APOLOGIA ELEMENTARY SCIENCE

This is where new posts begin. All questions or discussions about any of Heart of Dakota's curriculums start here. If you wish to share a one-time post about your family's experience with our curriculum, you may post under the specific curriculum title (found beneath this "Main Board" heading).
Post Reply
savedbyloveandmercy
Posts: 41
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 5:41 pm

APOLOGIA ELEMENTARY SCIENCE

Post by savedbyloveandmercy » Tue Sep 09, 2008 11:53 am

Hi, ladies! I know Carrie is on vacation right now, so I'll check with her when she gets home, but I have heard really good things about the Apologia Astronomy, Botany, and Zoology, and I think that Carrie told someone it would be overkill on science to add one of these books into the regular schedule ( I believe she mentioned that perhaps doing it on Friday would work). Would these be good books just to use as readers? Anyone have opinions? I also heard that Carrie is CONSIDERING (not decided :wink: ) using Zoology 3 in one of her upcoming guides, and voiced some concern over the previous books. I guess the reason I'm even looking at them is that I have two boys who LOVE animals, and I thought they might be a fun biblically-sound resource.

I guess my question is whether anyone else has experience with them, or even opinions would help! :D

Thanks!

Briana

inHistiming
Posts: 1301
Joined: Tue Aug 28, 2007 2:30 pm
Location: Central VA
Contact:

Re: APOLOGIA ELEMENTARY SCIENCE

Post by inHistiming » Tue Sep 09, 2008 12:07 pm

What I have to say is just an opinion...no experience with these books.

One of the great things about HOD is that it is very thorough, it's fun, and it maximizes your school time....does NOT take endless hours to complete. :o This means you do not have to feel that you need to tweak it here or there to make it a complete program, because it already is! However, what is also great is that you can add something extra, and it still will not take ALL DAY to complete school. So, I think if you want to add the extra Science you could, and it would be fine. I don't know how they would be as readers for your dc to read, I guess that depends on their reading ability. I have a dd who LOVES all things animal too, so I completely understand your 'dilemma'. I would say adding this one day a week might be a good addition to your schooling; that way it's not adding time to your day every day, but you can still make your dc's studies a bit more personal to them. You could even work on a lapbook or notebook to go with each lesson you do. Just my thoughts. I'm sure others will be along to offer their opinions and suggestions as well.

my3sons
Posts: 10698
Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:08 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: APOLOGIA ELEMENTARY SCIENCE

Post by my3sons » Tue Sep 09, 2008 12:24 pm

Hi Briana! My ds's love animals too, and they are big outdoors fans already (taking after my dh). :D InHisTiming and I are thinking exactly alike here, so ditto to what she already said so well. :) I looked at Apologia pretty extensively this past summer, and I think the one Carrie is looking at is more living than the other ones. The other ones I looked at can read a bit encyclopedia-like with many facts in a row, which results in them sounding not very living sometimes. It seems like the more recent ones are more living with better photographs (not so small). But, that is just my opinion. They are definitely Christian, which is such an asset. I'm not sure how old your dc are, but that would probably make a difference in how they'd respond to it. It also would make a difference what you do with it. It would be a neat reference book for information, and it probably would lend itself well to notebooking or nature journaling. If you are looking for a great read-aloud book about animals though that is really going to be fun, I think there are other books you might enjoy more. Masterbooks has some neat books about animals that are Christian, depending on the ages of your dc. However, you should do whatever you think you and your dc would be best because only you know what purpose best fits your Fridays with your dc! HTH! :D

In Christ,
Julie
Enjoyed LHTH to USII
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie

Amey
Posts: 131
Joined: Tue May 06, 2008 10:54 pm
Location: Jalisco, Mexico

Re: APOLOGIA ELEMENTARY SCIENCE

Post by Amey » Tue Sep 09, 2008 12:58 pm

We have the Apologia Astronomy book and my six year old ds will just sit and look through it for quite some time. He loves for me to read it aloud to him as well and I find it very conversational. He is very intersted in planets and space, so I thought it wouldn't hurt to have around for some extra science info. We will be doing HOD science, but this is a good supplement I think.
Amey
Missionary Mama in Mexico to Benjamin 02, Averic 04 and Deacon 07 and our first GIRL, Phoebe, born August 16, 2009
using Bigger Hearts for my 2nd grade son, finished Beyond last year for 1st
Come visit our family website! http://www.familyafair.com

my3sons
Posts: 10698
Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:08 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: APOLOGIA ELEMENTARY SCIENCE

Post by my3sons » Tue Sep 09, 2008 2:48 pm

Good point, Amey! :D If your dc are into something - they're INTO it, and they'd probably love the extra learning!
Julie :)
Enjoyed LHTH to USII
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie

savedbyloveandmercy
Posts: 41
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 5:41 pm

Re: APOLOGIA ELEMENTARY SCIENCE

Post by savedbyloveandmercy » Tue Sep 09, 2008 3:51 pm

Thanks for the help, ladies!

Julie, can you please tell me more about Masterbooks? I googled it and checked a couple of sites that I purchase books from, and I couldn't find them.

