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SeaStar
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| Posted: April 08 2011 at 11:49am | IP Logged
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OK- so after limping through most of the year using CHC's Easy as 1-2-3 Science program, I decided to make a change.
I had several Magic School Bus kits in the school closet in reserve, so I've pulled them out- and what a relief! Everything I need in one box. I have discovered that I am definitely a "kit girl".
I admit science day has been my least favorite all year, as I struggled to gather supplies after picking through the experiment options in 1-2-3.
I am planning to use Apologia Science next year and have been thinking about getting the experiment kit to go with the book. The price, though, was making me feel guilty. 
Well, no more! The kit is under $100, and it will be well worth it for me not to have to spend the time gathering supplies on my own. I know, I know- the supplies are "common household items"... but it's just one more thing to do thrown in with many other "one more things".
We are having more fun with science now and doing more experiments.
Definitely worth it for me!
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
SQUILT Music Appreciation
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joann10
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| Posted: April 08 2011 at 12:24pm | IP Logged
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We love science kits, probably because everything is "right there" and ready to go. 
Around here they also seem to lead us on many rabbit trails, usually for a week or two, so that increases their value.
I have just subscribed to The Young Scientist Club for my littles as we plugged along with schoolwork throughout the spring and summer.
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SeaStar
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| Posted: April 08 2011 at 1:27pm | IP Logged
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joann10 wrote:
We love science kits, probably because everything is "right there" and ready to go.
Around here they also seem to lead us on many rabbit trails, usually for a week or two, so that increases their value.
I have just subscribed to The Young Scientist Club for my littles as we plugged along with schoolwork throughout the spring and summer. |
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Joann! I have looked at that site many, many times. Please let me know how you like it. It might be where we go next after the Apologia book.
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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mommy4ever
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| Posted: April 08 2011 at 3:53pm | IP Logged
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With my youngest, I am using McRuffy's science with a kit. Awesome, easy to use. Get it done quickly painlessly.
With dd11 we are using Apologia and it is very easy to put together from home. I can't justify the cost of the kit for General science. I am making our own kit, it will be stored in a rubbermaid bin, with the exception of perishables. A list of those will be kept, so as she gets her week lesson plan(fridays) she'll need to give me the list of what needs to be purchased over the weekend.
So far I have only needed to get some grapes and a red cabbage. I have had everything else.
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SeaStar
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| Posted: April 09 2011 at 2:06pm | IP Logged
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mommy4ever wrote:
With my youngest, I am using McRuffy's science with a kit. Awesome, easy to use. Get it done quickly painlessly.
With dd11 we are using Apologia and it is very easy to put together from home. I can't justify the cost of the kit for General science. I am making our own kit, it will be stored in a rubbermaid bin, with the exception of perishables. A list of those will be kept, so as she gets her week lesson plan(fridays) she'll need to give me the list of what needs to be purchased over the weekend.
So far I have only needed to get some grapes and a red cabbage. I have had everything else. |
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I am planning to start with the Flying Creatures book (my ds is bird crazy).
If you have done this one- were you able to gather supplies easily?
I seem to recall something about making suet... but I hav eonly been able to glance through the book a couple of times.
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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folklaur
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| Posted: April 09 2011 at 3:46pm | IP Logged
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We use the ASK Kits and I can not say enough good things about them. They are WONDERFUL and have EVERYTHING you need. EVERYTHING (except water.) Even if it is just a "paper cup" or a "toothpick" - it is in the bag that goes with that experiment.
I love them.
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CatholicMommy
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| Posted: April 09 2011 at 4:26pm | IP Logged
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We do the Magic School Bus kits - well, we DID them! And then we did them again! And then my son does them over and over and over :)
They have been **GREAT** for gathering some of those science supplies - test tubes and the rack; a beaker, etc.
AND they've been great for those common household supplies that still need to be searched for: the right colors of crayons, a balloon, etc. etc. etc.
For MSB - all you need is water, your own cup or mug here and there; a leaf from outside; that sort of thing. VERY very user-friendly (and we live in an apartment building - so very user-friendly!). So they're not "water-only" like the ASK kits, but the supplies are truly-truly common household items (you've got to drink from something! in the case of the drinking glass that wouldn't fit in the box). It also includes paperclips and toothpicks, etc.
The only one we've not done is the dinosaur kit, because it did not come in the set of 7 that we got.
We also have 2 sets of the Young Scientists Kits (with 3 kits each). I'd been eyeing those for years and these two were given to us, with some pieces missing because they'd been, um, rotting, in a friend's basement for 5 years. Yick. But we've salvaged what we can and we'll be doing those soon too.
I think they are great for getting some of the basic equipment needed - ok, so the test tubes might be plastic, but they're test tubes! They'll work! Now my son has started browsing through experiment books and we have our science shelf with all the supplies organized by type - he gathers what he needs and away he goes! It's so great to see!
