This weekly "column" may prove to be my favorite topic on my blog this year!  I love talking about homeschooling and the various curriculum and resources that we have discovered and use in our homeschool.  I also love reading about what YOU are using, so be sure to leave a comment!

This week, I'd like to tell you a bit about our SCIENCE choices for this school year . . .

Ashley did Apologia Biology last year (we've been using Apologia faithfully since we discovered this great resource for science curriculum several years ago).  Chemistry is the next logical step in the science progression for high school.  As part of the Crew, I received 2 different Chemistry programs last year.  Being the frugal person that I am, I felt it would be wise to make use of one of these, rather than purchasing the Apologia Chemistry for this year. 

So, after checking out both options, we decided to use Friendly Chemistry.  Chemistry was my WORST subject in high school; so the fact that this curriculum had the word "friendly" right in the title appealed to me.    We're several lessons into it, and I must say that it truly is a friendly curriculum.  All the stuff that went right into my head 20+ years ago is actually making sense to me now.  And Ashley has understood it all as well - open book science tests are not necessary (so far) this year!

This is a very "plain" curriculum.  It comes in 2 3-ring binders (one for student, one for teacher).  There is also a packet of game pieces, etc.  The Crew found several typographical errors in the curriculum.  We've come across several of them too (we just white them out and correct them, for future use).  These are easily overlooked though, when weighing the "pros" of the product.  I think we'll actually make it through the year, Ashley will earn a science credit, and we'll be in a good mood about it! 

If you would like to read the Crew's reviews of Friendly Chemistry, click here.

I allowed Gracie to select her own science  for this year.  Last year, she did Christian Kids Explore Biology (because Ashley was also doing Biology), so Christian Kids Explore Chemistry was on the list of options for this year.  Gracie decided to switch back to Apologia's elementary science series (by the wonderful Jeannie Fulbright) - and she decided on the Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day book.  We are just loving this study!  I am enjoying it so much that I sat down with the book one evening and read/skimmed through the entire thing - it is THAT interesting! 

At convention in the spring, I found some great items to supplement this curriculum.  One of those is Walter Foster's Draw and Color Sea Creatures.  Gracie LOVES to draw and really enjoys step-by-step books.  This book has come in very handy with the notebooking activities that go along with the Apologia book.  Instead of making the recommended "ocean box", we've decided to make an "ocean poster" - we have a piece of blue poster board on the wall and, as we learn about the various animals, Gracie draws them onto cardstock, colors them, and we cut them out and attach them to our "ocean".  When it's a bit fuller, I'll take a picture to share here on my blog. 

At the Tobin's Lab booth, I also picked up some of the Dover Little Activies Books - Learning About Whales, Learning About Tropical Fish, and Learning About Sea Animals.  These little books are a fun "extra" - matching the stickers with the appropriate information about the animals. 

The Crew did get to review some Apologia science books last year (though they received the Flying Creatures elementary book, not the Swimming Creatures one) - you can read their reviews here.

All in all, for a family that tends to be non-science oriented, we're quite pleased with our science choices for this year.  Actually, Gracie and I even save science for last most days (it's a "save the best for last" mentality).

So, tell me, what are YOU using for science this year?

Share Your Thoughts

Sep. 23, 2009 - Untitled Comment

Posted by tlpgina

I love this topic for blogging too, you've done a great job with it!

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Oct. 1, 2009 - Swimming Creatures

Posted by Ksudoc93

Wow Heidi, your blog is AWESOME! Just had to leave a comment about this one- we went through Swimming Creatures last year, but my 9 year old asked if we could do it again since we slacked off a bit at the end and she is determined she will one day work at Sea World as a Marine Vet, LOL, so I decided to let her go through it again using a lapbook with it. She's into it just like it's the first go around!
She wants to do Botany next, but I want to do Zoology 3 land animals. Guess we'll flip a coin? LOL LOL

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Oct. 3, 2009 - We are studying Swimming Creatures too!

Posted by SevenSmiths

My 5th grader and 2nd grader, that is. Thank you for sharing some of the extras you are doing with it. I've been thinking about picking up some of the great Schleich sea creatures to go with it. We have already picked up some sea shells and a DVD set on marine life. I'm going to look into the extra you've recommended.

Oh, and my 8th grader is finishing up Apologia General Science so she can go into Physical Science. :)

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