Where to go next with science?

[Heather in OK]

I need suggestions! :)

So far we have done unit studies on various topics (animal kingdom, weather, oceans, plants, solar system, etc). Curriculum-wise we have done Christian Kids Explore Biology and will finish up CKE Chemistry this Summer.

I'm not sure where to go after we finish CKEC. In the Fall my kids will be 6th grade, 4th grade, 2nd grade and PreSchool. Ideally I would like something that I can teach the older three from but be enough to challenge my oldest. Something with a Christian view-point is preferred but we don't want something that will teach against evolution.

Would it be wise to do something like Apologia General Science (although, I'm not 100% clear on their evolution teachings) so that my oldest is being prepared for high school sciences?

Or should I do CKE Physics (my oldest hasn't had any exposure to Physics yet) this coming year?

OR...is it time to have my oldest move on to General Science (or something like that) and go through the cycle with the younger ones?

OR...should I just run around in circles??? :lol:

[amtmcm]

How about The Colors?

http://www.beginningspublishing.com/version2/colors.htm

We are using Rainbow Science for Middle School and we're very happy with the content and experiments. The Colors for younger students should be out this spring.

Beautiful Feet History of Science is geared for 4-8th grade and includes wonderful books for reading aloud. It covers from Archimedes to Einstein with literature, reference books and experiments. This has been one of DD's favorites this year.

Christian Light Education's 5th Grade Science includes a text book which is geared for 4th-5th grade and additional Light Units which makes the work more challenging. Labs are available from Hometrainingtools.com.

Hope this helps :)

[Heather in OK]

The Colors looks interesting. Where do you buy all your lab supplies from?

Nevermind...I finally found on their website where all that is.

[newlifemom]

Bear in mind, I love Apologia. But, your OP stated you didn't want anything to go against evolution. Apologia is unabashedly creationist in its science and view. It may not be your cuppa, KWIM. (Seriously though, I do love it and have and will again use it with my dc.) HTH

[Heather in OK]

Any other suggestions??

[Sahamamama]

You seem to have covered the bases in Life Science -- animals, plants, human body, and so on. Not too many gaps there, unless you haven't yet studied life cycles, biomes, cell structure (which would be addressed in a General Science course). I think CKE Biology covered all this, though, right?

You also seem to have studied most of the typical Earth/Space Science topics -- oceans, weather, and astronomy -- but there might be a few gaps in this (I don't know all the units you've done).

The biggest gap seems to be in Physical Science -- chemistry and physics -- since you haven't done any physics study yet.

FWIW, if it were me, I'd purchase both CKE Earth & Space and CKE Physics, and schedule it out this way:

CKE Physics
Choose 10-15 of the 30 lessons (the ones you think you could best do with your three oldest students). Teach these the first half of your school year. Save the rest for another year! :001_smile:

CKE Earth & Space
Unit 1 (Basic Geology)
Unit 2 (Lithosphere -- Plates, Caves, Volcanoes, Earthquakes, Rock Types)
Unit 3 (Hydrosphere -- Water Cycle, Ocean [skip or review], Groundwater, Glaciers)
Unit 4 (Atmosphere)
Unit 5 (Weather -- Skip or review this unit, since you've already studied meteorology)
Unit 6 (Outer Space -- Skip or review this unit, since you've already studied astronomy)

http://www.brightideaspress.com/CKEEarthSpace.htm

http://www.brightideaspress.com/CKEPhysics.htm

HTH.

[Heather in OK]

Thanks!

I've been sitting here this afternoon looking around online and trying to figure this all out. So much for Mom's Spring Break. :lol:

I think I'm going to go with CKE Physics for my oldest two. My other dd will do CKE Biology.

And the anal planner in me came up with a (tentative) science plan for here on out. I'll probably find something else to use when the time comes but this at least gives me some direction.

CKE Earth & Space
Unit 1 (Basic Geology)
Unit 2 (Lithosphere -- Plates, Caves, Volcanoes, Earthquakes, Rock Types)
Unit 3 (Hydrosphere -- Water Cycle, Ocean [skip or review], Groundwater, Glaciers)
Unit 4 (Atmosphere)
Unit 5 (Weather -- Skip or review this unit, since you've already studied meteorology)
Unit 6 (Outer Space -- Skip or review this unit, since you've already studied astronomy)
My older two have covered most of that already. :)