BJU Science 1 Questions/or cheap easy experiment book?

[Calming Tea]

We will be using BJU Science 1 next year and I'd like to know if the TM is necessary to do experiments. Also, if the Student Notebook packet is a good thing to have. My son loves Science and he loves experiments, but not busywork (of course).

My other option is the use the science from CHC as-is (as more of a reading and discussing curriculum) and then just use some cheap Science experiment books on the side. He really loves experiments and he could care less if they're attached to what he's learning in Science.

[GVA]

You probably want to look carefully at the samples on their website or Christian Books because in BJUP Science the meat is in the TM, not the student book. You'll miss most of the program if you don't get the TM, in fact I've used it for three years now and I always buy just the TM because the student book is in reduced form in the TM. With two children, I read the student book out loud and we discuss it using the notes in the TM as we go. My children have always enjoyed the worksheets/activity manuals.

The content is Science 1 is also pretty simple, so you might also consider going up a grade or so if it seems too simplistic. We started with Science 3 for that reason.