Combining 3rd and 5th grade Science, should I?

[MissRubyandKen]

I've always combined Science for my kids in the past. My dd is 10 and my ds is 8. I've started wondering if I shouldn't combine Science again next year. My dd is able to sit still for much longer for reading, both to herself and aloud, is able to write more, retains more, etc. In other words her abilities have jumped ahead of what I expect of ds for next year. I'm really not sure what to do. I really can't imagine two separate Science plans with different experiments. Any advice?

[elizawill]

my kids are also two years apart (going into 3rd & 1st though). i do plan to keep them together for science. i'll just adapt it as needed and adjust assignments to meet them where they are. for ages 8 & 10, i think using one spine for science is totally fine & just tweak it as you see fit to best meet your kids abilities. anyway-that's my 2cents

[rsps]

I would keep them together. The older one can pursue thing in slightly more depth (longer reports -- follow the scientific method more closely) if interested, but at that age I would still try to mostly keep it fun and hands on unless the child has a real desire to pursue a subject at a deeper level.

[CariOfOz]

I would absolutely continue on together, and just lighten things up as required for the 3rd grader and add in activities/reading for the 5th grader. I think it's REALLY handy to be studying roughly the same thing so you can plan outings and activities together and know that they'll both benefit. For experiments your older child can do a more in depth lab report on the process and outcome to add a bit more meat.

I agree, doing 2 complete science programs would get very unwieldy timewise!

[phathui5]

I would keep them together. My older two will be 10 and 7 this school year and will be doing science together.