Let's make a start on science, shall we? The year will be over before I know it. Here are the subjects we've covered this AO7 year so far, and the books we've used to learn about them:
Physics: Light Waves and Colour
The Wonder of Light: A Picture Story of How and Why We See by Hyman Ruchlis.
Astronomy: Introduction to Classical Astronomy; The Southern Constellations and their myths and legends
Signs & Seasons: Understanding the Elements of Classical Astronomy (Prologue and Chapter 1) by Jay Ryan
A Walk Through the Southern Sky by Milton D Heifetz
Microbiology: The Germ Theory of Disease
How Did We Find Out about Germs by Isaac Asimov
Biology: Classical Genetics, Variation and Inheritance, Meiosis, Mitosis, Sex-Linkage, Vegetative and Sexual Reproduction
How Did We Find Out about Genes? by Isaac Asimov
Gregor Mendel: The Friar Who Grew Peas by Cheryl Bardo
How Did We Find Out about DNA? By Isaac Asimov
Also, the K'NEX DNA:Replication and Transcription model
Botany: Biography of Carl Linnaeus, Classification and Binomial Nomenclature
Beloved Botanist by Adrien Stoutenburg and Laura Nelson Baker
Physics: Biography of Marie Curie
Radium Woman by Eleanor Doorly
Physics: Cosmology and Space
A Briefer History of Time by Stephen Hawking
Chemistry and Physics of Flames
Chemical History of a Candle by Michael Faraday (just started this one)
Australian Natural History
A Bush Calendar by Amy MackBush Days by Amy Mack
Nature Study: Seed Dispersion, Carrot Seed Production, The Grey-Headed Flying Fox, Saunders Case Moths and more!
Australian Nature Study (Selected readings) by J A Leach
If you go and buy these books you're going to be irritated at me, because most of them are only jumping blocks into further study. Mitosis was introduced in the genetics texts, but we did quite a lot of extra work as well. Similarly, we did a lot more work on classification once we'd been introduced to it in the Linnaeus book.
We have a lesson about once a week that is based on the things we have learned about in our books - sort of a traditional lecture type lesson. Once a week we do a nature study topic in some depth. Once a week we read a biography. If there is an experiment or demonstration we can do from a reading, then we do it. Every day something is drawn into the Science Notebook. Science takes about 2 1/2 - 3 hours each week, not including a nature walk.
I will continue writing about science as we go through the year, but at least now I've started the Booklist so I don't forget what we've read! Is there anything you'd like me to cover in depth?
We like Doorly's biographies too--Curie and Fabre, not sure if there are others.
ReplyDeleteWe like Doorly's biographies too--Curie and Fabre, not sure if there are others.
ReplyDeleteThis is good for me to see. I've started doing the same kind of things for my middle and high school students. However, we are not doing quote this much volume. And I need to keep better track of what I'm doing! Thanks so much for sharing. I really appreciate your contribution to our CM community.
ReplyDeleteThis looks magnificent, Jeanne. I am so very glad that you are going before me - in this area in particular. Thanks for sharing this - and so many other things:).
ReplyDeleteDo you have a favorite site/book that you use to get living book suggestions for science? I'm having a hard time finding living books for science for my older kids who will be in 6th and 8th grade next year.
ReplyDeleteWow, how amazing, inspiring and ... terrifying! Are you keeping your schedule and the experiments you do? You could probably sell an ebook... (well, I know I'd buy it, even if I couldn't get all the same books and had to stubstitute, it'd still make things easier - that's assuming the AO living science isn't available by the time I get there, which I guess it will be).
ReplyDeleteWe're hoping AO Science will be done by then, Claire!
ReplyDeleteCould you talk to me about the Astronomy books? Did you only use the Ryan book beginning chapters? Was that because it's a northern hemisphere book? Is the Heifetz book worthwhile? (I've already marked Australian Backyard Astronomy:-) )
ReplyDeleteRather behind the times with my planning, but it's Science's turn... and I want to make sure we actually venture out at night this year:-)
(Oh, and did you use the Signs & Seasons workbook at all? Could it be used without the text [not the tests, just the activities]? Or would that be confusing/not useful?)
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