Did your kids enjoy Chemistry in 3rd grade?

[Pylegang]

I'm preparing for our 3rd grade year and having lots of fun! WTM recommends chemistry for 3rd grade science. Did your children enjoy this? What worked well for your 3rd grade science year?

[Jenny in Atl]

We used Real Science 4 Kids the first time around and this year we will be using The Elements (http://www.ellenjmchenry.com/id98.html). Hands on works best at this age. The more hands on the better. Fun, light, and engaging. You don't have to go too deep, keep it more general/big picture.

hths!

[Pata]

I would recommend Fizz, Bubble, Flash. I recently got this for writing my chem plans and it's fantastic! Looks like lots of fun but at the same time very interesting and acurate information(I'm a biochemist). Hope that helps!

[Jen3boys]

We used Real Science 4 Kids the first time around and this year we will be using The Elements (http://www.ellenjmchenry.com/id98.html). Hands on works best at this age. The more hands on the better. Fun, light, and engaging. You don't have to go too deep, keep it more general/big picture.

hths!
Can you post sometime after you've used The Elements? I'd love to hear your thoughts. We're going to use RS4K Chem 1 and also try Chemistry Matters from AIMS.

[Lori D.]

We did Chemistry with our 2 boys when they were in 3rd and 4th grades. We went with fun books from the library, watched some chemistry-based episodes of Magic School Bus ("Ready, Set Dough" and "Meets Molly Cule") and Bill Nye the Science Guy -- and mostly did loads of hands-on experiments. (As I recall, we *might* also covered a little physics that year -- the energy, forces/motion, heat/cold portions of physics that seemed to match up with the chemistry.)

To give yourself an idea of topics to cover, check out Rader's Chem 4 Kids website -- the info is geared for grades 4-6, but it will give you a thorough idea of chemistry topics you can cover! : )


Experiments we esp. enjoyed:

- red cabbage indicator (checking pH of various substances)
- building molecules from colored mini-marshmallows and toothpicks
- cooling/freezing and warming/heating various items (solid/liquid/gas, melting/boiling/freezing points)
- adhesion/cohesion of water (surface tension experiments)
- making a density column (tall clear glass vase filled with 7 different liquids (each with food coloring to it): rubbing alcohol, water, salt water, corn syrup, vegetable oil, mineral oil, and... ?)
- making (and eating!) some experiments out of a book on kitchen chemistry
- Wild Goose Crash and Burn chemistry set (no longer available)


Books we enjoyed:

- 175 More Science Experiments to Amuse and Amaze Your Friends (Cash, Parker, Taylor) -- short, but nice little section on chemistry; we read a 2-page spread and then did whatever experiment they had listed. About 10 2-page spreads on states of matter, melting/freezing points, acids/bases, etc.
See it at: http://www.amazon.com/Science-Experiments-Amuse-Amaze-Friends/dp/0679803904/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217026486&sr=8-1

- Dempsey Parr Science Encyclopedia
Fifteen 2-page spreads about: atoms, elements, molecules, solids/liquids/gases, melting/boiling, crystals, water, dissolving, chemical changes, acids/bases, etc.

out of print, but available at Alibris: http://www.alibris.com/search/books/isbn/075253209X

- 365 Simple Science Experiments with Everyday Materials (Churchill, Loeschnig, Mandell, Zweifel)
We had the sequel ("365 MORE Simple..." ), and found lots of great experiments, easy to do at home with little or no prep, done in 5 minutes, each with a brief synopsis of what happened and why. Divided into sections to make it easy to find the chemistry ones.
see it at: http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Science-Experiments-Everyday-Materials/dp/1579120350/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217028643&sr=1-1

- 365 Science Projects and Activities (Perry)
Similar to the one above.
see it at: http://www.amazon.com/science-projects-activities-Phyllis-Perry/dp/0785315926/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217028569&sr=8-2

- Great Experiments with H2O (Fiarotta)
see it at: http://www.amazon.com/Great-Experiments-H2O-Noel-Fiarotta/dp/0806942495/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217028138&sr=8-12


Below is a big list of chemistry resources for grades K-4. Enjoy! Warmly, Lori D.

WEBSITES:

- Magic School Bus (info, games, activities, printables): http://www.scholastic.com/magicschoolbus/
- Chem 4 Kids (gr. 4+ detailed text/images on chemistry topics): http://www.chem4kids.com/)
- Kids Online Resource (list of chemistry websites): http://www.kidsolr.com/science/page11.html



BOOKS (info on chemistry topics)

- What Is The World Made Of: All About Solids, Liquids and Gases (Zoehfeld)
(a Let's Read and Find Out About Science, stage 2, book) -- gr. K-3
- Rookie Read About Science: Solids, Liquids and Gases (Garrett)
- Rookie Read About Science: What Is Matter (Curry)
- It's Science: Solid, Liquid, Gas (Hewitt)
- Primary Physical Science: Touch It: Materials, Matter and You (Mason) -- gr. K-2
- Primary Physical Science: Change It: Liquids, Solids, Gases & You (Mason) -- gr. K-2
- What's the Matter in Mr. Whiskers' Room (Ross) -- gr. K-3
- Magic School Bus: Gets Baked in a Cake (kitchen chemistry) -- gr. 1-5
- Science Stories & Experiments: "Enchanted Forest" (Kitchen Chemistry 1) (McChesney)
- Chemicals in Action: Acids and Bases (Oxlade) -- gr. 3-6
- Let's Wonder About Science: Acids and Bases (Patten)
- Material Matters: Acids and Bases (Baldwin) -- gr. 3-6
- The Periodic Table: Elements with Style (Dingle)
- World of Chemistry (John Tiner) -- gr. 4-6
- DK Eyewitness Books: Chemistry (Newmark/Buller) -- 5-8



