Secular Science for 6th Grade

[JaniceO]

I'm planning for next year and I'm looking for a secular science program for next year. I was thinking about going with PH Science Explorers, but the cost is making me hestitate. I'm not science oriented. If I went with PH, what exactly would I need? I want to do Earth Science with him, as I'll be doing Earth Science with my 4th and 2nd graders (using either R.E.A.L science or Mr. Q's). I prefer something he can do mostly on his own. Any other options?

[WendyK]

I have yet to find an earth science (secular) curriculum/book that I am happy with. I bought a earth science textbook I believe from Pearson or Prentice Hall (all our stuff is packed for moving right now so I can't check). We started using it and didn't like it at all. I don't think it was all that great for a kid to do on his own. I also have the R.E.A.L science and didn't like that either! But, I think you might be able to use the R.E.A.L science with all three kids and add in some more challenging reading for the 6th grader. Maybe have him do some independent reports. R.E.A.L is mostly projects. We did a few of the projects, but I found them to be complicated to put together, but didn't have a ton of learning value. Maybe I was expecting too much for a science book for that grade level though.

Science is the bane of my existance. I have wasted more money on science stuff and have not been happy with most of it. So far my favorites were Singapore Science and Real Science for Kids. Neither of these have specifically earth science books though.

If you find something, let me know!

[Trivium Academy]

Janice,
First I would check for any local programs your state parks, aquariums/museums may have- you may be able to outsource this with a fabulous opportunity for him.

I know I'm not teaching 6th grade yet but I have bought the Project Earth Science books (4 of them) by Brent Ford, published by the National Science Teachers Association- http://www.nsta.org/store/product_detail.aspx?id=10.2505/9780873551311

But there are other titles there that are interesting to check out, I think the Project Earth Science series is more for being teacher led than independently done. Earth Science Success: 50 Lesson Plans for Grades 6–9 By: Catherine Oates-Bockenstedt and Michael Oates
Earth Science Success is a one-year Earth science curriculum with clear day-by-day lessons in the areas of astronomy, geology, meteorology, and physical oceanography that uses a three-step approach of anticipation, data collection, aand analysis.

The JASON Project is another fabulous resource, they have Resilient Planet and Monster Storms they have a new Energy curriculum that will be available soon. I love that students get to interact with scientists!
http://www.jason.org/Public/Curriculum/Curriculum.aspx

These are just a few options not typically mentioned. :) Hope you find something.

[Shelly in IL]

We've been really pleased. It is secular, and very thorough. The best part is that it is very independent as well. If Rainbow is too advanced (I think it is for 7th and 8th) they are coming out with one called Spectrum for 5th and 6th.

[katarzyna]

We have used Holt Earth Science and it was very easy to use.We loved it.

[Trivium Academy]

From Rainbow's website:
We familiarize the students with the theory of evolution so that they understand it and are adequately knowledgeable to discuss it with others. However, we reject it as a belief. We openly acknowledge God as our Creator.

[EKS]

We used Prentice Hall's Science Explorer for earth science and it was pretty good. At a minimum you would need the student text(s) but a teacher's manual is helpful if you want answers to the questions. If you wanted to do labs you would need to go through the book and figure out the supplies for that. K12 also has an earth science course that would be designed for him to use independently. They would supply the hard to find materials for the labs.

[Sue in St Pete]

I'm planning for next year and I'm looking for a secular science program for next year. I was thinking about going with PH Science Explorers, but the cost is making me hestitate. I'm not science oriented. If I went with PH, what exactly would I need? I want to do Earth Science with him, as I'll be doing Earth Science with my 4th and 2nd graders (using either R.E.A.L science or Mr. Q's). I prefer something he can do mostly on his own. Any other options?
We used SE Astronomy and Weather & Climate. Ds was able to do much of it independently. I am not science-oriented either. I buy the SE, TE, and guided reading and study workbook. In order to keep the cost down, you may want to try to find the Earth Science book (has 5 smaller books combined) used. I think the TMs are hard to come by used, but not impossible.

Good luck! The SE Earth Science books are just right for 6th grade.

[Robin in DFW]

We used Home Science Adventures last year for 5th...it was great...short and sweet, which my ds loved. This year, after trying a couple of things, he is using ABeka's Observing God's World...I know, I know...not secular! But, we work around the commentary, which really isn't offensive and he LOVES the book...I mean really loves it...he tells us about everything he's read. It is a very friendly little book. We do the projects and comprehension checks. I also have a test booklet for review. Did I say he really loves this book???

Trust me, we normally only use secular products because we can't get past the "tone" of some of the religious publishers. We made an exception this time.

