Science Confessions and Advice needed

[A.J. at J.A.]

Hi all! Okay, I have a "friend" :o who maybe hasn't done a good job getting to science and feels terrible about it! Okay, said "friend" has a 1st grader and a 3rd grader. Science has been spotty at best. 3rd grader is probably about 2/3 through Noeo Biology 1 and then the boys said they wanted to study astronomy so "friend" stopped to work on an Astronomy unit study but got stuck on the moon (okay, the Moon Lapbook slipped her up and they were so close to being finished with it! We never even got to a planet! For shame!!). That's where they got stuck.

If you were my friend with this problem. What would you do? Here are the curriculum choices she has on hand:
Noeo Biology I (could finish up with 3rd grader and start with 1st grader)
Noeo Chemistry I (says it is for grades 1-3, could work on simultaneously with both boys and work on it during the summer too - Summer work schedule was already planned so this won't be a shock)
Noeo Biology II (should 3rd grader just forget about the last 1/3 of Bio I and pick up here with Bio II - says it is for 4-6th grades)

Here's what I'm leaning toward doing:
Doing Noeo Chem I with both boys starting this week and working on it consistently through the summer.
When we are done with Chem I having 1st grader work on Noeo Bio I while 3rd grader works on Noeo Bio II.
I plan on working on these for 20-30min per day 4 days a week which should be manageable if I just write it into the schedule so they know what to expect.

Also, we'd prefer to stick with the Noeo curriculum we have on hand and we are of the "old earth" philosophy...just in case that is pertinent information.

Thoughts? Ideas? Please don't flame me for being a science delinquent! We have been doing better on History (SOTW) and I even started a successful History Club twice a month which has gotten rave reviews.

Feedback appreciated. Words of wisdom appreciated. Hugs and words of encouragement and convincing that I haven't screwed up my kids for the rest of their "science" life greatly appreciated.

Thanks!!
Angela

[training5]

Well, you have done better than I have for sure! Make you feel better? As for what to do...no idea. If the kidlets don't like studying one topic for a whole school year, perhaps a different approach is order? And nothing wrong with pick and choose at their ages. It is all discovery. They and you have time for the intense stuff.

[ELaurie]

even if you did nothing formal in the grammar school years, they would be fine : )

We've done science in a "hit or miss" way this year as well. My dc are in 2nd and K; whatever curricula we don't use now, I'll use again when they are in 6th and 4rd grade, at an age appropriate level.

If I were in your shoes (and I am : ), I'd either pick the chapters that interest you, or your dc the most, and concentrate on those, or plan to do a "unit study" or "science camp" over the summer, spending one or more weeks covering science and having fun with it.

I'm not so relaxed about other subjects, but IMO, this isn't one you need to stress about : )

Warmly,

[Mandamom]

and it all worked out in the end. For our first couple years of science we basically just read a variety of science books when I remembered to get them out from the library. At 7th grade I finally got around to doing Apologia (and I'm not even religious) just to have older dss exposed to some kind of science that I didn't have to teach:eek:.

I just wanted to share that your "friend" isn't the only one who is a science delinquent and that it will work out in the end.

[A.J. at J.A.]

Thank Ladies!!

Your words of encouragement mean a lot!!!

Blessings,
Angela