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Hello All,

I was just wondering about doing Astronomy in RTR. We have already done Astronomy with the same Apologia book a couple of years ago. I had planned to do Apologia's General Science with my then 11 yo ds and 12 yo dd, but after reading Carrie's post about the time and rigor of their Science, I am reconsidering. I am just thinking with them being a couple of years older that they would get more out of the Apologia Astronomy book this time, and it wouldn't feel like, " Oh, yeah, we did this before."

Anybody have any thoughts or experience with this?

Thanks,
RuthAnn

I don't know for sure, but i bet the way it's used with the hod lessons, it will have a very fresh feel to it i love the way carrie plans the science.

sorry about my typing. i'm holding baby while i type!

We had a similar situation. We had read CHOW (for fun ) a few years before we read it again with PHFHG. I have to tell you I was a little depressed because my ds remembered pretty much NOTHING from the first reading of it when we just read it through as a read aloud on our own. The good news is he loved reading it along with all of the plans written in the HOD guide when we read it a second time with PHFHG - and then, he did remember a good deal of it after that. So, I guess if I were you, I'd probably start off with it, give it a month or so, and if it feels like it's still too familiar, I'd switch to the other one at that point. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

We are using Astronomy right now (just started it), because I had already promised my children that we would use that book before I found out that it's scheduled in a future HOD guide. I figure by the time we get to it again they won't remember too much of it, so I'm not worried about it.

I have the same concern. My ds did that book this year in co-op. I am worried that using it so soon again won't work. We even did notebooking with it, so I am not sure it will work.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5211&p=39804&hilit= ... ons#p39804

I tried to copy this from a previous discussion and it's my first time trying so I apologize if it didn't work, but we are personally planning to use Signs and Seasons form my oldest two next year with RtR per Carrie' s suggestions. If my copy and past didn't work just put Signs and Seasons in the search and it will pop right up. Hope this helps!

Thanks, everyone, for your input. Sorry it took so long for me to respond. We have been out of town.
I think I will take a look at Signs and Seasons, but I will keep in mind that having them repeat Apologia Astronomy might not be such a bad idea. In fact, it might be a really good thing. Thanks again for helping me with this.

Thanks for bringing it up! I had the same question since we are doing the Astronomy book this year also.

Carrie and I were chatting about this, and she had a great idea! If you already did the Astronomy, you could replace it by doing both science options. So, since the Astronomy is about (I believe) 13 weeks of plans, and the Option 2 science is about that long, it should work to do that. You'd still have an "earth science" year, and the books would all be new. So, by doing both Option 1 and 2, and omitting the Astronomy, you'd have the year covered. Just something to ponder!

In Christ,
Julie

Julie that is just what I was going to post since Carrie brainstormed that while we were talking in Cincinnati. I am pretty sure that is what I am going to do. I will do the AIG book during those first 13 weeks when Apologia Astronomy is scheduled, and then I will do the wonderful biography books when they are scheduled. I am excited we get to do both.

Oh good, Lynn! I actually brought up this very post to Carrie on the drive home from Cincinnati, as I wasn't sure what might work in this scenario, and she told me that as she was talking in the booth about this very thing she'd thought of doing both options. That's usually how great ideas work - the best brainstorming just comes from talking to wonderful ladies like yourself! I so enjoyed meeting your family. Noah is such a neat person, and your daughter and dh were so proud of him too, I could tell. I wish I could have had time to chat with you more. I turned to help someone and by the time I finished I'd missed you. Anyway, thank you for taking your family to the HOD booth. I always can tell a family from our board - they just seem happy.

In Christ,
Julie

Thanks for the great idea ladies. Now I'm not sure what to do. I had thought I would just repeat the astronomy book since it had been awhile, but I like this idea as well. Decisions, decisions.

RuthAnn,

The ladies are doing such a good job of brainstorming options with you. I really think any of these options would work. One deciding factor that would be more weighted in my thinking through the ideas would be how long ago your child did the Astronomy book. If the child just did the Astronomy book the previous year, I'd definitely move toward doing the two option plan. If, however, it has been two years or more since your child did Astronomy, I would reconsider the Astronomy as a possibility. It may depend on your child too, and how enthusisastic that child is about revisiting the book. Another great option for older kiddos would be Signs and Seasons (however that is a very high level book bringing it closer to high school level material rather than 5th-6th grade material).

Just a few thoughts as you ponder.

Blessings,
Carrie

Thanks, Carrie! It has been a couple of years since my son and daughter have done the Apologia Astronomy book. My only other question is, they will be 12 and 11. I don't think they would be ready to do Signs and Seasons, but would doing Option 1 and Option 2 be more challenging than the Astronomy book, about the same, or not as challenging? I want them to do whichever option would be a little more challenging, as they are both on the older end of the age range.

Thanks for everyone's input on this.

RuthAnn,

Both options are appropriate for grades 4-8, so I wouldn't consider one more rigorous than the other. Exploring Creation with Astronomy is definitely written in a more living way, causing us to lean in that direction when advising which option to use. However, if repeating is not sounding exciting, you could easily use God's Design for Heaven and Earth for new content.

Blessings,
Carrie