Okay...coming back to HOD Science!

[tnahid]

Okay, I will make a confession. I didn't order the Bigger Science books this year to do with the program, and we have been doing other various science sheets, etc, but it just hasn't been working. So, I am BACK with HOD on the Science portion too and made my order. Haven't gotten it yet, but am very happy with my decision to stick with HOD. So, just to let you know! I strayed away a little from it, thinking it would be too much, but now I know better. It is perfect for us! Even though science is my least favorite subject personally. I think I will even enjoy it with HOD!

My 10 and 8 will be doing it together, so I am going to have it fairly independent for them to do the experiments as a team, etc... P.S. My oldest is really enjoying the extension books. Not so much when he has to write a narration on it, but it's okay. BTW, how long does his narration need to be?

Blessings to all!

[HappyMama]

I'm glad to hear you're coming back to the science in Bigger! We're doing Bigger this year as written and I *love* the science. The books are interesting, the experiments are very doable, and the notebooking is fun for my ds!

I'm not sure about the narrations, but I'm sure one of the wise ladies on this board will be able to answer that for you.

[LynnH]

I think the written narrations in Preparing were 5-7 sentences. Hopefully someone doing Preparing can chime in. I would shoot for that length.

[tnahid]

Thank you guys! I haven't gotten my science books yet but really look forward to getting back to that style of doing science. I love the way it all coordinates together. And thank you for your thoughts on narration. I told him to write 5 sentences today for his history extension books. He really loves his DITHOR and history extensions! Thanks HOD!

[momtofive]

Tina, I was looking in my Bigger guide and in the back section on extensions, it gave suggestions for what to do after the extension readings. They are as follows: "orally retell what they've read (suggested twice during each unit), or write a one paragraph summary of the reading (suggested twice during each unit), or draw a picture with captions about the reading (suggested once during each unit)."

Just going from this, I'd say it's not really a "written narration" as it later would become in Preparing and then CTC. It's more just a paragraph to summarize what he read that day. I'd say a good three or four sentences should do it. We're not going for too much, as it's taught in much more detail later on in Preparing. Preparing will instruct and guide the kids to write an actual written narration.

I hope this helps a little!

Have fun with Bigger Hearts, we're doing it this year, too!

ETA: I just noticed that you mentioned above that you told him to do five sentences. That sounds great! Blessings!

[Tansy]

I'm accepting 3-5 on topic sentences.

I love the snowy fox. It is so nice and white. I love it because it is white. <---wouldn't fly

[tnahid]

OH yes, I see! It is more of a summary. That is really what he writes now. I am having him write 5 summary sentences of what he read. Let me share what he wrote today from A Child's History of America, and Pocohantas and the Stranger (history extensions) and tell me honestly what you think.

(of course he edited for some punctuation and spelling errors, but when that was done it looked like this)

A Child's Story of America

Today I learned about the settlers. In the winter, a lot of settlers died from starvation. Governor Bradford loved the Lord and the settlers would go to church on Sunday. The Indians did not like the settlers. The settlers tried to make peace.

Pocahantas and the Stranger

Today I learned about Pocohantas. The Indians tried to kill John Smith. Pocahantas stopped the Indians. John Smith taught Pocahantas how to read. Pocahantas showed John Smith how she made maps. It was time for him to leave.

This was written by my 10 year old son in cursive. (His handwriting is beautiful, by the way. ) Any thoughts? Should I work with him on making his sentences more descriptive, etc or just let him write what he wants and then have him edit that. Thanks for feedback!