BOOKS (with chemistry experiments)

- Adventures with Atoms and Molecules -- 5 book series (Mebane)
- Usborne Science Activities: Science in the Kitchen (Meredith) -- gr. 1-4
- Usborne Book of Science Experiments (Bingham) -- gr. 3-6
- Usborne 100 Science Experiments (Andrews) -- gr. 3-6
- Cool Chemistry Concoctions: 50 Formulas That Fizz, Foam, Splatter & Ooze (Rhatigan) -- gr. 3-6
- No Sweat Science: Chemistry Experiments (Loeschnig) -- gr. 3-6
- Fizz, Bubble & Flash: Element Explorations & Atom Adventures (Brandolini) -- gr. 4-8
- Science Experiments You Can Eat (Cobb) -- gr. 4-8 -- a good kitchen chemistry book
- Janice Van Cleave's Chemistry for Every Kid: 101 Easy Experiments (Van Cleave) -- gr. 4-8



GENERAL RESOURCES (with chemistry text and experiments)

- 175 More Science Experiments to Amuse and Amaze Your Friends (Cash/Parker/Taylor)
gr. 3-6 -- one of the 4 sections is on chemistry, short but worthwhile, text and experiments

Dempsey-Parr Science Encyclopedia -- gr. 3-6
Has a very nice section on chemistry; 2-page spreads on 15 different chemistry topics and then 6 chemistry experiments in the back



CURRICULAE (based on chemistry)

- The Elements: Ingredients of the Universe (McHenry) -- gr. 4-8 (at Rainbow Resource)
- God's Design for Chemistry: Properties of Atoms & Molecules -- gr. 3-7 (at Rainbow Resource)
- God's Design for Chemistry: Properties of Matter -- gr. 3-7 (at Rainbow Resource)
- Simple Chemistry (Evan-Moor) -- gr. 4-6
- Christian Kids Explore: Chemistry (Ridlon) -- gr. 3-5



VIDEOS (based on chemistry)

- Magic School Bus: Ready Set Dough (kitchen chemistry) -- gr. 1-5
- Magic School Bus: In A Pickle (microbes / biological chemistry) -- gr. 1-5
- Magic School Bus: Gets Planted (photosynthesis / biological chemistry) -- gr. 1-5
- Magic School Bus: Meets Molly Cule (molecules) -- gr. 1-5
- Kitchen Chemistry Science Interactive DVD ($23) -- gr. K-8

- Schlessinger Media DVDs: Physical Science For Children series -- gr. K-4
http://www.libraryvideo.com/ssl/physci_fcvhs.asp?mscssid=FMC2XFNJAN7S9PVL8FP2VR9HP MAG9GT3
** All About Solids, Liquids & Gases
** All About Properties of Matter

- Bill Nye The Science Guy -- gr. 3-6:
** Phases of Matter
** Chemical Reactions
** Do It Yourself Science
** Atoms and Molecules
** Fluids



KITS (based on chemistry)

- Bubble Builder ($25) -- gr. 3-12
- Bubbleology ($14) -- gr. 1-6
- My First Chemistry Kit ($17) -- gr. preK-adult

- Wild Goose 3-in-1 chemistry kits -- gr. 3-6:
** Slippery Slime Time
** Super Bounce Putty
** pH Fun

- Science in a Nutshell kits: http://www.delta-education.com/siangallery.aspx?subjectID=8&subID=5&menuID=68
** Bubble Science -- gr. K-3
** Investigating Matter Cluster -- gr. 3-6
** Gases -- gr. 4-6
** Liquids -- gr. 4-6
** Physical and Chemical Changes -- gr. 4-6

[Sue in St Pete]

Living Learning Books website is: www.livinglearningbooks.com

We used LLB Earth/Sky for 2nd grade and LLB Chemistry for 3rd grade. My son is not particularly science oriented. Neither am I.

Pros:
• A good overall introduction
• A variety of topics were covered in an well-organized, easy-to-follow, clearly laid out manner (ie. easy for the teacher)
• I was able to obtain most of the supplementary books through the local library
• All supplies needed for the projects were readily available at home, the local grocery store, or the local Kmart.
• Lessons took approximately 30 minutes twice a week.
• Any religious overtones were kept in the appendix
• Inexpensive curriculum

Cons:
• It was “lite” ie. not particularly challenging or in depth

Overall, I was happy with the curriculum. My son enjoyed it and learned from it. I could have done a more thorough job if I had had the time and energy and desire to pull it all together myself, but I didn't. I would use it again given the choices available at the time.

REAL Science www.pandiapress.com was not available when we started LLB. If I had starting over, I would consider this. We used Noeo Biology 2 for 5th grade, and I liked LLB better.

[Pylegang]

Wow! Thanks to all of you for passing on such great information! I think I'll stick with WTM recommendations and see what we can "brew" up in science this year. Your input and suggestions have given me confidence to do this!

[Mallory]

We are going to be using the schedules from easyclassical.com for chem next year.

They have schedules based on TWTM recomendations and are worth checking out for the book list, even if you don't intend to buy the schedule.

I am also excited about Chem for next year, I think my boys will enjoy it!

[Jenny in Atl]

Can you post sometime after you've used The Elements? I'd love to hear your thoughts. We're going to use RS4K Chem 1 and also try Chemistry Matters from AIMS.

You don't have to wait. Lorna (http://socksandbooks.blogspot.com/2008/03/elements.html) posted about it on her blog a bunch this year. It looked wonderful!

[sagira]

Awesome resources, Lori D.! I recommend Fizz, Bubble & Flash: Element Explorations & Atom Adventures (Brandolini) -- gr. 4-8 also, one on her list.