Science experiments/hands-on - how often?

[Michelle T]

How often do you do hands-on experiments or activies in your science? Do your kids enjoy it?
Michelle T

[Mrs Mungo]

We do them once a week but we do 2-4 experiements at once. They *love* doing science experiments.

[Ali in OR]

We can go weeks without a science experiment and all be happy. We enjoy learning from books. Using Noeo, we do the scheduled experiment kits. We may have some weeks that have a lot of experiments, but many many weeks have none. The girls do some hands on stuff outside on their own--examining snow flakes, doing leaf rubbings, finding worms, etc., but I would say our formal use of experiments/hands-on is probably on the lower side.

[BusyBee]

We do experiments one to two times a week. Science experiments are my boys favorite part of school.

[Rhondabee]

We use the Usborne "Science Experiments" book and kit, and it has made this year *so* very easy!

:)

[Lori D.]

My boys far prefer hands-on (or videos) to textbooks, so we've always done a lot of experiments -- at least twice a week, sometimes as often as 4 times in a week, and often 2 experiments.

My younger son with learning issues is really going to be kicked in the pants next year as a 9th grader having to do Biology from a textbook; I'm thinking of doing Prentice Hall rather than the Apologia, as it is less "chatty" than the Apologia. The past 2 years, we've used the Reader's Digest "How ... Works", plus related TOPS units, and he's enjoyed that -- short readings, lots of hands-on.

I know you've mentioned in the past that your son isn't into any "extras", Michelle -- just "read the book, get it done". Would he possibly enjoy *watching* experiments from some of the upper level Schlessenger Media science DVDs? They have ones for all ages, even middle school and high school. My boys also really enjoy videos like NOVA, Mythbusters, Junkyard Wars, etc. where science is put into use, or something interesting is discovered or re-created. (And more often than not, blown up -- lol!) Even if your son isn't really "into" the videos, it might be more interesting for you?? : )

Best of luck in what works and connects well for you both! Warmly, Lori D.

[Beth in Central TX]

No more than 1 experiment per week per boy, but at least 1 experiment per month per boy. DS #1 will do experiments on his own on the weekends.

[Pata]

We do 2-3 experiments a week as my dd loves experiments(and so do I!!)

[Lisawa]

In a weeks time we tend to do 1-2 experiment and one activity. I have added extra in this year using Apologia Astronomy. :D Its Rys favorite part of her science study.