We are moving in a few weeks, I have 6 children, 4 under age 6 and we will be starting ToG this fall after we finish kindergarten (we are way behind because of dd born 1/08). I love science, my dd is hands-on and I want to incorporate it into our program. We are moving to the country, so I was thinking that something to teach us about nature, particularly plants since we will begin farming next year, would be great. But it needs to be very very very low stress. Experiments might be too much because we'll be living in our motorhome while we build, just nature walks, etc. Anyone experienced with Charlotte Mason? Would something like Apologia actually be easier since it would all be laid out for me?

Need a vacation,
Christine
ds (17) private school
dd (13) wants to be hs'd, but in court for that right now (please pray)
dd (5)
dd (4)
dd (2)
dd (5 mos)

I've used Apologia's Astronomy and Botany books with children 6th grade on down. Sometimes we did the labs, and sometimes we didn't. Especially with the botany, it depended on what time of year we hit each chapter as to whether we could do the labs. The kids did notebook with the Apologia, and there are notebooking pages online that you can print out, or at least access for ideas, even if you don't print them. Apologia is considered Charlotte Mason, at least for the elementary books that are written by Jeanie Fulbright. I had done Charlotte Mason types of science before, where we read a lot of library books, made nature journals, etc., and while I prefer that, the more children I added (now 5 school-aged and a speech-delayed preschooler), the more difficult it became for me to actually pull it all off. Apologia simplified things for me and I was able to actually get science done! Some weeks we did a lot, and others a little, but it was easy to just pick up where we left off.

Given that information, I would advise you (but of course seek our Heavenly Father's specific advice for YOUR family ) to get your TOG going first and add your science later. Your first grader will be fine even if you get no "official" science done this year because you'll be living in the country and they will just naturally pick up so much! Of course, if you are successful in bringing your 13yodd home (and I just prayed for you!), she'll probably need something more along the lines of Apologia's General or Physical Science courses. My 13yods and 12yods (6th and 7th grades) did General last year and will do Physical this year. Awesome books!

Michelle

I've used Apologia's Zoology I & II.
My kids LOVED it and I LOVED it. Didn't do a lot of the experiments. Just asked the questions at the end of the book and had them write about what they learned. The little one drew a picture and I helped them write a sentence or two about it. I also looked things up on the internet if they were particularly interested....(i.e. whales etc.) You can find coloring pages on the internet too. Anyway, that would be my suggestion. It worked great for us. They are very interesting.


Renee

Thank you for the positive info about Apologia (by the way, how is that pronounced anyway?) Anyone have any other suggestions?

Apologia is pronounced uh-paul-uh-JEE-uh.
Enjoy!!
Michelle

You could always incorporate Barb's Green Hour Challenges which use the Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Comstock. Check out her blog here: http://handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com/

You could do this whether or not you do something more structured like Apologia. I'm planning on doing this along with a Charlotte Mason-inspired, living books-led life science this coming year for my first grader.

Good luck!