Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Recommended Resources What is everyone using for science?

Hmmm...

We've used TOPS science modules ( www.topscience.org )a few times here--I'm of two (or some number!) minds about them, I think, but they are both secular and inexpensive. Most of the supplies are "homemade", and while I appreciate both the ingenuity and the philosophy behind that decision, we found some of the equipment frustrating to use. My bairns are still pretty wee, though, so it may have been more a fine-motor thingy than something inherent in the materials.

Somebody here (incogneato, I think) likes Bite-Size Physics ( www.bitesizephysics.com ), which I am pondering. It looks really fun!

peace
minnie

Yes, I'm considering the online physics program that 'Neato liked, too. It sounded really good, and we should have easier access to the Internet next year than we had this year.

Wanna revisit the physics for us, 'Neato?

We learnt more about physics from the brilliant Canadian 'Eureka' TV programs than anything else. They are quite expensive on DVD, but you can watch them on YouTube I think.

Having done only a week so far, it looks like I could really compact it. They have it set up in weekly lesson plans, but we could easily do 2 lessons in 1 week, and that's my plan. I'll come back to this thred in a few weeks and let you know how it's going.

Ooh! Ooh! I love Bite Size Physics too! We have kind of added it in here and there rather than using it as our main program, but it really is extremely well done. I recommend just getting the book to start with (at Lulu.com), but there are also web classes that I've heard excellent things about.

The two absolute best things about Bite Size Physics IMO are that the experiments are integrated in the text at appropriate points (so it's easy to know what to do when), and the materials really are easy household things -- books, sneakers, string, tennis balls -- and not the "sort of household things" that take three trips to different stores to track down. That has been my one quibble with TOPS Science... when they say "household things" I frequently end up needing to make several phone calls and then driving across town to get that one last important piece that my grandmother might have had on hand eighty years ago but I've never seen in person myself...

Hmmm... You could do Singapore without the activities, but it would be a little tricky... the workbook relies on the activities almost as much as on the text. But if you wanted I suppose you could just get the text to read and nevermind the activities or the workbook... It wouldn't be the ideal use of the curriculum, but it might do.

On the other hand, if you look at the science-related books from Critical Thinking Press, you might find something that would be closer to what you're looking for. We have an older (out of print?) book from them that has concept maps for life science, but I think it matches or nearly matches their "Thinking Connections" Book-on-CD. It really is just concept maps... so I don't think it would make a complete curriculum at all, but it might make a good complement to voracious reading.

masterofnone,

Have you looked at the Galore Park science books? (I think it looks as though you'd want "So You Really Want to Learn Science," rather than the "Junior Science," which looks to be for younger kids.) I've not seen them in person, but I gather that they are what you are describing--no experiments, but a good framework around which to organise your knowledge of science. There are some sample pages on their website ( www.galorepark.co.uk ). There are biology, chemistry, and physics sections in each volume, I believe.

minnie

DD9 liked the online class with Physics Jim and as a parent, I'd been really impressed with it. Her big focus is writing now, but when she gets a bug about science again, we're going back.

What I loved is that the class comes with live WEbEx lectures. All the kids are *there* in real time shooting IM's at each other and having a really fun time. There was a sense of comraderie.

Also, I'd like my kids to have experiences with other adults as their teacher besides me. And by teacher, I mean an adult who is intellectually similar........
Jim engages thet students, he's very funny and he knows his stuff. He puts the physics stuff in *kid-language*.

He answered DD's e-mail questions and was very encouraging. He also answers questions live during the lectures which is super cool. I highly recommend it.

Here's the discussion on the class

We are using How the Body Works, A comprehensive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Anatomy, Cosmeo science videos, howstuffworks.com, his favorite magazine is Popular Science, favorite show is Myth Busters, and he watches a lot of Science channel shows. He says science and technology is his favorite subject and I feel like we should be doing more.