7th grade science options

[choirfarm]

Ok, if you remember my post from yesterday I guess I need to look at ways to outsource some subjects. I have Apologia General Science that my oldest used and did well, but for my middle one to do it would take me sitting by him the entire time, and I am also betting he will find the textbook boring. Someone suggested BJU, and although I am considering it for Chemistry (but 400 dollars for one course that I cannot reuse..yikes), I don't think I could stomach spending 400 dollars for 7th grade science. So are there any video type sciences that would not require much of my involvement? TOG takes my involvement and history and English were my fields, so I enjoy it. I HATE science and am awful at it, so I would rather farm out subjects I don't enjoy.

Christine

[Deanna in TN]

We are using BJU Life Science and my son loves it. We are not using the DVD's. He is just reading the book. We do a few experiments. My husband recently disected a worm and a frog with him. He's learning a lot.

Deanna

[mchel210]

We used Florida Virtual School this year. It was great. The best part is that is was free! I dont know if they have something similar in your state?

[Shelly in IL]

We are really loving it this year! It is a meaty course for my 7th grader, he is really learning. It comes with all the goodies for doing all the experiments, and it lasts for 2 years.

You do science 3 days a week - 2 days being reading/notetaking with question answering (maybe 5 questions per day at most) with the 3rd day being lab day. This program can be mostly self-run, but I make sure to do a review of his studying each day, and have him explain the labs.

It is pricey, but not the $400 pricetag you mentioned in your OP. I think I paid about $250 for it, but as I said it is for 2 years and includes EVERYTHING you need for labs (and it is high quality lab gear). So, $125 a year doesn't sound so bad.

They are coming out with a version for 4-6 graders next year - called Spectrum. I am very much considering it for my other son.

We did do Apologia last year with this same son. He really did learn with it, it was just ALOT to digest each section. I think this is just as meaty with a more interesting approach. Maybe it is more condensed?

[choirfarm]

So he could do it independently?? With doing Apologia Elementary with my 2nd grader, Chemistry with 9th grader, TOG, computer, taking care of disabled dad, etc. ( very bright 9th, average 7th, 2nd with vision therapy issues) I need to be able to hand it off.

Christine

[Shelly in IL]

He does all the reading, I have assigned that he needs to take notes, but he does that independently - at the end of his science - I just go over the answers to his questions (not that many - I just want to make sure he gets them correct). He does all the labs independently - I go over the lab questions with him.

So, my involvement is limited to about 10 min. a day, maybe 20 min. a week. Is that independent enough for you? Good luck

[Shelly in IL]

Year one (7th grade) is Physics and Chemistry - 1 semester ea.

Year two is mostly Biology (43 sections) with 20 sections of earth science.

It is called The Rainbow by Durell C. Dobbins, Ph.D. and is published by Beginnings Publishing House.

They have a good website, but I don't have time to find it right now - I don't recall having any trouble looking it up.

It has lovely pictures, and really great exercises. I hope this has helped.

[Susan A.]

We began the year with BJU 7th, but ran into the same problems you described. It would have taken me sitting with her every second to do it properly and that is just not possible with 3 other kids to teach. I have her doing "The Usborne Illustrated Encyclopedia - The Natural World" which is very similar in content to the BJU. She reads 2 two page spreads per week and is required to outline the bold topics and then tell me what she outlined so that I make sure she understood the content. Then, she does the experiments out of Apologia General Science. I do have to help with this a bit, but she writes it up herself. The experiments do not match the reading, but that is OK with me.

[inashoe]

I am surprised at all the positive reviews of Rainbow.

I have looked at what I can in the way of samples etc and it seems really childish.
http://www.beginningspublishing.com/version2/rainbowl.htm
I mean, honestly, refering to "silly-looking glasses" or "crummy marble" and that is only the beginning.

Surely if it really is the "serious" textbook that it claims to be the author could at least come up with less ridiculous terminology.
I find myself very wary of anyone who needs to be silly in order to get a child's attention.

[KathyBC]

I find the best teachers use humour. It has captivated my ds, at least.

[Melissa in CA]

I am surprised at all the positive reviews of Rainbow.

I have looked at what I can in the way of samples etc and it seems really childish.
http://www.beginningspublishing.com/version2/rainbowl.htm
I mean, honestly, refering to "silly-looking glasses" or "crummy marble" and that is only the beginning.

Surely if it really is the "serious" textbook that it claims to be the author could at least come up with less ridiculous terminology.
I find myself very wary of anyone who needs to be silly in order to get a child's attention.

:iagree:

[Shelly in IL]

However, my 7th grader finds is humorous, and brings them to me to share. I don't think that everything we do needs to be dry to be educational. It gives him the reward of studying and then finding some fun. Fwiw, my son is very academically bright and very astute in science. This is not a baby, comic book, funny science program.

Personally, I think finding fun in your work is the key to making work, not work. kwim?

We've been pleased. As with every choice in life, there will always be those with different opinions. Just thought I'd throw the info about the program out there!

[Carol in Cal.]

It's written very much like a spoken lecture verbatim, so an auditory learner would probably really do well with the CD's.

[mamaof2andtwins]

We have done different things with different children. My oldest used Apologia GS, and only completed about half of the book. He really disliked the textbook.

My dd is a 7th grader this year, and she is working through the Elementary Apologia Zoology 2 and 3. Next year she will most likely do Real Science 4 Kids Chemistry 1 and 2. Hopefully that will be enough to get her ready for Bio in 9th grade.

Jennie