End of Year Curriculum Favorites and Disappointments: Part 2/Science and Math

Science:

R.E.A.L Science Odyssey


by:  Pandia Press


This goes in my FAVORITE category.  Let's be clear, since I have many Christian readers, that Pandia Press is a secular publisher.  However, this is no reason to discount Pandia Press from being used in your homeschool.  For sample pages please visit HERE.

RSO Chemistry level one is intended to be used for grades 2nd through 5th.  It is possible to adjust this curriculum to serve the needs of a 1st grader or a 6th grader, but to be honest, the grade level suggested is the best fit.  The curriculum is formatted clearly and logically.  Each lesson contains a "story" to illustrate the concept followed by activities to reinforce the lesson.  The lab book is perfectly formatted with interactive worksheets to engage the student into truly learning the material.  Your student will have a full understanding of the material after going through this curriculum.  This curriculum does not miss a beat and works very well with all learning styles. 

I have found that a selling point for science curriculum is that a parent can supply all materials easily.  You have seen before a science curriculum boast that all lab materials can be found in your home already, right?  Have you ever wondered in whose home one could find formaldehyde or barium nitrate?  Well, not mine.  RSO Chemistry provides a material list that will make you jump up and down with excitement!  The materials are easy to find and most all can be found in your home...for real! 

You can count on Pandia Press for ease of use, quality of lessons and organization.  Again, this curriculum did not conflict with my Christian belief system.  I have not tried the other science programs so I cannot vouch for Life or Earth and Space science.  I will be taking a look at those as well for my kids though.

Real Science 4 Kids


by:  Gravitas Publications


This is also marked in my FAVORITE category.  I have used and seen success with this curriculum before please see this post HERE.  My kids have previously used the Physics curriculum and loved it!  Due to an overwhelming applause from kids and teacher mom alike, we were honored and thrilled to review Biology.  However, this time there was a twist.  Real Science 4 Kids has a pre-level book to match!  This is perfect for those who teach multi-ages but do not want or know how to adjust curriculum and lab books for the younger crowd.

Pre-level is geared toward K-3rd grade.  The pre-level curriculum is complete with teacher manual, student lab workbook and student text.  The layout is well organized, easy to read, and interesting to young students.  This level nicely mirrors the upper levels yet conveys the material for a younger audience.  The best thing is that the quality of information is not compromised to suit the younger crowd.  Your little student will be proud to have his own text and lab workbook!  I know my little Kindergartner thought that was very cool.    

Level 1 is geared toward grades 4th-6th.  This level is also completed with teacher manual, student lab workbook, and student text.  The text is suitable for a child to read on his own.  The teacher's manual provides all the information you need to enhance and complete what the student read in his textbook.  The teacher's manual also gives you enough information and examples to make you confident to teach the subject.  The lab book is detailed yet easy to use.  Your student will really enjoy this program and so will you!

Now for the BEST part of this curriculum!  Are you ready?  To enhance learning you can add to your curriculum the Biology Connects to Language workbook.  I cannot emphasis enough how important I feel this aspect is to your curriculum.  If you choose NOT to use Real Science 4 Kids for whatever reason, still get this workbook!  This workbook connects science to the language of science.  Your student will learn the Greek and Latin roots to the words they are reading during their study of biology.  This workbook emphasizes finding the roots of these words, the definitions and how to use these words.  When this connection is made a student will have a true understanding of science as a whole and not a compartmentalized view of science as labs and formulas.  It will also enhance your student's level of understanding in language in general.  




Math:

 Alpha Omega:  6th Grade LifePacs Math

I know many who love LifePacs.  LifePacs are a student driven, workbook based, approach to homeschooling.  There is little to no preparation for the teacher.  The student can even self test.  A boxed set includes 12 workbooks to work through during the school year.  

Personally, this approach does not appeal to me.  I like the interaction of student/teacher and supplementing beyond a boxed set.  I also feel that LifePacs are average.  So, was is this a DISAPPOINTMENT?  No.  In fact, I would have to say it is a FAVORITE this year.  Why?  Because my daughter was midway through the year when she became frustrated with math.  She is very good at math but had an issue with long division.  Since math is always building upon itself, it was hard for her to move on completely while still having difficulty.  On her own, she choose to start over the entire year with LifePacs.  She said she wanted to make sure she had a solid understanding of 6th grade math before moving on.  Well, how could I argue with that?  While, I have a visual and tactile learner, she is at her core self driven, so this worked out very well for her.  She easily worked through her long division issue and moved on with a breeze.  So, I am indebted to this curriculum for solving my daughter's math obstacle.  She needed a chance to review and redo.  Will I use this again next year?  The jury is still out on that one.  I think this works great for some kids and obviously did for mine.  However, she worked out her problem so quickly and is currently moving at a faster pace then the curriculum.  

 Life of Fred 


by:  Stanley F. Schimdt, Ph.D


I actually reviewed this for The Curriculum Choice awhile back...you can see the review HERE. I used it again this year for my son, and just had to comment about it again.  I do no have the book pictured...I have the Fractions book, but I could not find an image, oddly enough.  At any rate, this book was a huge success with my daughter, so I decided to use it again this year for my son.  


If you are unfamiliar with Life of Fred, then you are in for a treat!  Life of Fred is living math at it's best.  Fred is a boy genius who teaches math of all levels to a class.  Your student will be taken on Fred's journey through math!  The book is set up like a reading book and not a math text.  This provides a unique way to looking at math and a wonderful bridge for visual/tactile learners.  My son, however, is an auditory learner and he enjoyed it very much.  The book is entertaining while a fantastic tool to understanding math application.  For my visual/tactile learner it showed math in a natural form. For my auditory learner, it showed how black and white math can be applied to the real world.  

Life of  Fred is often used as a stand alone curriculum.  I used it as a supplement and will continue to recommend it in that fashion.  I did not think there was enough practice offered in the book.  Every student is different, so you will have to judge for yourself.  It moves as quickly as Singapore, if you are familiar with that curriculum. 





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