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Joy in Alabama
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| Posted: March 09 2007 at 5:27pm | IP Logged
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Hello, Moms,
I should introduce myself first. I'm Joy in Alabama. I am the mother of nine, ages 4 to 25. We've been hsing for 20 years and I currently have 6 students. My husband is a pastor in the United Methodist Church, serving 2 congregations.
I try to incorporate CM ideas into my teaching and I have so enjoyed reading RL - it's quite an inspiration to me!
My main curriculum is FIAR and as I've been perusing the website, I see a few familiar names from the FIAR Board. 
I need some advice that I can't figure out from reading RL. I have a 13yo, Anna, who is in 7th grade. I've never really done a lot of "formal" science with her since I hate science textbooks. When she was younger we used Kathryn Stout's Science Scope, which is simply a scope for K-12 and the teacher uses whatever she'd like to teach the concept. That worked well for us for several years.
I was feeling really overwhelmed last year with so many students and someone I respect who has 14 children advised me to get a text for my children to use. I had my olders in Apologia Physical science, which they tolerated, so I bought Apologia General Science for Anna for this current year. It was just disaster. *I* liked all the information, but she found it very dull and tedious. After several months of urging her to stick with it, I gave up. I bought her an Abeka 8th grade text instead and she was supposed to be reading it. I discovered today that she hates it and is balking at finishing the book (after weeks she's still in Chapter 1). Now, I have to say that this year, she's become somewhat lazy, so I'm not sure how much is laziness, but she told me she hates science.
We usually combine 8th grade and 9th grade in our family, doing 8th grade level in subjects that are weaker, 9th grade level in stronger subjects. After re-reading the science chapter in RL, I see where I could do some things she would probably enjoy. But here's the heart of my question: We are required to have one physical science and one life science to graduate. What would Charlotte Mason have done for high school science? I had planned to put her in the Apologia Physical Science book for her physcial science credit next year. But I know it will not work well for her. So what do I do? She says she's interested in botany. How could I do that at a high school level without a textbook? I'm a very busy mother and cannot spend huge amounts of time on one subject with one child. I'm experienced with putting together courses for high school - I've just never done a science course without a textbook as a base.
This sounds tremendously whiny and I apologize. Thank you for reading to the end and I appreciate all wisdom you can offer.
J  Y
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Willa
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| Posted: March 10 2007 at 12:40am | IP Logged
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I don't think you sound whiny, Joy!
I was just worrying over the same thing with my 8th grader, who's my fourth child. I have Apologia General Science but none of my kids have liked it at all. I also have A Beka Matter and Motion but it's not suitable for our family because it doesn't give a fair representation of Catholic history.
I guess I am not very helpful....but have you seen MacBeth's High School Science page? No textbooks, but enough books to put together a pretty good course..... even some lab books.
My oldest used Apologia in high school (chemistry and physics) and supplemented the texts with books from MacBeth's list. My second son used a mixture of books -- he would take a subject (like geology, or botany) and immerse himself in it for a long period of time, so I kept track of the books and life activities and put together his records that way. All three of my oldest used the Mother of Divine Grace Natural History syllabus in 9th grade or somewhere thereabouts.
Wish I could be of more help -- I'm checking back on this thread in the hope that someone can give you some more specific advice, since I am in the same boat.
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AMDG
Willa
hsing boys ages 11, 14, almost 18 (+ 4 homeschool grads ages 20 to 27)
Take Up and Read
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Joy in Alabama
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| Posted: March 10 2007 at 7:32am | IP Logged
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Willa,
THANK YOU so much!! I'm busy this morning, but this afternoon I'm going to explore MacBeth's website. I had looked at it very briefly before, but either I didn't see the h.s. part or I didn't need it at the time! 
I'm looked at the syllabus and wondering who publishes Concepts and Challenges in Physical Science. Just curious...I will spend more time on this website later today, too.
You've given me much encouragement! Thank you!
