Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Recommended Resources Exploration Education Science

Wondering if anyone has used this curriculum for science? DS6 is super interested in science, I don't want religious based (we believe in evolution) and Plato is just a little beyond him at the moment. I'm looking for something that will lead to Plato.

No, I haven't used it. I've never heard of it, so I'm no help at all.

When DS8 was 6 and we pulled him out for emergency homeschooling, I had trouble finding a secular curriculum that was both sufficiently rigorous and sufficiently accessible for a young child.

I ended up checking out of the library science books on topics that interested him. The downside was that it was not a very organized, linear path for his studies. But that was really the only downside. (And that only affected my desire for a linear path. It didn't hurt him.) It was easy to tailor the curriculum to his needs and interests. And at 6, he doesn't need more than to be interested and excited about science. Anything else is gravy.

It worked quite well.

Feel free to ignore though. I know you have a lot on your plate so you may just need something that's done for you.

I don't know this curriculum either, but last year we helped DD's school pick a new science curriculum and were completely impressed with the stuff from William and Mary Center for gifted ed. (cfge.wm.edu) I don't know how well these could be done on an idividual basis, but they may have a series for homeschoolers.
Just a thought.
Their other curricula also looked awesume!

Hope this helps.

DS6 wanted to study Chemistry this year, so we are using R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey by Pandia Presss. Their choices are Life, Earth & Space, or Chemistry. They call it appropriate for grades 2-5. We do chem twice a week and are a little ahead of schedule because DS doesn't consider it "real chemistry" unless there is a lab. Working on the Elements book doesn't count, so we do a lab every lesson. Since DS is not advanced in reading or writing I read all the lessons and take dictation.

An added benefit of this chemistry program is that it often takes care of the mid-morning snack dilemma!

-M

I have the 2nd Exploration Education, not the one for youngest kids if you have any questions. We haven't used it yet...I forget we have it. It's one of those I bought for those rainy, snowy days which are coming soon.

Dazey,
You and I can be the testing ground of sorts. I'm going to try it as I need something when he finishes up Anatomy. Kriston was right in saying that I don't have alot of time to put something together. The science bug has bitten hard and I want to keep him going for as long as possible.

Don't underestimate the library books though. Especially if you're going anyway. Maybe not for your spine, but I was amazed at how easy it was to have him read something and discuss it with me and just be done with it. There are days when that's nice. No prep work!

Physics - Canadian TV's Eureka, if you can get hold of it or watch it on YouTube. We ALL learned so much

Astronomy (& Philosophy) - try getting Carl Sagan's Cosmos DVDs. A bit iconoclastic for those less secular folk but what an introduction, what a mind opener!

Numerous talking books about Scientists and their inventions, suchas:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Great-Scientists-Discoveries-Junior-Classics/dp/9626344407/ref=pd_sim_b_7

These are not going to give the full "D=M/V" or "E=MC2" - well maybe "Eureka" will - but so much of science is in the thinking and thought which is often drowned out by the mechanics of the maths - which will come.