science after Ms. Frizzle?

[rumi]

We've devoured the entire series of magic school bus as well as the chapter books published by scholastic based on the original series by J Cole.

Now what? dd is turned onto science, no doubt, but to go from this to regular books with no Ms. Frizzle?

Okay sure, we are trying to observe nature, do experiments. she is only 6 though (almost 7) so there aren't that many we can do. plus there are many times when we have to be indoors. we have no good libraries around - we order online.

She is a voracious reader though and if I had good books I am sure she would read them. We are at a stage where she could read fiction of much higher reading level but I don't get them because the subject matter is too mature. So she is rereading a lot and I am trying to branch out into folk tales to keep up the diversity. But i would like to keep nonfiction on the menu as well.

help?

[desertmom]

One possibility would be George's Secret Key to the Universe by Lucy and Stephen Hawking. I finished it recently with my newly minted 7 yr old. Originally, I wasn't sure if she'd be ready for it, but she loved the adventure story. The purely factual information was boxed off and interesting to take or leave as much of as you like. My dd asked me midway through the book to stop reading the boxed material because doing so interrupted the story too much. After we finished the book as a read-aloud, she read it a couple of times on her own and was telling me some of the scientific info we'd skipped while reading together (I admit, I'd gone back and read it when she wasn't around because it was really interesting). We haven't gotten the sequel yet.

[AFWife]

Would it have to be books? If you're looking for really fun science I recommend the Beakman's World stuff. It was a TV series for awhile that i grew up on. They always do at least one "experiment" that you can do at home (I remember they did making breakaway glass and making your own paper for example) The "best of" is available on Amazon.

Sorry if this is a really "not for you" idea!

[lach]

One of my favorite books is Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything. At the bookstore the other day, I saw that there is a child's version. I have not read it, but it looked nicely done. And I thought the adult book was one of the most interesting things I've ever read. I'd definitely recommend that you read it, and you'll be able to tell her about all sorts of really interesting things.

http://www.amazon.com/Really-Short-H...533176&sr=8-10

I just saw that Amazon says its for grades 5-8, which is obviously a bit old for your DD. So maybe my rec is way off. I just thought I'd throw it out there.

[Dakota's Mom]

I love the "Let's Read and Find Out" series of books. You can get them on Amazon fairly inexpensively. We have maybe 15 of them on all different subjects. My seven year old loves them.

Kathi

[rumi]

Originally Posted by Dakota's Mom

I love the "Let's Read and Find Out" series of books.

thanks for this reco.
i am looking into ordering some of these, but they seem to be at about the same reading / comprehension level as Magic School bus.

any recommendations on books at a somewhat higher level?
they don't have to have magic and stuff but i want them to be highly engaging.

[kwg]

Ds7 LOVES the horrible science series.....we have some horrible histories too that he enjoys.

I am not sure what level they are but they are chapter books. Andrew Lost is another series he loved that has (i think) science info.

[rumi]

Thanks for the recommendations.  We got a set of 20 books in the Horrible Science Series (along with 20 Horrible Histories as well).  dd is plowing through them.  dh wonders if it is just a collection of trivia or any science is learned.  Anyway she enjoys reading them so if nothing else it is good leisure reading.  Thanks for the tip on A Really Short History of Nearly Everything I haven't seen the book yet, but I am figuring dd will be ready for it soon so I will probably go ahead and get it.

I agree we need to move on to more experimental work and not only reading.  Just have to get more organized to do this. We have done many of the experiments that are commonly listed on science websites - but I think there are more / better websites out there, I just haven't done a systematic survey.  Any of you have some favourite sites for science concepts / experiments?

[pigpokey]

Thanks for the thread guys.  I just threw A Short Version of Nearly Everying (?17 hours) (the adult version)  into my Audible account.  I can play it in the car through the app on my android phone.

[simple living mama]

Get outside a play, play, play! Buy an eight dollar loop from your local photography shop and look at bugs, leaves and spiderwebs up close. Play with dry ice.  Play with water and mud to make mini rivers and dams.  Collect leaves and flowers for drying and hang up in the window like stain glass. Examine animal scat. If you live near snow, go to a place where you might find animal tracks.  We go to our grave yard where a whole bunch of Turkey Vultures hang out and watch them preen and fly with their huge wing spans.  Grow a garden. Start mulching and watch food and leaves break up and turn back to earth.  So much to learn by just being outside, and anyway, that's mostly what grade schools focus on, they just don't have the set up to bring the kids outside everyday so they learn from books.  We homeschoolers have that luxury!

[AAK]

Originally Posted by rumi 

I agree we need to move on to more experimental work and not only reading.  Just have to get more organized to do this. We have done many of the experiments that are commonly listed on science websites - but I think there are more / better websites out there, I just haven't done a systematic survey.  Any of you have some favourite sites for science concepts / experiments?

We are currently enjoying stuff from http://www.superchargedscience.com/

She has free stuff and stuff you pay for.  All ages.  I am looking into buying one of her kits.  I like that it is all inclusive.  Open the box and go!

Amy

[frugalmama]

We're looking for something too that is DVD based. I've had recommended to me the Mr. Wizard shows from the 50's that are available on DVD - the science in them is very solid even if the shows are dated.