Great Science Adventures

Description

What child wouldn't jump at the chance to put together his or her own science program? Well, now they can. Literally. This series, by paper-manipulating guru Dinah Zike and author Susan Simpson, has a very unique way of teaching science. The basic idea behind the series is to put complicated information in a simple-to-understand visual format to ease learning and extend retention. Rather than displaying the information in textbook form with questions at the end of each chapter, this is a much more novel way of presenting the material. For each lesson, students construct a Lots of Science Library Book using the masters provided inside the main book. These small books (2.5" x 4" when finished) contain all the information, pictures and diagrams needed for that particular course of study. To help the students conceptualize, analyze, review and apply the knowledge gleaned from these student-made books, lessons will have at least one activity which involves the construction of 3D Graphic Organizers, a sort of cut-and-create model from the back of the main book. These activities focus on a skill such as compare and contrast, observation, describing a process or explaining functions and most of the activities include writing about the subject matter. Lessons also include vocabulary, objectives, teacher instructions, assignments, and enrichment activities. The enrichment section is found at the end of each lesson and has activities to expand upon concepts taught in the lesson, provide a foundation for further study or integrate the study with other disciplines.

The activities don't stop there, though. After all, what is a science program without a lab? For the most part, the labs require regular household items and sometimes incorporate other things, like the Graphic Organizers, into the process. To ensure that the labs are effective and practical, the Investigative Loop is used to guide the student through each step of the lab: posing a question or concept, research and/or predictions, starting a procedure, making observations, recording the data, drawing conclusions and/or applications, communicating the conclusions, sparking new questions, beginning a new loop and so on. And there are still more activities: design your own experiment, have an ongoing project in the works or end the particular book with a cumulative project. Every book in the Great Science Adventures series has 24 lessons, which should each take 1-3 days to complete. The Lots of Science Library Books pages and the graphics pages are reproducible.

If you are looking for a program where students are spoon-fed information from a textbook and the teacher needs little preparation time, look elsewhere. This is the essence of a hands-on program. For those who learn best by doing, this approach is well worth considering. - Zach

Teaching Method
Traditional
Teacher-centered curriculum commonly used in classrooms that may include a text, teacher manual, tests, etc.
Charlotte Mason
A methodology based on the work of a 19th century educator who maintained that children learn best from literature (Living Books), not textbooks.
Classical
A methodology based on the Latin Trivium (three stages of learning), including the grammar stage (memorization and facts), logic stage (critical thinking), and rhetoric stage (developing/defending ideas).
Unit Study
A thematic or topical approach centered around one topic that integrates multiple subject areas.
Montessori (Discovery)
A methodology based on the work of a 20th century educator that emphasizes student and sensory-driven discovery learning and real-life applications.
Other
Other methodologies
Religious Content
Secular
Contains content contrary to common Christian beliefs (i.e. evolution).
Neutral
Avoids religious or theoretical topics or presents multiple viewpoints without preference.
Christian/Religious
Faith-based or including instructional religious content.
Learning Modality
Auditory
Learns through listening, talking out loud or reading out loud.
Visual
Learns through seeing, prefers written instructions and visual materials.
Kinesthetic/Tactile (Hands-On)
Learns through moving, doing and touching.
Multi-Sensory
Curriculum that employ a variety of activities/components.
Presentation
Sequential
Curriculum progresses through well-defined learning objectives. Emphasizes mastery before moving to the next topic.
Spiral
Topics and concepts are repeated from level to level, adding more depth at each pass and connecting with review.
Conceptual/Topical
Focus is on the “why,” often with a unifying concept as well as specific skills; coverage may be broader.
Teacher Involvement
Low Teacher Involvement
Student-led materials; parent acts as a facilitator.
Medium Teacher Involvement
A mix of teacher-led time and independent student work.
High Teacher Involvement
Teacher-led lessons; may utilize discussions, hands-on activities and working together.
Additional Materials Required
No other materials needed
Everything you need is included.
Other Materials Required
There are additional required resources that are a separate purchase.
Other Materials Optional
There are additional resources mentioned or recommended but are not absolutely necessary.
Consumable
Consumable
Designed to be written in; not reusable.
Non-Consumable
Not designed to be written in; reusable.