Thanks!

savedbyloveandmercy
Posts: 41
Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 5:41 pm

Re: APOLOGIA ELEMENTARY SCIENCE

Post by savedbyloveandmercy » Tue Sep 09, 2008 3:56 pm

One more question that I need help with, please!

This doesn't relate to Apologia, but I know that the ladies that responded will be able to help me! :D

How do you get your personal info. to show at the bottom of each of your posts (children, ages, which guide you're using,etc.)??

I haven't been able to figure that out, so I'd sure appreciate some help!

Thanks again,
Briana

holyhart
Posts: 557
Joined: Wed Jun 18, 2008 2:16 pm
Location: ~New Hampshire
Contact:

Re: APOLOGIA ELEMENTARY SCIENCE

Post by holyhart » Tue Sep 09, 2008 5:56 pm

That I can help with!! :D

At the top of your page, click on "user control panel". Then it will give you 6 tabs to choose from...click on "profile". Then to the side will be 4 tabs to choose from...click on "edit signature". Write in that box what you want to show up on your posts. HTH! :D
~Kelly~
wife of CB since 10/99
mother to:
~Evelyn Grace 5/03
~Joshua Ryan 11/05
~Lillian Rose 8/08
~Caleb Charles 8/10

ksjk3
Posts: 25
Joined: Tue May 20, 2008 6:55 am

Re: APOLOGIA ELEMENTARY SCIENCE

Post by ksjk3 » Thu Sep 11, 2008 2:55 pm

I just had to throw in my two cents worth on the Apologia books. I love them and so does my 10 year old. Last year we read the first part of the Botany book. Throughout the summer, my daughter kept repeating things she had learned over and over again. Mind you I do NOT have a child who's an eager learner. We tried the Small Square book on the Seashore with our Bigger program and it just didn't click with my kids, so I'm doing Apologia's Swimming Creatures in its place. My kids are loving it. I think the important thing is to listen to your kids and let the Holy Spirit lead you to what's best for them. I throw in some of the Small Square book here and there when I think it enriches the other. Some may think the Apologia books sound too textbook like, but my kids think otherwise!
Kristi

Mother of 3 girls ages 10, 8, and 3 years

Carrie
Site Admin
Posts: 8125
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2007 8:39 pm

Re: APOLOGIA ELEMENTARY SCIENCE

Post by Carrie » Thu Sep 11, 2008 11:10 pm

Briana,

I'm just popping in here on our last night of our vacation before we head home tomorrow. The ladies are doing a wonderful job of showing you all sides of the Apologia books. I'll link you to a past thread here, which will more fully explain my thinking on it:
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=529

Here's another thread as to why we're looking at using Zoology 3 in our new Ancients guide: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1655

As the ladies mentioned, if you're a science loving family, you can easily add Apologia to your schedule. I'd just caution you against adding too much of anything to your daily schedule, as you don't want to wear you or your kiddos out! If you're doing a 4-day plan, it would work great to add Apologia on the 5th day (along with any other special interests your kiddos have). But, you'll know what fits your family best. :wink:

Blessings,
Carrie

Teena6
Posts: 139
Joined: Tue Aug 12, 2008 9:29 pm
Location: GA
Contact:

Re: APOLOGIA ELEMENTARY SCIENCE

Post by Teena6 » Sat Sep 13, 2008 11:49 pm

Just wanted to add..... b/c I think it was me that Carrie was talking with on one of the threads. Not sure that is the one you are referring to. We have used the Apologia Science with our 11 yr old (she just turned 11). She did the Zoology 2 this past year. SHE LOVED IT. She loved reading it on her own and loved how the book talked to her! LOL

I agree that Carrie covers everything in HOD. You could add but like others have said be careful to not over load. We have the Zoology 1 Flying Creatures..... and my dd still says she wants to read it. We will see. :)

This past May we met Jeannie Fulbright at our state curriculum conference. She is so nice and down to earth. I am so thankful for good christian authors ..... like her and Carrie ..... and they are HOME SCHOOLING MOMS TOO!! :wink:
grace & peace,
Teena
mom to 1/2 doz & DIL
using BHFHG & MTMM (in the fall 2012)

Carly
Posts: 69
Joined: Sat May 24, 2008 3:36 am
Location: Texas

Re: APOLOGIA ELEMENTARY SCIENCE

Post by Carly » Sun Sep 14, 2008 5:50 pm

We LOVE the Land Animals book. Our kids read it for fun from our reference book display shelf.
I would love to see Carrie use Apologia!

Carly

Carrie
Site Admin
Posts: 8125
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2007 8:39 pm

Re: APOLOGIA ELEMENTARY SCIENCE

Post by Carrie » Wed Sep 17, 2008 3:05 pm

The Land Animals book (Zoo. 3 is the one we're leaning toward using in our new Ancients guide), although it would be one portion of the year of science. I do really like the layout and look of this particular Apologia book. As with all authors, over time, they just get better!?! Right? :lol:

Blessings,
Carrie

Post Reply