| Author | |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: Feb 06 2014 at 7:02pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
Misty wrote:
| Jen - just trying to clarify.. the list above is for your daughters 9th grade science full year class. |
|
|
Yep.  That booklist was completed her 9th grade year (spread across the year of course) with the exception of Instant Physics. She read that this year (12th grade), but after reading and narrating I realized that it would have been a better fit for an intro to Physics in 8th/9th. So, I had my 8th grader read it this year. In retrospect, I would save Flying Circus of Physics if I had to (it's still a good fit though) and sub Instant Physics.
Misty wrote:
Did you ever post the other science classes and book lists here or anywhere?  |
|
|
I have all of my yearly booklists posted here. If you look at 10th, 11th, 12th grade you'll see our science booklists.
Hope that's a help, Misty!
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19 , ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: Feb 06 2014 at 7:07pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
MaryM wrote:
Another option that relies heavily on experiments and demonstration is The Rainbow course from Beginnings Publishing. It is designed as a 7th-9th grade curriculum. They have one year of physical/chemical science and one of life/earth science. The text reading is a little more conversational so has living discussion kind of feel. Some don't care for that style, but I think many non-science oriented students are more drawn to it. I think it is a good middle school option and you can focus on the experiment/demo side. The nice thing is that they have all the experiments and all the materials ready for you so it makes it very easy for a parent who doesn't want to be gathering everything. |
|
|
Mary, this looks really interesting! Thanks for mentioning it! I really look forward to spending time looking through this website later tonight when I have quiet time! I love that all of the lab materials are assembled and included!!! It sounds like a program that is conversational and would be an easy fit alongside a living-book-centered curriculum. Do you think so?
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MaryM
Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13104
|
| Posted: Feb 07 2014 at 1:36am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Mackfam wrote:
| It sounds like a program that is conversational and would be an easy fit alongside a living-book-centered curriculum. Do you think so? |
|
|
Yes, I do.
__________________
Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MaryM
Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13104
|
| Posted: Feb 07 2014 at 1:53am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Wanting to add a fun video resource for the physical science topics. Mimi, all your pinning of fun physical science videos on Pinterest reminded me.
Eureka! Physics from the early 1980's. They are quirky and memorable and the 7th -8th graders last year loved them.
Quote:
| Eureka! is a series of humorous, and information-packed programs that bring "boring" physics concepts to vibrant, vigorous life. Each program takes a simple and direct approach to the subject matter; while the basic concepts are explained in a voice-over, cartoon characters and a variety of animated objects demonstrate the principles on the screen. Constant review and reinforcement make the message clear; as a result, the study of physics becomes easier and accessible - even to viewers without a solid background in the subject. |
|
|
Eureka! video series online - you can view all the episodes here. They can also be found on you tube.
__________________
Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Misty
Forum Pro
Joined: May 29 2012
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 197
|
| Posted: Feb 07 2014 at 6:56am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Jen - that's great thank you for sharing. I hope to gleen some much needed information for my 9th/10th grader!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
amarytbc
Forum Pro
Joined: July 06 2007
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 323
|
| Posted: Feb 07 2014 at 7:57am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks for the Eureka video link, I had forgotten about that series.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Angel
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 22 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2293
|
| Posted: Feb 07 2014 at 8:32am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Something else we discovered to go along with our non-textbook science courses this year... Landry Academy Lab Intensives. (Scroll down the page to get to the lab intensives.) They're kind of pricey, but if you live in or near a city where they're offered and you can swing the cost, they are SO worth it. Basically, the kids spend two days (8 hours each day) doing all the experiments that are usually performed in a typical high school science class. That's what they say, but my kids did the Biology Intensive in the fall, and they did *a lot* more than we ever did in my high school biology class! Another family we know did the Physical Science Lab Intensive, and she was really impressed with it as well.
My son told me (in retrospect, unfortunately) that the way we should have handled chemistry this year was to have kept on with our non textbook approach and to have just signed up for the Chem Lab Intensive to fulfill the lab requirement. Instead, we went the outside class route ("Honors Chemistry"), using Apologia Chemistry as the textbook. Now I have to say... my ds (who is a junior) never actually did physical science in any organized way. Instead he focused mainly on paleontology and astronomy -- enough to get a credit for each. He reads a lot of physics-related magazine articles, and we are faithful watchers of NOVA and other sciency documentaries. This chemistry class he is taking is hugely difficult and requires massive amounts of work. The teacher is also difficult and often loses student work. My son is pulling an A in this class so far. He has also learned to hate chemistry.
