Science in LHFHG

[StephanieU]

So, I think I have settled on LHFHG for my 5yo 1st grader. I am now working on the science. We haven't done any formal science, although she has been exposed to a lot of science just from life. And she loves it! Would there be any benefit to buying both the K and 1st grade science book and adding in a little extra science each week? Are the experiments the same in both? I know the K book is listed in the weekly guide and the 1st grade book in the Appendix, but do they cover the same topics in the same order (using the guide with the appendix of course)?

Also, I want to make sure I have everything in my cart ready for the new LHFHG guide to be released. We already have a phonics and math program (Horizons). So, I need the Economy package and science. I might add in the devotion too, although we do AWANA (which means the music isn't necessary since we get the music for AWANA). That leave handwriting. I think I am just going to have her copy her verses for AWANA or the one in the guide each week. She knows how to form the letters already, although she needs to work on size and neatness at this point. I have also added in the Beyond economy guide for the emerging reader information in the index (as she is almost to that level of reading) and LHTH for my other two (3.5 and 2). Anything else I need/should order?

[MelInKansas]

The experiments or activities are written in the guide, not the science book. The science book is used just for reading about creation/the things you are doing experiments on. Though I used the K book, so perhaps the 1st book, using the appendix to schedule, would use the experiments in the book, that I don't know about. I would just think that you would not want to buy both and do both, it would either be redundant (reading about the same thing in two different books) or confusing. Continue learning about science as you go about life, that's a great way to do it! Don't worry about doing extra book work.

We also do AWANA and I would encourage you to buy the CD and do the weekly memory verses with LHFHG. They are very easy with the music on the CD, we just listened to the CD in the van. Though you could do it anywhere, or let your child listen on their own. The verses tie in with the Bible stories and lessons you are doing that week, which for me makes them stick. Some even overlap with AWANA verses, so then I would make sure you are doing them in LHFHG the same Bible translation as your AWANA book. The Bible translation of your AWANA book is on the back of it. (I didn't double check this, so some of them were different wording, very confusing). The devotion selection is also EXCELLENT and I think you just can't get enough thinking/discussing about God's word. My oldest came to faith in Christ through a discussion about several of the devotional readings in that book, and it has been great for discussion with my 2nd DD also.

Copying verses is great for Handwriting - A Reason for Handwriting A has them doing this also (this is what my 2nd DD is doing as she finished Italic A and needs more practice before we start the copywork in Beyond).

[StephanieU]

Thanks! My concern about the CD is that they aren't in KJV, which is what she is learning in AWANA. So, I don't want to confuse her with another version for memorization when there will be overlap. She will be a Wingrunner this year, and she memorizes verses EXTREMELY quickly. She went through the Hangglider book, Frequent Flyer cards, and God Loves Me last year with weeks to spare. All it takes for her to memorize a verse is repeat it a few times, so I think copying and reading those will be enough for her.

And I think you are right that there is only one experiment that is used for both books. So, I am just wondering if there is a big difference in depth between the two - maybe read the K book and do the experiment one day, and then add the reading from the 1st grade book? And if she wanted to, of course we could do the experiment again too. The extra book is only about $10, so it isn't a big expense at all...

[MelInKansas]

That makes sense about the KJV versus the CD, yes it could be confusing because those are not the same version. The CD is not the version we use at home either, but it was very close, so sometimes I used the wording from the CD and sometimes from ESV.

Part of post removed by board moderator per board rules.

[MelInKansas]

As far as using both books for the science in LHFHG I guess I don't see what the point of it would be. I know the 1st grade science text is supposed to be more "in depth" and at a higher comprehension level. So maybe that's the one you would want to use. But for me personally, the science readings were not the best or most important part of the science in LHFHG. The activities are. So I don't know why you would want to do more reading, I just don't think that's really going to give her a deeper understanding of the subjects. The science text does have additional activities in it that you could do, if anything I would think you might want to do THAT for enrichment instead of reading from two books.

[my3sons]

We bought both science books, and though they are both neat, they are not all that incredibly different. Either way, the HOD experiments are wonderful! If you want extra reading and a few extra activities (that are written into the 1st grade science book), you could certainly get it. It won't do any harm! However, the science is great with just one of the books as well, and the two books honestly won't change it all that much. This one's up to you! You can't go wrong here. Also, FWIW, our dc LOVED the Hide 'Em in Your Heart CD, but they also LOVED the large motor skills practiced too! They loved the sharing the verse with someone else day too, and the discussion between us about what the verse meant was special. That box is much more than memorization, so I just thought I'd mention the other neat parts of it we appreciated. I like the KJV (as well as the NKJV and NIV) too, but the CD we view also as just music to sing along with and PTL. Of course how you view this is totally up to your family, but I hope something here can help!

In Christ,
Julie

[StephanieU]

We don't have a problem with other versions per se (we aren't KJV-only, but we do think KJV is the most accurate English translation). But, the problem is that she memorizes so easily (and keeps what she has memorized). She really struggled a few weeks last year when the verses contained the same phrases in more than one verse. She would start combining them! So, that is my main fear - she would learn one version and it would make it harder for her to learn the KJV which is our preference. When I looked at the sample pages for LHFHG, it only shows them listening to the song. Does this change later on? Or, I was thinking we could just do what ever activities are listed with either her AWANA music or choir music. Part of post removed by board moderator per board rules.

[my3sons]

Certainly only you can know your preference on this, and there is not one right answer here, just one right answer for your family! The things I mentioned are included in the Bible Study box of the plans, and these are the other 'skills' used with the verse. They'd work with any version. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie