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We have slowed CTC down and have been doing half days and my dd is already speeding it up. We love the program!! One problem, the science book is excellent but my 11yodd knows most of what is being taught. This is an area she loves and has spent alot of time on. I have a few ideas and wanted your thoughts. I could let her read thru and find topics of interest that she has not read about before in the textbook. We could move on to the other 2 science books. We could switch textbooks. I do not know how the science ties in with the rest of the program so I am asking for your help.
Anxiously awaiting,
Sharyn

My daughter knows much of it also (loves biology) but she is just doing it again. Review never hurt anyone, in my opinion. For added science, I allow to her to teach her brother his Bigger science a couple times a week. They enjoy this. I think already knowing this particular branch of science is still giving her the opportunity to work on other skills like...

independently doing the experiments and notebooking pages (since the content is a breeze for her)
becoming familiar with science lab sheets and the idea of writing down what you've learned (she's always just read and done reports rather than lab sheets)
researching her brother's science topics so she can teach him
learning how to verbally explain science concepts (much to be said for learning a topic, ingesting it, and being able to teach it to a younger sibling).

This year is really the first year I've done any kind of structured science with my kids but they are such voracious readers they have a wonderful foundation for science already in place. If your daughter is interested in other areas of science why not just add a stack of library books to the mix and let her go.

Thanks. You are confirming what my hubby was thinking...
Sharyn

Sharyn,

I agree that kiddos have often had a good dose of Biology/Life Science prior to heading into their CTC years, however I agree with Daisy that the skills scheduled within CTC science are necessary ones for further science study.

You've already shared some terrific tips for extending the science that would work well. A couple other ideas would be to use the Biology 101 DVD, which would definitely raise the content level and add a multi-media component. Another idea would be to use John Hudson Tiner's new book Exploring the World of Biology (at a pace of a chapter or two a week). A last idea is to read biographies of scientists who were biologists or studied within the life science area. This really makes the study of biology come to life. (Pun intended!)

Blessings,
Carrie