I take two things away from this experience:
1. A non textbook approach to science, even one that is somewhat loosey-goosey, seems -- at the very least -- not to handicap kids too much if they later decide to take rigorous, math-based science classes.
2. Non textbook approaches work about a million times better to promote scientific interest and literacy in those students who may not be totally dedicated to the pursuit of science... particularly those mathy sciences, like physics and chemistry.
Personally, I still think they work better with those students who *do* like science as well, but the kids who are devoted to science are more likely to put up with textbooks if it meshes with the pursuit of their goal, IMO.
I *do* wish that I had gritted my teeth and enforced a little more structure with my ds in his earlier high school years, because he does seem to flourish with more structure rather than less, even if he does grumble about it. (I think, at this point, he would tell you the same.) I think that's the most difficult thing about doing high school science without a textbook -- providing the structure for the course -- because there's very little out there to use as a guide. It's much different than opening a textbook and simply doing "the next thing".
__________________
Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: Feb 07 2014 at 9:42am | IP Logged
|
|
|
That's a really helpful post and perspective Angela! I'm really on the fence about enrolling my very science passionate-talented kid in a cover that would offer science classes and labs but it would mean a departure from our living books science and I'm not sure it would be the best route for this kid, who is doing high school level Physics right now (8th grade). I know we talked about "physics first" here (I think it was even on this thread.) Anyway, I'm going that route with him and he loves it. I know I'll be revisiting this thread and all these ideas anew with him in mind very soon. I have a lot of ideas, questions, considerations popping around in my mind.
A living books approach was, hands down, THE best approach for my dd who graduates this year. She is not at all passionate about the sciences with the exception of natural history. It allowed her to connect with a broad outline of science topics without completely killing the sciences for her. This was a great fit for her, and I've seen how my son responds being alongside.
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MichelleW
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 01 2005
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 947
|
| Posted: June 30 2014 at 10:35pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Jen,
Can you tell me how you used Khan Academy? I've spent the weekend investigating it and love the ease of use for math but can't figure out how to use it for science...
__________________
Michelle
Mom to 3 (dd 14, ds 15, and ds 16)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: July 01 2014 at 8:29am | IP Logged
|
|
|
MichelleW wrote:
Jen,
Can you tell me how you used Khan Academy? I've spent the weekend investigating it and love the ease of use for math but can't figure out how to use it for science...
|
|
|
Sure!
I'm planning right now, too!
I just map out our living book reading for whatever branch of science we're studying - so let's say it's Physics. Then, I go through the Khan lectures and just grab all the lecture topics in a quick copy/paste and drop them into a word processing document. Then, I count how many lectures there are, divide by the number of terms, divide again by the number of weeks and days in a term (consider if you'll be assigning Physics for 5 days a week...or just 3 days or whatever because that will make a difference in how many lectures you may assign in a term. Then, I list on the lesson plan something like this:
O Khan Physics lecture
O Physics Notebooking
_______________________
The line below is for the student to write the title of the lecture for record keeping purposes and keeps them accountable.
Then....I take that list I just made in a word processor document - the one listing all the lectures for Physics, add text bullets for the student to check off lectures, tape it to the inside of the student's Physics notebook (a graph notebook) and now they check off lectures as they open their notebook. (The notebook is open during lectures and they sketch concepts and take notes, list vocabulary terms - just as they would in a college lecture.) I suppose having the check-off listing in the front of the Physics notebook is redundant, but it worked for my last Physics student and I had two ways to ensure the student was on track.
Then, I periodically look through the student's science notebook (maybe once a week, or every other week as I'm checking lesson plans and their work), ensuring that they're taking good notes, checking concepts, etc. We often discuss things from the notebook.
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MichelleW
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 01 2005
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 947
|
| Posted: July 01 2014 at 2:19pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks Jen! That was very helpful!
I am planning Chemistry right now for my 10th and 11th graders. I know you mentioned an app somewhere that you liked for Chemistry. Can you remind me what it was called?
So far, I like The Joy of Chemistry, and The Camelot Chemistry Primer. I've got several others on hold at the library that I hope to flip through in the next day or so.
We ended up going the living book route for biology last year and it was the right thing for us. I am hoping we can find the right balance for chemistry this year!