J Y
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Karen T
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| Posted: March 10 2007 at 3:16pm | IP Logged
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McBeth's pages do not have a specific botany page but there are some botany books listed on the biology page so be sure to check it.
Also, there is a botany book put out by Apologia, but written by Jeannie Fulbright rather than dr. Wile - it's aimed more at elementary level kids but might work just as a jumping-off point for you, supplemented with other books and some botany kits.
If you have any space for gardening (even just containers on a deck or porch) you can do lots of botany projects.
also, have you looked at Elizabeth's site?
She has lots of books for all ages listed, and I would especially recommend Keeping a Nature Journal (she has links to Amazon for most of the books too)
I'll keep my eyes open for other botany ideas.
karen T
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Maturemomg
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| Posted: March 10 2007 at 9:19pm | IP Logged
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Hi Joy!
You sound a lot like me in some ways. My 7 living children are ages 3 to 28 and we've always homeschooled also! We don't do much formal science.
I tend towards unschooling.
I was kind fo worried the one eyar when the state-required standardized test they had to take included sciecne. Gulp! I never taught science! Well, they all did fine.
We live out in the country, have a swamp in our back field, and are 1/4 mile form a lake (Minnesota, y'know, 10,000 lakes!) We have a garden and at various times have had various animals. Even if you're in town, they can still get science. (Do any of you ever cook???)
There is SO much real life science: cooking, menu planning, gardening, animals, even laundry and cleaning, weather, home remodeling or additions (electricity, leverage, etc.), health, repairs on umpteen things. And they get TONS of science from reading books, ordinary books like Little House ones.
You've got kids old enough to have surprised you now and then, I'm sure. You KNOW kids will get plenty of learning WITHOUT direct teaching!
I am thinking of the time when we were walking in the woods with my brother, a educated MD, whose kids were in a very preppy private school. This was kind of towards the beginning of our advnetures with hsing. My oldest was maybe 10? All of a sudden, in response to something, he (my ds)started spouting off about photosynthesis, yada yada yada. I had NEVER (I don't think) used that term. I knew what it was, I had NO idea he did. I asked him how he knew taht and vaguely replied that he thought he read it in a book somewhere.... He wasn't sure.
Anyway, my point is: think about what EXACTLY you think they NEED to know in regards to science. Then cover that, and let the rest go. (I am not sure there is ANY certain specific list that HAS to be covered. I don't have one, my 3 adult kids don't seem to have been unduly hampered by a lack of "science" knowledge gained or not gained during their homeschooling years....)
Yours in Christ,
Kathy
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Joy in Alabama
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| Posted: March 11 2007 at 5:28am | IP Logged
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Thank you Karen and Kathy!
I'm going right now to look at MacBeth and Elizabeth's page.
J Y
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Willa
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| Posted: March 11 2007 at 10:35am | IP Logged
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Joy in Alabama wrote:
I'm looked at the syllabus and wondering who publishes Concepts and Challenges in Physical Science. Just curious...I will spend more time on this website later today, too.
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The natural history syllabus is the tenth grade one -- I wish I could link directly to a page but you have to scroll down. The syllabus uses books like Fabre's Book of Insects and Konrad Lorenz's Ring of Solomon, and the student is supposed to do some natural history project (my daughter studied birds and my son studied trees). I was wondering if your daughter could do something like that with botany.
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AMDG
Willa
hsing boys ages 11, 14, almost 18 (+ 4 homeschool grads ages 20 to 27)
Take Up and Read
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Leonie
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| Posted: March 12 2007 at 9:34pm | IP Logged
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We often try to take an activity approach - even for high school. I kep a log and that can help with seeing the experiences together as a whole Science course. Perhaps your dd can log her Science activities?
If you are looking for a practical example - try the tomatosphere project. Its free, everything is laid out for you, it can be multi age so good for a large, busy family.
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Leonie in Sydney
Living Without School
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4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Help: Dd hates science (long)
