I so love learning with my children. I'm sure that's why I love this time of year when I contemplate what to buy for next year's adventure in learning.

Since I am following The Well-Trained Mind's recommendations (mostly), my daughter is in her third year of science following the classical model which means this year was chemistry. Not much exists for chemistry on an early elementary level (my 1st grade son is tagging along on her schedule so I have to keep his ability in mind).

Susan W. Bauer in WTM recommended Adventures with atoms and molecules. It is a simple book of fun experiments that both of my children have enjoyed and we have all learned from (I never took Chemistry). I only purchased book 1 and found it sufficient for one year. With thirty experiments in it, it can last a whole school year doing one per week. We haven't even done that much because I have also interspersed kitchen chemistry (aka cooking) throughout the year.

In contemplating next year, I haven't even looked at WTM to see Susan's recommendation, but may already have my mind made up as to what I'll be using. I received an exciting e-mail from amazon with a suggestion for Real Science 4 Kids Chemistry Connects to Language. Well, I quickly checked to see if they have Physics (our science topic for next year) and they do!

The Real Science 4 Kids series includes the teacher manual for all three topics - biology, chemistry, and physics. Students use a text, laboratory worksheets, and the connects to language book. These links are for physics, but you can easily navigate on amazon to the other topics from these.

Here's the exciting thing: I am  following the classical model, so this is my daughter's first year of Latin (I'll write about that in my next post). This book teaches the Latin and Greek connection to science language! I love this! Science can seem "too hard" to understand simply because of the "big" words. But when you know the root words and meanings from Latin, it's very easy comprehend. I'm so glad someone has connected it to science as well.

I can hardly wait to get started with next year.... 

• Post A Comment! • Send to a Friend!

Posted by westward

When it comes in, will you bring it to co-op - pretty please!! It sounds wonderful! :)

Chemistry is on our agenda for next year, but physics will be just around the corner.

• Permanent Link