__________________
Michelle
Mom to 3 (dd 14, ds 15, and ds 16)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: July 01 2014 at 2:43pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Oh my goodness!! We found lots of great apps when we went through Chemistry!
I'm sitting here with the family iPad right now, loading it with some new apps for this upcoming term so I can tell you some of our favorite chemistry apps:
Chemist - Virtual Chem Lab (THIX)
Video Science (Object Enterprises) - for their many chem lab demos
The Elements Flashcards (Touch Press)
H2O- An Adventure that teaches Chemistry (Byrne Publishing LLC)
This is a hands down **MUST** for anyone studying chemistry - University of Nottingham Periodic Table of Videos.
We REALLY enjoyed Chemistry through living books, Michelle!! Good luck picking out your line-up!!
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Angel
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 22 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2293
|
| Posted: July 01 2014 at 4:12pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I just downloaded The Elements (by Theodor Gray) app for Mac and it is awesome. I got the enhanced version for Mac desktop. (We're running it on a Macbook, not a real desktop, but whatever.) Ambleside Online has included it in their new recommendations for... Year 6, I think, which is why I checked it out, but obviously it is not meant for any particular age, and it has gorgeous photos of all the elements plus video demonstrations of how they react to other elements. It took FOREVER to download, though!
__________________
Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: July 01 2014 at 4:47pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I saw that AO recommended that app and it looks gorgeous! It wasn't available when we went through chemistry a couple of years ago, so I'm really looking forward to adding it to our lineup when my second goes through chem!!! I really like all of the TouchPress apps! They're beautiful and really engaging! This is making me wish we were doing Chemistry this year!! Do update us and let us know how you use it, Angela!
On a side note, we did use Gray's book, Elements Vault, and really liked it, too!
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MichelleW
Forum All-Star
Joined: April 01 2005
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 947
|
| Posted: July 01 2014 at 5:11pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Here are some of our favorite living books from biology this year (kids were in 9th and 10th grades):
Talking to Fireflies
The Curious Naturalist
Seasons of the Wild
Four Wings and a Prayer (My son loved this book because it is written by an atheist who is so awed by the miracle of monarch butterflies that she has to repeatedly remind herself she doesn't believe in God)
Hope that might be useful to someone!
__________________
Michelle
Mom to 3 (dd 14, ds 15, and ds 16)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Misty
Forum Pro
Joined: May 29 2012
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 197
|
| Posted: July 02 2014 at 7:02am | IP Logged
|
|
|
What a timely re-pop up!! I was just ready to start ordering my sons Chemistry books! This will be our 1st year without Apologia for science. I'm happy and thinking about switching my other out of it and into living books. One thing at a time.
I wanted to ask Mackfam - I saw the apps you mentioned and wanted to be sure of 2 of them. Chemist - you mean the one for $4.99 correct not the free one. Also, H2O - it looks kiddy but great for high schoolers (99cents).
Thanks everyone!!
__________________
Misty
Mom to ds16, ds15, ds13, ds11, ds8, dd6, dd4
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mackfam
Board Moderator
Non Nobis
Joined: April 24 2006
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 14656
|
| Posted: July 02 2014 at 2:55pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Misty wrote:
| Chemist - you mean the one for $4.99 correct not the free one. |
|
|
Correct.
Misty wrote:
| Also, H2O - it looks kiddy but great for high schoolers (99cents). |
|
|
This one I used for my youngers - elementary age.
__________________
Jen Mackintosh
Wife to Rob, mom to dd 19, ds 16, ds 11, dd 8, and dd 3
Wildflowers and Marbles
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Misty
Forum Pro
Joined: May 29 2012
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 197
|
| Posted: July 04 2014 at 7:07pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Another question - when using the Khans videos along with living books did those of you using the videos do both chemistry and organic chemistry?
How many videos are we talking about?
__________________
Misty
Mom to ds16, ds15, ds13, ds11, ds8, dd6, dd4
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Misty
Forum Pro
Joined: May 29 2012
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 197
|
| Posted: July 04 2014 at 7:21pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
How about some online labs to watch other than from Khans? Anyone have any suggestions?
__________________
Misty
Mom to ds16, ds15, ds13, ds11, ds8, dd6, dd4
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
cheesehead mom
Forum Pro
Joined: Aug 08 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 374
|
| Posted: July 19 2014 at 12:45pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Has anyone hear of the book Uncle Tungsten? Good read aloud for a chemistry year?
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : High School Years and Beyond
Topic: high school science without a textbook
