Natural Science Mysteries Full Course Kit

SKU
046699
ISBN
9781594760976
Grade 8
Traditional
Neutral
Low Teacher Involvement
Visual
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.
Religious Content
Christian/Religious
Faith-based or including instructional religious content.
Neutral
Avoids religious or theoretical topics or presents multiple viewpoints without preference.
Secular
Contains content contrary to common Christian beliefs (i.e. evolution).
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.
Our Price
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Description
The full course kit contains printed texts, printed activity books, and the printed and CD-ROM formats of the Teacher's Resource Kit. Natural Science Mysteries is an eighth-grade course, these texts cover Earth and life sciences, plus studies on the Periodic Table of the Elements and the solar system. Each scientific concept is enhanced by adventure vignettes in which young people help solve community mysteries by applying the scientific method of discovery and character traits of integrity, honesty, commitment, diligence, and kindness. Students learn how virtues and personal responsibility upgrade moral character. The narrative, high-interest approach of this series engages students so they progress through comprehensive scientific material with clarity and engagement. Students are exposed to scientific evidence which explores traditional and contemporary theories about the origin of life and the formation of our planet and universe. 
Publisher's Description of Natural Science Mysteries Full Course Kit

Designed as an eighth grade course, these texts cover Earth and life sciences, plus studies on the Periodic Table of the Elements and the solar system. Each scientific concept is enhanced by adventure vignettes in which young people help solve community mysteries by applying the scientific method of discovery and character traits of integrity, honesty, commitment, diligence, and kindness. Students learn how virtues and personal responsibility upgrade moral character. The narrative, high-interest approach of this series engages students so they progress through comprehensive scientific material with clarity and engagement. Students are exposed to scientific evidence which explores traditional and contemporary theories about the origin of life and the formation of our planet and universe. Texts allow the student to evaluate theories from a scientific and rational perspective. Companion Activity Books "walk the student through the text in chronological order. Selected questions in each Activity Book also serve as preparation for state academic assessment exams. Activity Books are applicable in homes, classrooms, or in individualized learning centers in which students progress through the course with interest, understanding, and content mastery.

AS A READING ENHANCEMENT TEXTEditors have prepared Natural Science Mysteries texts and Activities to accommodate high school students who struggled through science courses in another publisher's text or who need elective credit in Reading Enhancement. (This is possible because of the manner in which the activity questions are structured.) Students may complete the five chapters of texts and companion activity books, section quizzes and chapter tests of NSM to learn essential science content and/or to earn one high school Reading Enhancement transcript credit.

Category Description for Comprehensive Science Programs

Items listed in this section tend to be complete science programs with a teacher and student component, requiring few supplements besides science supplies.


Category Description for Paradigm Accelerated Science Programs

Designed specifically for self-study (although they can also be used in a classroom situation), these courses have a few things in common with Alpha Omega LIFEPACs. First of all, the course is broken down into booklet-sized increments. Secondly, the work is primarily reading and workbook activities. Hands-on "lab" activities are not incorporated into the courses, although you could add them on fairly easily. One major difference, however, is that Paradigm Accelerated courses are not written from a religious standpoint, although they promote good values and are more conservative than most other secular curriculums. One final general note: Paradigm's courses are designed to appeal to all students, even those who may not be interested in science. If your student already loves science and is looking towards a science-related major in college, they may need a more rigorous program.

The courses are made up of text booklets, activity booklets, and a teacher's resource kit. (For some courses, the text portion is available on CD-ROM in .pdf format.) All of the instruction to the student is found in the text. Text booklets each represent a chapter of the course and typically contain three sections, each of which is split into five lessons, or 15 lessons per chapter. Each lesson is between three and four pages in length, and they are usually focused on a specific topic. Definitions of introduced vocabulary used in the lesson and black-and-white illustrations and diagrams further augment each lesson. Lessons always end with a Life Principle, which is usually a thought-provoking quote from a notable individual that relates in some way to the lesson. After the lesson has been read, the student can complete the corresponding activity pages which are typically made up of short-answer, multiple-choice, true/false, and "list" questions that reinforce the lesson. Students are also asked to write the Life Principle for the lesson. There are about 15-25 questions for each lesson which is a fair amount, considering the length of the lesson itself. After five lessons and lesson activities have been completed, there is a review quiz. Quizzes include approximately 50 questions, mostly short answer and multiple-choice. Chapter tests are taken after a whole chapter has been studied and are about 50 questions in length. Quizzes and chapter tests are found in the Teacher's Resource Packet, which also includes complete answer keys and forms for teacher use. Please note that no answers are found in the student materials. Teacher's Resource Kits are available as a CD-ROM with .pdf files or as a loose-leaf paper copy with the CD-ROM. The content is identical between the CD and the paper copy but there may be times when one form or the other is more convenient. (Please note the publisher is transitioning from CD-ROMS to digital downloads.) - Jess

Category Description for Natural Science Mysteries (Grade 8)

The 8th grade course is set up much like the 7th grade course, but with even more science topics covered. Like Basic Science Mysteries, each day's lesson begins with a piece of a fictional mystery that ties in with the science topic for the lesson. Lessons at this level are a bit longer, typically 3 or more pages in length. Concepts from life science, earth and space science, and physical science are all incorporated, with a mix of topics in each text. Some topics covered in this course include: the animal kingdom, cell structure and function, plant kingdoms, plant reproduction, diffusion and osmosis, edible and non-edible plant parts, the earth's atmosphere, climate zones, states of matter, liquid and weight measurements, atomic theory, the Periodic Table, chemical families, covalent and atomic bonds, acids and bases, element symbols and numbers, pitch and sound, reflection and refraction, lenses, solar cells, batteries, place value and exponents. The texts are available either in printed format or all on one CD-ROM in PDF format. The full course kit contains printed texts, printed activity books, and the printed and CD-ROM formats of the Teacher's Resource Kit. Jess

Natural Science Mysteries as an eighth-grade course, these texts cover Earth and life sciences, plus studies on the Periodic Table of the Elements and the solar system. Each scientific concept is enhanced by adventure vignettes in which young people help solve community mysteries by applying the scientific method of discovery and character traits of integrity, honesty, commitment, diligence, and kindness. Students learn how virtues and personal responsibility upgrade moral character. The narrative, high-interest approach of this series engages students so they progress through comprehensive scientific material with clarity and engagement. Students are exposed to scientific evidence which explores traditional and contemporary theories about the origin of life and the formation of our planet and universe. Texts allow the student to evaluate theories from a scientific and rational perspective. Companion Activities "walk the student" through the text in chronological order. Selected questions in Activities also serve as preparation for state academic assessment exams. Activities are applicable in homes, classrooms, or in individualized learning centers in which students progress through the course with interest, understanding, and content mastery.


Details
More Information
Product Format:Other
Brand:Paradigm Accelerated Curriculum
Grade:8
ISBN:9781594760976
Length in Inches:11.75
Width in Inches:9.25
Height in Inches:4.25
Weight in Pounds:5.05
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