Prep for Science Experiments
September 24th, 2008
A couple months ago I noticed that we were very inclined to skip science experiments (just watch them on the Discover and Do DVD and not actually do them) because we didn’t have the little odds and ends gathered that we needed. It’s not that the odds and ends weren’t in the house. They were. It was just a matter of them not being in one place at the time we needed them.
So I decided to use one half of the top drawer of our filing cabinet as a place to organize what we needed for the science experiments. We use Sonlight Science 1 and the experiments happen every 5th day of each week.
First I labelled 36 hanging file folders with Week X (1-36). Then I went through the experiments and determined what I would need for each week and made a list and spent a couple weeks getting everything gathered.
Then I wrote on index cards the week and day number of school (5-180) for those experiments. I listed what we’d need from the non-consumable supplies kit, what we’d need that is already hanging around in the downstairs where our school area is, what we’d need from elsewhere in the house, and what is in the folder (this includes the stuff I gathered up as well as the stuff the experiments need that came in the consumable supplies kit).
Since I did that we’ve been doing the experiments as planned every week and my kids are enjoying science so much more and getting so much more out of our lessons. It’s worked great for us. To see what works great for other people, go here!
Heather, I just think that is a GREAT idea!
We love science in this house and find too many reasons to stop what we are doing and try a new experiment.
But we sometimes have to wait a few days because we don’t have the necessary items. Usually it’s because I haven’t planned very well. So, I need to go look through the curriculum and give your system a try!
Thanks!
I’m a new homeschooler, so this will deifnitely help. Thanks for the great tip!
Glad to hear that science is back on its feet. But I’m a little confused because I thought the Sonlight Science Kits came with almost all the doodads that you needed. …of course, while working on the Discover & Do DVDs we were always coming up with more things we needed to use [smile].
Keep up the great work!
~Luke
Wow - look at you! We are nowhere near that organized. I usually skip the experiments if I have to BUY something to do them. Otherwise, we give it a go. I try to gather the night before. No way I could be as organized as you! WOW!
Very nice! I’ve been trying to look ahead in our curriculum and gather things we’ll need but I hadn’t come up with a way to organize it yet! Thank you for saving me some brain cells. I have a portable file bin with a locking lid that will be perfect for this.
I love love love it!!!!!!!!!
Oh yay! That looks like a grand plan! Enjoy the Science kiddo’s!
Such great ideas at this post and many others. I am putting you on Google reader. And I don’t even homeschool anymore! I am trying to see how I can adapt your ideas for me while I go to seminary. I want school to be “fun” again. :-0