R.E.A.L Science (from Pandia Press) vs. Noeo??

[woolybear]

I am trying to decide which to go with for next year. Both programs look good. Anyone have experience with both and can give me some thoughts on each in comparison to each other. I have two ds, ages 5 and 7 1/2 (now). Younger ds is very into science,but likes the hands on stuff more than any reading. However older ds LOVES the readings,so I still want that as part of our program. I don't want them to have to do much writing for this program. Either if it could be left out or is not a part of the program. So, any thoughts? Oh, and I am considering the REAL science Life Science program and the Noeo Biology. Thanks for any help, Kim

[nmoira]

I am trying to decide which to go with for next year. Both programs look good. Anyone have experience with both and can give me some thoughts on each in comparison to each other. I have two ds, ages 5 and 7 1/2 (now). Younger ds is very into science,but likes the hands on stuff more than any reading. However older ds LOVES the readings,so I still want that as part of our program. I don't want them to have to do much writing for this program. Either if it could be left out or is not a part of the program. So, any thoughts? Oh, and I am considering the REAL science Life Science program and the Noeo Biology. Thanks for any help, Kim

I haven't used NOEO Biology, just Physics I. We greatly enjoyed R.E.A.L. Science: Life. Each lesson is lab/activity based after a short introductory reading. Some lessons include readings from one of the nature books recommended. Writing is minimal, but there is a bit of charting. There are additional readings suggested.

NOEO is all-in-one but is, in essence, only lesson plans. There aren't additional suggested readings, and only about half the lessons are activity based. More information might be presented in NOEO Bio 1 (assuming no additional readings in R.E.A.L. Science), but I'll wager retention would be better using R.E.A.L. Science because of the way activities are integrated. I recommend NOEO highly for households in which science won't get done without having all materials supplied, but there is no value added here aside from scheduling.

[woolybear]

I'm bumping this to see if anyone else has any input. Thanks, nmoira, that information helps. Kim