(and 3 years ago I was scared about science - I love it, but I was so nervous about "doing it right" - partly this forum, partly Montessori training, and partly finding this kits has SO alleviated my concerns!).
We used the MSB kits with two older girls as well (11, 13) and they thought they were great, but they wanted more depth as well. We used them as a jumping place into reading related science stories (MSB and non), videos (MSB and non), etc.
Ok - I'll stop there
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mommy4ever
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| Posted: April 09 2011 at 6:27pm | IP Logged
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SeaStar wrote:
I am planning to start with the Flying Creatures book (my ds is bird crazy).
If you have done this one- were you able to gather supplies easily?
I seem to recall something about making suet... but I hav eonly been able to glance through the book a couple of times. |
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I haven't done the elementary one. But if you look here:
Apologia
You can see a complete list of lab supplies required. I would have most of what I needed at home already. Other than catepillars..lol. The trick would be this.
MAKE a lab kit. Not just see if you have it. I have large ziplocks and a rubber maid. I divide everything up by lesson or experiment. I print off a list, and make not of any perishable we'll need. I highlight those items.
Then everything is ready for us. SOOOO much more gets done.
I am guilty of not having mine ready right now. So guess what? Not so many experiments happening..lol.
I am getting ready, the girls each want to cover a couple topics so we're starting now.
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SeaStar
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| Posted: April 09 2011 at 6:57pm | IP Logged
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Thanks for the link. I am trying to decide between buying the kit for it and making up my own kit over the summer. like you suggested. If it doesn't get done over the summer, then I am definitely buying the kit. I don't have tons of free time- what HSing mom does? 
CatholicMommy-
I think it was you who first tipped me off about the MSB kits! We are so enjoying them. My ds also does the experiments over and over. He has made about ten bouncy balls so far. I love that he can easily repeat the experiments over and over once shown how they work.
Laura- going to check out the ASK kits. They are new to me. Thanks for posting about them!
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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mommy4ever
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| Posted: April 09 2011 at 7:03pm | IP Logged
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SeaStar wrote:
Thanks for the link. I am trying to decide between buying the kit for it and making up my own kit over the summer. like you suggested. If it doesn't get done over the summer, then I am definitely buying the kit. I don't have tons of free time- what HSing mom does?
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I have more time than money though Once I get in the mode, it doesn't take time. I just set aside the time to do it and just get it done. Like most things, it doesn't take all that much time to do, it's actually the initiative to start I am often lacking.
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mamaslearning
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| Posted: April 09 2011 at 7:32pm | IP Logged
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What a timely topic. I just posted about some kits I was thinking of using (should've browsed the topics first  ).
Those ASK kits look great, but pricey.
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kristacecilia
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| Posted: April 09 2011 at 8:11pm | IP Logged
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I love kits! I just bought a weather station kit, a seedling kit where you can watch the roots grow, and a couple other ones that are going in the family easter basket.
I just think they are fun. The kids like them. Everything is included and the directions are (usually) easy to follow. We have a book of science experiments that we can use with them....
I try really hard to tailor my children's lessons to them, pick out good books, work hard to make do with what we have, buy used, etc, etc. Sometimes I just want a box with everything in it and easy to follow directions. I just want a kit!
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MNMommy
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| Posted: April 11 2011 at 6:57am | IP Logged
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The Magic School Bus kits look fun! Is there enough supplies for more than one kid to use it and/or enough supplies to use the kit more than once or is it meant to be one kit for one child?
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Jennifer
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CatholicMommy
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| Posted: April 11 2011 at 10:58am | IP Logged
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MNMommy wrote:
| The Magic School Bus kits look fun! Is there enough supplies for more than one kid to use it and/or enough supplies to use the kit more than once or is it meant to be one kit for one child? |
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I used these kits with three kids, ages 6, 11, 13 at the time. I can't recall all the details, but there were times that each would be responsible for part of an experiment; many were totally repeatable (judging by the number of times my son continues to do some of the experiments - over and over!).
The primary thing I need to use more of was yeast and bananas (this was a popular experiment).
I just asked the children and one of their ongoing favorites is taking the prism and a flashlight into a pitch black room and creating rainbows all over :) The cost of the kit alone more than justified that prism, and it came with a small flashlight as well (oh yes - AA batteries not included - but it takes only one -- two kits come with a flashlight).
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SeaStar
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| Posted: April 11 2011 at 8:16pm | IP Logged
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I agree with CatholicMommy- many (most?) of the experiments are very repeatable. You might have to replenish things like Borax, yeast, etc, but you have the basic equipment. Some of the books have stickers that are part of the intro, and those would be one time use.
I don't think it is meant to be one kit per child. I usually assign each kid a specific task, also. Example: one measures out the borax, one adds the water and food coloring, etc. The experiments seem to lend themselves well
to being done in a group.
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Melinda, mom to ds ('02) and dd ('04)
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4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: Science Kits.... Yay or Nay?
