Thy American Experience: Science
Born and raised in Orange County, Amanda spent her summers at the seashore, in the mountains, and across the deserts, which sparked an appreciation and respect for nature...
Welcome to the science component of Thy Early-American Experience "Thinker Day!” We are so thrilled that you’ve decided to embark on this experience with us this year.
This year we will study scientific discoveries that took place between 800 and 1880 AD, when bold and brave men and women had the courage to challenge ideas, question popular thinking, and search for beauty, meaning, and truth. As we follow in the footsteps of our predecessors, we too will behave as "natural philosophers" and will explore, investigate, question, observe, reflect, experiment, and enjoy the wonder of our world together. No texts are required, but below I have listed many of the resources I will be using and suggesting as optional reading. Photocopies of handouts, worksheets, lab papers, etc. will be provided for students in class when used.
What to do to prepare each week:
Here you will be able to access the Scope and Sequence (above) and weekly lessons, which will include a summary as well as optional additional reading, videos, and activities. These weekly lessons will be linked in the Scope and Sequence one week at a time throughout the year. I will also be including photos of my whiteboard notes and other photos of activities from each week.
What will count as completed “homework?” (to be checked in your student’s first class of the day):
Any science work (ex: an optional worksheet, a write-up about a field trip, an experiment) that is completed outside of class will earn your student an additional Colonial Dollar.
What to expect in science class:
In class, your learners will hear a description of the lesson material, copy down additional notes and illustrations on the whiteboard, get to interact with models and manipulatives whenever they are available, and conduct lab experiments, investigations, or hands-on activities dealing with the topic at hand. Learners should come to class with their Science Sketchbook. See below for details.
Personal materials to bring to class each day:
All students need to bring in a notebook/sketchbook for science class. The sketchbook can be very simple, and should be at least 60 pages and approximately 8.5 x 11 inch size (not a tiny one and not an enormous one). It can be spiral-bound, book-bound, or even a simple composition notebook. It is preferable that it be bound on the side, and not on the top of the sketchbook. It is up to you and your student to decide if you prefer it to be lined or blank, or a combination of both. Students are also welcome and encouraged to provide their own pencils and colored pencils, but I will always have plenty to share!
Here is an example from Amazon
Please know that, in all things and at all times, we acknowledge and respect you as your children’s primary teachers. We are here to serve and support you and your family in your homeschool endeavors. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me!
With gratitude,
Amanda Knox
amandaknox@terraarts.org
Optional Books (Any Age):
These are available at www.bfbooks.com, Amazon, Abe Books, and many other new/used book distributors.
The Picture History of Great Inventors
by Gillian Clements
The Way Science Works (DK Publishing)
by Robin Kerrod and Dr. Sharon Ann Holgate
The History of Science Timeline (www.bfbooks.com)
by Christen Blechschmid
Along Came Galileo
by Jeanne Bendick
Leonardo da Vinci
by Diane Stanley
Isaac Newton, The Scientist Who Changed Everything
by Philip Steele
Ben Franklin of Old Philadelphia
by Margaret Cousins
Pasteur’s Fight Against Microbes
by Beverly Birch & Christian Birmingham
The Story of Thomas Alva Edison
by Margaret Cousins
George Washington Carver
by Tonya Bolden
The Wright Brothers for Kids: How They Invented the Airplane
by Mary Kay Carson
Marie Curie’s Search for Radium
by Beverly Birch and Christian Birmingham
Ordinary Genius, The Story of Albert Einstein
by Stephanie S. McPherson
Science Year by Year: A Visual History, From Stone Tools to Space Travel
by DK and Smithsonian
Nature Anatomy: The Curious Parts and Pieces of the Natural World by Julia Rothman (her other books are wonderful too!)
The Usborne Science Encyclopedia
DKfindout! Science
Older Optional Books (5th Grade & Up):
The Story of Science: Newton At the Center by Joy Hakim
Student’s Quest Guide: Newton At the Center by Johns Hopkins University
Timelines of Science: The Ultimate Visual Guide to the Discoveries That Shaped the World by DK and Smithsonian