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Becky Parker
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| Posted: July 18 2012 at 3:56pm | IP Logged
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For Science this year I am planning to have my 3rd and 6th graders work together using the book The New Way things Work. We are happy that a good friend to both of my boys will be joining us (and the possiblity of another boy as well). I am trying to think of some projects they can work on as a hands on component to this book. I have purchased the K'Nex simple machines kits (there are three of them) and we have a Snap Circuits set. Any other thoughts or ideas?
I'm thinking of setting this up one of two ways. Either the kids read the book at home and then we meet here just for the projects, or we meet here, read and discuss (maybe do some sketching in notebooks) and then the following week we do a project. I would appreciate any thoughts you might have on that as well.
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Becky
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pumpkinmom
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I have this book and really would like to figure out how to use it with projects. I am not creative and also needs someone else's lesson plans. Of course, I always tweak them.  I will be watching this post.
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Cassie
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Becky Parker
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| Posted: July 19 2012 at 4:49am | IP Logged
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Cassie,
I know I'm the one that asked the original question but I wanted to say if you haven't checked out these kits from K'Nex, you really should. I purchased the first three listed at the link. I've been wanting them for years and finally decided this study warranted the cost. The kids haven't worked with them yet but from what I see in the package, they are going to be a great addition to our science this year. The real beauty of it is that I don't even have to be creative! It's all there - directions, explanations, everything. There's even a Teacher's Manual DVD which I haven't looked at yet.
These kits go right along with the first chapters in the New Way Things Work about simple machines. I just wish I could find something equally as good for the remaining chapters!
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Becky
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pumpkinmom
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| Posted: July 19 2012 at 9:40am | IP Logged
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 Thanks Becky! My boys would love this. I am thinking Christmas gifts to help cover the cost.
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Cassie
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Mackfam
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| Posted: July 19 2012 at 9:48am | IP Logged
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Gals,
I so wish I had more time to chime in - I can't tell you what a fun science course this makes! I wanted to drop in a link to a course we enjoyed three years ago (with a 4th grader) with just this theme! The Way Things Work: Boy Meets Machine. We had SOOOO much fun with that science course!
I wish I had time to join you for more brainstorming....but I'm  thinking of the fun you're going to have with your years following The Way Things Work!
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SallyT
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| Posted: July 19 2012 at 10:47am | IP Logged
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Oooh, very fun! We have that book, but I hadn't thought about it for this year's science. Could be a great fit for my rising 4th grader. Thanks for the inspiration!
Sally
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AmyRobynne
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I just picked up The Way Things Work at a mailbox-lending-library I found in town. It's one where you take a book, leave another one, etc.
My kids (8 and 6) have been reading it constantly over the past two days and just asked if they could use it for homeschooling. Since I just bought a bunch of nature study materials, we probably won't go that route this year, but I'm glad to hear there are things set up to use it in the future!
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JennGM
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I keep hoping to find an inexpensive copy of The NEW Way Things Work. If anyone has both versions, how different are the two?
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Betsy
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Jenn, I don't know how they compare, but I am using the New Way Things Work for my 6th grader this year. This version was recommended to me and looks great from my cursory reading.
This book is really quite big, I was surprised when I got it. It looks like they have quite a few used ones listed on Amazon. I hope you can find a great deal on one, I don't think you will be disappointed!
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Erica Sanchez
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Jenn,
I'm fairly certain that the updated book includes a few chapters about computers. Everything else looked the same. I remember thinking that I would be happy using either book.
Hope that helps.
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pumpkinmom
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I bought a new one at Amazon a couple of months ago and my Dc found a copy of the old version at my parents house recently.  I don't remember having it as a kid, so I guess it was my brother's. I haven't look at it to see the difference. But, it is a nice big book and worth every penny I spent on it. Of course I wouldn't have bought it if I new I had the old one!
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Cassie
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SeaStar
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| Posted: July 20 2012 at 6:45am | IP Logged
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I wanted to mention that Rainbow Resources has these kits for $35.95 right now, with free shipping
for orders over $50
I am very excited to see this thread. I have been praying about what to do for ds for science this year. I looked over Behold and See 4 for him, and while I really like the content, there just are not enough hands on opportunities for him there.
This will be just the thing!
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SeaStar
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Also wanted to add that National Geographic makes some nice science kits.
We have the solar power car kit, plus a kit for making batteries out of household things like ketchup.
I have seen these kits at both Target and Michaels. At Michaels you can use your coupons 
The National Geo Woolly Mammoth kit has been a favorite here for YEARS
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SeaStar
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Serially posting here.... but I discovered my library has the entire dvd set of The Way Things Work. I think there are 13, broken down into 15 minute segments. I picked up the one on sinking today... just to get a feel for how they are.
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ShannonJ
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I had no idea there was a dvd series out there. Checked and our library actually carries these!
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SeaStar
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OK- I found out there are 26 dvds in the series.
I just watched the one about sinking with my dc. They liked it and are watching it again. It is animated and presents the information in a very kid-friendly way. My kids especially liked seeing the mammoths helping out.
On the dvd menu there is a section for questions/follow up activities. This dvd had three questions for discussion and I think some websites to look at.
BUT- my big find was that at Library Video Company there are teacher's guides available for each dvd.
This guide gives suggestions for experiments as well as books, It reviews vocabulary terms and tells you what to discuss before viewing the dvd.
It also gives suggested websites for further study.
I believe you could use this as a science program without even owning the book... just view the dvds and go from there.
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pumpkinmom
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Surprisingly, my library has the DVDs too! We are going to put the K'nex set on our boys Christmas list and I hope to start this unit in January. I think they will love this!
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Cassie
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CrunchyMom
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Life of Fred just came out with an Elementary Physics book meant to be studied before Algebra. It might be a fun to coordinate one's math for the year with this study.
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Lindsay
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SallyT
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Ooooohhhhhh . . . . my 10yo LOVES Fred, AND he's doing The Way Things Work for science (thank you, Becky, for this thread!). I may have to check this out, just as a fun read-alongside thing!
Sally
(Nice to write about something my 10yo loves for a change. He does like TWTW -- I think this is going to be a hit -- and Fred is his favorite thing we do all day. We're just reading through the LOF elementary series in our Morning Basket time, and doing the math at the end of the chapters at oral/mental math. But I think he'd really like to find his very own Fred in his book box)
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CrunchyMom
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Not really a project, but I thought that this video done by an astronaut on the space station was neat. He shows his yo-yo tricks and then gives a little physics lesson.
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Lindsay
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4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: Projects for The New Way Things Work
