

As far as lab booking, I did it for both Biology and Chemistry. I found personally, as long as it is done right, it really helps "making it stick." YMMV

Aaron,
Thank you so much for your post - it is rewarding and very encouraging to hear from someone who has gone throught it and can give personal testimony. Thank you again and may God bless you as you enter into a career path of helping others!

Hey Someguy,
Come back here! We want to hear more about you. Tell us about your homeschooling journey, please!?
Christine

quote:

Originally posted by christinefield:
Hey Someguy,
Come back here! We want to hear more about you. Tell us about your homeschooling journey, please!?
Christine

Ok, first let me tell y'all a little about myself. I'm almost 18, just give me about a month and I'll be there. I graduated this past May, after 12 years of homeschooling. I am the oldest of 5 kids (15 Girl/Boys 10, 9 and 7), all of which were homeschooled until this year. Yes, my Mother is an amazing woman.

The only "real" school I have ever attended was for 6 week in first grade. I was pulled out of public school not only because of the school system, but because my parents were feeling a strong calling to homeschooling. I loved staying at home and I did really, really well. Then came high school...........

As I'm sure many of you ladies know, homeschooling through high school is not the funnest thing in the world. I started 9th grade at 13. I was in the fast lane to graduating a year early. But, as teenagers do, I got rebellious and just plain sick of school and did nothing for 5 months. That was the end of graduating early. After and year and a summer of hard work I finally caught up and only had to take one class my senior year.

During 11th grade I started taking courses (Biology, SAT Prep, Spanish, Chemistry) at a local Homeschool Book store with other homeschoolers. That really helped get me through high school. I have take 4 courses as an dual-enrolled student at the local Community College. I currently have an almost full-time job (I work 40 hours a week, but I'm not considered full time) at the LifeWay Store here in Raleigh. NC.

So, Homeschooling has been good for me. I have had lots of opportunities that would have not been available in public school. Well, that is a "brief" history of my life. Sorry! If y'all have any questions about the other side of homeschooling () please feel free to ask.