Common Sense Science: Earth covers a variety of
useful topics any geologist would love: the lithosphere, earthquakes, mountains, volcanoes, geysers, rocks & fossils, erosion, rivers, lakes, the ocean floor, caves, the desert, and much more. The
course is one semester, organized into 18 weeks of science at a pace of three
days per week. You will need the Student Book and Materials Packet.
The Student Book includes an introduction to the
program and teaching through a multilevel approach, lessons with vocabulary and
teaching information, and the lab and activity instructions. The hands-on labs
are easy to do at home and require household items. To help students
conceptualize, analyze, review, and apply the knowledge gleaned, the lessons
each have at least one activity that involves the construction of 3D Graphic
Organizers, a sort of cut-and-create method to create individual
booklets. Graphic Organizer templates are found in the Student
Materials Packet. The Student Book and reproducible Student
Materials Packet are both required and available individually
or as a package in both print and e-book format.
Additionally, students will need index cards,
pencils, scissors, glue, colored pencils or crayons, letter-size manila file
folders (or 12” x 18” cardstock), multicolored 8.5” x 11” paper, and a large zip-close
plastic bag. Parents/teachers are encouraged to include topical library books,
videos, or supplemental teaching tools from the internet to enrich student
learning.
This type of learning requires more from the parent, but the
payoff is great! When your students look forward to their science lessons and
ask for related books to learn more, that is a homeschool win! Retention is
high for hands-on learning and well worth the effort.
