NEW BEGINNINGS

2012 is the year for me to start highlighting resources made by homeschoolers for homeschoolers. Give my products I can actually use. Too, the longer I homeschool the more vocal I seem to become in which homeschool method I like best.

I didn't always lean toward unit studies. The fear that somehow we are going to mess up our children if we don't follow a scripted lesson plan stayed with me for a while.

{A unit study is a way to bring back the love for learning, move away from scripts {not all the way though} and it is my VERY favorite approach.}

 So I was extremely excited for the opportunity to review Science Unit Studies for Homeschoolers and Teachers. I would like to see more unit studies in the homeschool market. The advantage they have of teaching multiple ages of children together is a huge one. Science and history seem to be the two easiest subjects to use a unit study approach with.

Science Unit Studies for Homeschoolers and Teachers by Susan Kilbride is for ages 4 -13. Susan Kilbride is a homeschool mom and used these unit studies with her son. She has a degree in biology and has a love for science but especially a love for fun hands on science.

Here is how the book is divided up.

• Chapters 1 - 10 Ages 4 - 7 {though some concepts I see can easily be used for an older child}
• Chapters 11 - 20 Ages 8 - 13.

I always enjoy looking at the table of contents in any curriculum. You can snag a few more views on Amazon as well.

Listed at the beginning of each chapter are the materials you will need to gather for each unit. The items are common household items making this a huge plus when trying to put together your own science curriculum.

Each unit or chapter has anywhere from 3 to 7 parts. Then each part may list from one to several hands on activities to do. I could easily see dividing each part into one or more days depending on how many activities are planned. HANDS ON is definitely encouraged in this curriculum.

{Where possible, she adds in language arts or stories with the science  concepts especially in the units for younger children.  In the older grades or chapters 11 -20 there are 10 question tests as a review. }

Another fine point I appreciate is that it is lightly scripted. Who wants a long list of boxes to check off without any background information? She starts off each part with "tell your student, ask your student, or remind your student" to give you some background information on each unit.

Though there is not a grid or lesson plan sheet in the book, by studying each unit you can easily determine how much you want to accomplish. In my opinion it is a curriculum that is teacher involved. Again, unit studies are about the freedom to go the pace you desire. That can certainly be accomplished with Science Unit Studies for Homeschoolers and Teachers.

It didn't really specify any religious view. I would have to categorize it as secular.  I appreciated the pure science flavor of this curriculum and the fact that secular curriculum gives me the chance to reach my children's heart with my world views. I have plenty of Bible curriculum so I always look for opportunities to add more of my Bible topics to any subject.

I am ABSOLUTELY delighted with this book. If you have multiple ages of children from 13 years old and younger and are at the point where you want to pull away from scripts but want some guidance then Science Unit Studies for Homeschoolers and Teachers is the book for you.

Hugs for today,

Disclaimer {I have received a copy of this book for my honest review}