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I am currently using a combo of LHFHG and BLHFHG for my 5.5 and 6 (7 next month)YO. Basically I do everything from LHFHG on the left. They each do their own math, reading, writing, phonics. Then I added the grammar and spelling from BLHFHG for my 6year old. Things are going great. We are using the Grade 1 science book with LHFHG. The only problem is I am not terribly thrilled with the science portion. I feel it is somewhat lacking in depth. I am not one to supplement or come up with other things on my own, that is why I love HOD so much. I am wondering if anyone can tell me what they think of the science part in the higher grades and if maybe it is just so light in this one b/c of the age level. Sciences are extremely important to me and I want to make sure that the science is more strongly covered and more in depth in the older grades. Other than that I love this program, the kids are doing great too. Thanks for any advie you may have.
Renee

Are you talking about Our Father's World? Carrie is not crazy about that book, which is why she skips it for BLHFHG and only recommends God's Wonderful Works. Maybe she will pop in and tell you why, as I can't remember why she didn't like it off hand.

Yes, it is actually "Our Father's World" She listed the K or 1st grade science books as options in LHFHG. I am not thrilled with it either. Maybe the one used in Beyond is more in depth, I hope.

Just so you know, if Carrie doesn't respond here on the board you are more than welcome to email her directly with any questions or concerns you have. I have found her to be more than willing to help, and I'm sure others will agree with me!

Bumping because I have had the same questions. Just wondering from ones who have ventured along further with HOD how the Science "pans" out. I am one who enjoys linear progression and am struggling with the jumping around. Beyond focuses more on Science, yes? It seems like it from a glance and so LHFHG and BLHFHG are providing a framework for the sciences?

Thanks for guiding me through this. Sometimes the walls come closing in on me when I try to make sure all things are covered and so this will help me to see with the proper "glasses".

Renee,

You happened to catch me on the board, so I'll just pop-in and answer. I'm sure more ladies will be along to answer your questions too. While science is a much-loved area by many people, at HOD we also realize that in the K-2 years there is nothing more important than the 3 R's. Getting kiddos reading, writing, and excelling at math is foundational to their futures. This is why our main focus in both LFHGH and in Beyond is on the 3 R's.

As far as state standards go, we have made sure to cover and exceed the standards for science in the K-2 years in our science portion of our guides. We also make sure that it meets the goals of being hands-on and of pointing to our Lord as the Creator of all things.

When we write our guides, we must look at standards but also at the long-term goals and those things that are most needed for success in life. This is why you'll always see a healthy dose of the 3 R's in our guides, and as you go along, you'll also notice that the time spent on other subjects (including science) rises too. Once you get to Bigger Hearts and Preparing Hearts, science becomes a daily subject with daily readings from living books (and includes experiments with lab sheets, notebooking, written and oral narrations, and guided questioning). This is because, by then, kiddos should have a good foundation in the 3 R's, which will aid them greatly in reading, understanding, experimenting, and responding within other areas.

Science is one of those subjects that is either a passion or is one that people dislike with a passion. We had a very interesting thread on the board awhile back (when we were asking for opinions about future science plans in our guides). Many moms had wonderful suggestions, but also noted how much they enjoyed science in the HOD guides and found that they were finally getting it done on a consistent basis. This is a good reminder that we're not all the same and that while one family may be wishing there was more science, another may be thankful just to be getting to it every day without pain!

Each family has its own priorities and things they'd like to see more of within our guides. If you happen to be a science loving family, it is easy to add in your own additional science readings if you desire. Many kiddos do a once a week nature journal at this age to practice sketching, writing, and studying God's natural world. The wonderful part of both LHFHG and Beyond is that you are done with school in a timely fashion, so you can pursue your own family's specific passions.

I'll leave you with this to ponder. How much science do you recall from your Kindergarten through second grade years? How much science is needed during those years to make sure a child is successful later in life? These are the questions we ask ourselves, as we strive for balance when writing the HOD guides. We try to look at each subject in its level of necessity and plan accordingly.

Blessings,
Carrie

AWESOME! Beautifully written. Thanks for your time responding. Much Appreciated!

Carrie,
You answered everything I needed and raised some good points. I am also very much a supporter of the 3R's early on. I just wanted to make sure that science does become a more prominent part of the curriculum at an appropriate time in the future. I agree I do not remember much from those early years. I am constantly trying to remind myself of that when my public school neighbor kids rattle off various useless facts they learn in K and 1st grade that I have never thought of covering with my kids. I try to reassure myself that it is great they know it but in reality is it that important. I would rather a strong foundation and in the future an understanding of how to think and where to find info versus memorazation of various facts. Granted that is important in some instances too. Am I am making sense????
Thanks again, you put my mind at ease.
Renee

Ladies,

As I was typing my response to Renee, I missed all of the other posting! Sorry about that! In both LHFGH and Beyond, we are giving an introduction to the 3 branches of science (i.e. Life, Earth, and Physical). As we move into Bigger and Preparing, we are giving a bit deeper look at the 3 branches of science, while still relating it to the study of history. In this way, science is not a body of knowledge to be learned, but is actually something connected throughout history. This type of study leads to students seeing science all throughout life, rather than as a separate subject.

Once we get to the new ancients guide, we will go more systematically through the sciences, spending a year on each one. Here is a link to the Scope and Sequence Chart: http://heartofdakota.com/scope.php

We are using the same approach for science that we use for history, which is a general knowledge overview (to pique a child's interest), moving into a more in-depth study in the later years.

We could easily have scheduled science in an unrelated way to any other subject (which is what is readily available elsewhere) but we've chosen to go a different, more difficult route by pairing our science with the study of history. If you prefer to meet your family's goals for science in some other way, as always, you are welcome to do that instead! However, I would encourage you to also include the HOD science experiments along the way, as your kiddos will truly enjoy them. I know mine have.

Blessings,
Carrie