Good luck in your search,
Robin

[NicksMama-Zack's Mama Too]

$35.

It's an online subscription. I don't have any experience with it, but you might want to take a peak.

https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/cybered-science/

[Tami]

I highly recommend P-H science!

At a bare minimum, I would get:

Student Textbook ($18)

Student Guided Reading Workbook ($3.50)

Lab Zone Planner (check Amazon - I paid $15 for mine) - these have all sorts of extra labs and activities for ALL the Explorer series. You can print lab sheets with and without teacher notes/ansers

Optional Extra: Student Interactive Textbook ($1.25)- this is multi-media with 3 video clips for each chapter section. Nice if your child enjoys working on computer.

I highly recommend "Inside Earth!" Great stuff, and lots of online support.

I am a Christian, but didn't care for the BJU Earth science. I like P-H so much better.

[nmoira]

I have some tentative plans for DD the Elder after she has finished MPH Science. She's on the young side, so I don't have to worry about getting her ready for high school science in 2 or 3 years. I'd like to mix in a couple more applied units, but am still looking.

Two applied units:
The Art of Construction: Projects and Principles for Beginning Engineers and Architects (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1556520808/ref=nosim/librarythin08-20)
Engineering the City: How Infrastructure Works (http://www.amazon.com/Engineering-City-How-Infrastructure-Works/dp/1556524196/)

Then two Chemistry Units and lab book (labs will be spread out):
The Elements
Carbon Chemistry (http://www.ellenjmchenry.com/id25.html)
The Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry (http://www.amazon.com/Illustrated-Guide-Home-Chemistry-Experiments/dp/0596514921/)

Followed by:
So You Really Want to Learn Science Book 1 (http://www.galorepark.co.uk/product/home_schoolers/56/so-you-really-want-to-learn-science-book-1.html) (mostly review by this point)
So You Really Want to Learn Science Book 2 (http://www.galorepark.co.uk/product/home_schoolers/70/so-you-really-want-to-learn-science-book-2.html)

Hands on activities will be liberally added to SYRWLS.

[KarenC]

It is physical geography and covers earth science.

Karen

[mcconnellboys]

How about using this website as your base and adding in more reading from the library?

http://www.msnucleus.org/membership/html/jh/earth/index.html

[training5]

Shelly, Rainbow Science is christian., but not overly so. I am using it secularly and the lower level coming out is called The Colors. Spectrum is for high school. http://www.beginningspublishing.com/ This is the website.

To the OP, you may want to check out K12.

HTH!

[JaniceO]

Thank you for all of the suggestions. Sorry I didn't come back yesterday but it's crazy around here trying to get school done and pack for vacation.

I continue to look at PHSE. I hear such great things about it. I will look into the other suggestions as well.

Jessica, I really wish I could outsource this. I hate science. Always have. But we live in Italy, and that's not really an option.

We used MPH at the beginning of this year and we all HATED it! Right now we are using Real Science 4 Kids Chemistry. The kids love it, although we hit a bump because we can't find distilled water to do Lab 4.

He's going back to PS for high school, so I really want to follow a more traditional science route for middle school. I guess if I look at it from the point that the money I spend will benefit all 3 boys, then it's not too bad.

[dawn of ns]

From Rainbow's website:
We familiarize the students with the theory of evolution so that they understand it and are adequately knowledgeable to discuss it with others. However, we reject it as a belief. We openly acknowledge God as our Creator.

Thank you! I've been considering Rainbow but I want a secular program that statement troubles me. I have no idea howexactly they discuss evolution.

[Renee in FL]

We have used Holt Earth Science and it was very easy to use.We loved it.

This is what Kolbe Academy uses - you can get lesson plans and tests from them for this book.

[GretaLynne]

I was thinking about going with PH Science Explorers, but the cost is making me hestitate.

I haven't read the whole thread, so forgive me if this has already been mentioned. But I've picked up some Science Explorer books at really great prices on homeschoolclassifieds.com and alibris.com. You may have to shop for awhile before the one you're looking for pops up, but it's worth it. These are great books!

[Nicole M]

When my oldest was in 6th grade we used Oak Meadow, the online program. It was fine, and he could do it pretty independently. Nothing snazzy, but covered the bases. You can see a sample here:

https://www.oakmeadow.com/curriculum/samples.htm

My youngest is not in 6th and we're doing Runkle Geography using Christine at Core Foundations schedule. You can download it here:

http://corefoundations.wordpress.com/scheds-english-and-history/

The link is toward the bottom of the page. Runkle sat on my shelf for years because I could not wrap my head around how to attack it. But now that I have this schedule, we're cookin' with gas.