Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Review: Supercharged Science e-Science Curriculum


 If you are looking for a complete, hands-on Science curriculum that has been thoroughly tested and proven to be effective and fun, then I would suggest Supercharged Science e-Science Curriculum!
It is put together by Aurora Lipper who has spent many years teaching it in public school, college and home settings.  She is committed to quality education, thus the projects aren't watered down but are clearly presented in a way that will have you and your child feeling, thinking and acting like a real scientist!

"With over 900 science activities, experiments and projects spanning pre-kindergarten to high school, thousands of pages of lesson plans, data lab sheets, quizzes, exercises, and reading material, and an unlimited number of questions kids can ask, your children always have something new and exciting to learn from on the e-Science program! You’ll find real videos of real scientists in action, taking you step-by-step through the entire learning process. You won’t believe how much kids can have while learning science."

Format
The curriculum consists of over 900 hands-on Science lessons and activities with instructional step-by-step videos that any K-12th grade student can follow.  There are lists of supplies needed and written instructions for most experiments as well.


Cost
Enrollment in the full online e-Science program is just $1 for the first month. After the first month, you will automatically be charged just $37(K-8) or $57 (K-12) per month as long as you are enrolled. You also get a DVD with 10 science lessons mailed to you when you try e-Science.
Enrollment is month-by-month so you can customize it for when you need it.
For more info, read the FAQ.
*Free-
To get an idea of what the program is like you can Enter Your E-Mail to receive a 
Science Experiment Guide
Over 30 easy-but cool science activities

Materials Needed
Subscription
Most supplies are easily found in your own home, Grocery store or at a Hardware store.

How We Use It
I was given a membership to Supercharged Science e-Science Curriculum for this review and in order to use it in our local homeschool co-op.  I am planning to use it to teach a group of 3rd-5th graders.  One of the great things about using this curriculum is that it is possible to use it with multiple ages at once!  We are going to learn about keeping a Scientific Journal, how to use the Scientific Method and spend 10 weeks completing experiments that will facilitate learning more about the systems of the atmosphere and weather. 
-Scientific  Journals:  I am excited to introduce the Scientific Journals.  I think that, besides being fun, they will be a great learning tool and a great way to record the work the children have done and what they have learned.  All you need is a simple notebook and Aurora explains how to use it.
-Learning Scientific Method: I also love that Aurora lays out how to go about conducting the experiments using the Scientific Method.  And not just by telling you, but by having you conduct an experiment and walking you through the Scientific Method as you work.

What We Think
I really can't say for sure what I think of this curriculum as I haven't had a chance to put it into action.  But in my planning I have watched the videos and gathered supplies and I have only been impressed with the quality and clarity thus far.  Because of this, I am super excited to share this program with the kids at co-op and I will be sharing updates as we go along.  So if you want to wait and see how it goes, then check back in September!


"They will not only excel in science education, but have an extraordinary foundation to stand on when they hit college. Start your children on the road to success and help them become more confident students. You’ll appreciate that Supercharged Science helps you track your children’s progress through their science journals so you can keep up with them every step of the way. Watch and be amazed as they master new science topics and become proficient in essential skills."

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