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Learning about Patterns in Our World Through Math and Science

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Welcome to the 4th year of the Virtual Curriculum Fair!

I am co-hosting this week along with Susan at Homeschooling Hearts & Minds.  Discovering Patterns: Mathematics, Logic, and Science—includes anything to do with mathematics, mathematical thinking, numbers, arithmetic, symbolic logic, critical thinking, and math-y sciences (physics, chemistry, etc.)

So without further ado, I’m sharing about what our family is using for math and science this year.

Learning about Patterns in Our World Through Math and Science

Disclaimer ~ This post on learning about patterns in our world through math and science in our homeschool this year contains a few affiliate links.  Many thanks to anyone who chooses to click through and make a purchase that provides a small income for the blog.

Learning about Patterns in Our World Through Math and Science ~ Preschool Years

So far, I am taking a very light approach to learning for J.

My personal philosophy for the younger years (up to middle school) is that you want the kids to learn to LOVE the process of learning.  Hence, we do not do math and science on a daily basis.

Math has a focus on:

Learning his numbers (0 – 9), which he has mastered by sight, but struggles to write
Counting up to 20
Knowing basic shapes (e.g. circle, triangle, etc.)
Making comparisons (larger, longer, etc.)
Very basic addition and subtraction (which we are just working in to)
We are using a combination of preK or K workbooks as well as the preK programs from TouchMath and IXL Math, both of which we received as review products.

Magic School Bus Complete Series

Science is very low key with the use of reading books, getting out into nature, and occasionally watching shows like Magic School Bus or Wild Kratts.

Learning about Patterns in Our World Through Math and Science ~ High School Years

This year the older boys are continuing with using Math U See for their primary math program.

R started the year off continuing in pre-algebra while P began Calculus.  R has had some struggles as well. But he is now well into the Algebra I book with the possibility of finishing it by May. That has this homeschool mom practically giddy.

The calculus class is becoming more of a headache than I ever imagined and if any of the other boys make it that far for their senior year I am either taking the summer before to completely refresh my own working knowledge OR spending the extra to have them in a class.  I guess this is the year when I finally appreciate why some parents are terrified of homeschooling their teens for subjects like math and science.

As much as I WANT him to finish the class, I am seriously considering having him stop half way and just wait to tackle calculus in college.  Or at least, take the second half off his learning plan for the charter school so I am not nearly as stressed about him getting the work done.  He already has 4 years of math for high school, so he doesn’t need it to graduate.

Physical Science: Concepts In Action; With Earth and Space SciencePhysical Science: Concepts In Action; With Earth and Space Science

This year I get to revisit physical science with R using the same textbook his older brother used (Prentice Hall’s Physical Science) only with lesson plans from Kolbe Academy.  I found that the money was well spent on those lesson plans to ease up my own time and headache over deciding which sections to have him do and which to leave out.

When P used the textbook, I spent hours each week prepping materials and tweaking what he needed to do. Also, the lesson plans included quizzes and tests with the teacher answer key and LOTS of notes for the teacher.

I’ve been trying to get R to read through those notes so he gets a better sense of the material and possibly does better on the quizzes and test.  But, alas, that hasn’t been working out too well.

Prentice Hall ChemistryPrentice Hall Chemistry

 

P’s doing Prentice Hall Chemistry this year. Thankfully, Kolbe offers lesson plans for the books which is a real blessing for me.

The one thing I need to do is get them to play catch up on some lab time. I know that seeing something happen with your own eyes can have a great impact than just reading about it. 

Some of the labs are not easy to do in the home.,This is where Kolbe’s lesson plans are a life saver as well. They only include labs that can be done in a home and sometimes they tell you what to substitute.

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They also offer the option of virtual labs done on the computer. However, we didn’t purchase the chemistry ones as P rarely did the physics last year. Instead, I plan to supplement with Supercharged Science for more hands-on experiments.

We purchased her HUGE kit with tons of supplies just waiting for us to dig in some more. (See past mentions of Supercharged Science on the blog.) I may even have the older boys work together on a few of those experiments when their subject material overlaps.

Curious about past years for our homeschool? 

Visit Tackling Math and Science from Multiple Angles (2013 – 2014) and Learning Math Block by Block which covered the 2011 – 2012 school year.

How do YOU approach learning the math and physical sciences in YOUR homeschool?

Any favorite products or curriculum that you absolutely loved?

See what other homeschoolers are sharing on this theme:

Virtual Curriculum Fair Week 2 Discovering Patterns 2015

Learning about Patterns in Our World Through Math and Science by Laura @ Day by Day in Our World

Relaxed Homeschooling: Mathematics in the Early Elementary Years by Brittney @ Mom’s Heart

Using a Bible-Based Math Curriculum by Tauna M @ Proverbial Homemaker

Math, Science and Logic for 2015 by Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses

Playing with Numbers by Sarah @ Delivering Grace

Unschooling Science by Kristen H. @ Sunrise to Sunset

Logically Speaking: Math, Science, and Logic for 7th Grade  by Christy @ Unexpected Homeschool

Numbers and Molecules! by Michele @ Family, Faith and Fridays

Math and Science in Our Homeschool by Jennifer @ A Glimpse of Our Life

5 Math & Logic Resources We Love by Becky @ Milo & Oats

Giving Your Kids The Right Start With Math by Amy @ One Blessed Mamma

Math in Our Classical / Charlotte Mason Homeschool by Sharra @ The Homeschool Marm

Classical STEM by Lisa @ Golden Grasses

Math, Science and Logic – How do we Tackle Them? by Joelle @ Homeschooling for His Glory

The Physics of Delight-Directed Learning by Susan @ The Every Day of Education

Tackling High School Science by Debra @ Footprints in the Butter

Choosing Math Curriculum for Special Learners by Heather @ Only Passionate Curiosity

Math for all ages by Denise @ Fullnest

Middle School Monday – Math With Fred by Kym @ Homeschool Coffee Break

Learning With Math and Science Resources  by Leah @ As We Walk Along the Road

One Comment

  1. Thanks for the recommendation on Chemistry, I will definitely check it out. We are using a co-op this year for math & biology and it has been fabulous. I’m hoping they will offer physics and the next levels of math for my teens next year.

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