Carrie, Clarification on previous Astronomy post???

[flydena]

We are planning to use Ressurection to Reformation this coming fall, BUT we have already used Exploring Creation with Astronomy. (We used it before we even knew about HOD).

I've been reading through some past posts and know there are a couple options.

1) Use option 1 and option 2 (just substituting option 2 where we would have done astronomy).

2) Use a different science program

3) Use another Apologia science book (since we've used these all along, anyway) to replace astronomy

I also found this post from Carrie...
Report this postReply with quoteRe: Repeating Astronomy?
(I'm not sure if that link will work or not, since I've never tried this before. If it doesn't, I will find it again, and copy and paste the wording.)

Anyway, after reading the post above, I'm wondering if Carrie meant to use another God's Design for Heaven and Earth book. So, what is listed in option 2 is Weather and Water, but was she suggesting to possibly replace astronomy with a different one, like for instance Our Universe, which also covers astronomy?

And, if this is the case, I would purchase option 1, would not use Exploring Creation with Astronomy, but add in Our Universe in it's place?
Or, did she simply mean to use options 1 and 2 without Astronomy? Just a bit confused and need some clarification! Trying to decide what to do about the science!

Thanks so much!
Dena

[twoxcell]

My dh read the Apologia Land Animals with my ds for 1st grade. They both loved it, but I plan to have him go ahead and study it again when he comes to CTC. He will be much older, and studying it independently will be very different anyways. How long ago did you do it with your kids, and how old were they? I think if it has been a few years it would not hurt for them to repeat it, or you could probably just replace it with something else.

[Heart_Mom]

My dh read the Apologia Land Animals with my ds for 1st grade. They both loved it, but I plan to have him go ahead and study it again when he comes to CTC. He will be much older, and studying it independently will be very different anyways. How long ago did you do it with your kids, and how old were they? I think if it has been a few years it would not hurt for them to repeat it, or you could probably just replace it with something else.

We are in this position also. We did Exploring Creation with Astronomy when my oldest was in 1st grade. (I think much of it went over his head.) So we'll just do it again when it's scheduled in the HOD guide.

[flydena]

My kids just did the Astronomy last summer, so it will have only been a year. And, they are older...10 & 13, so I believe they got quite a bit out of it. They did the Student Notebook as well, which I believe really helps them to retain so much more. I just think they will NOT be thrilled to do it over, especially this soon.

[flydena]

AND, it looks like the post I was trying to copy from Carrie did not work....so I am copying below....

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

You can find the entire conversation if you search "Repeating Astronomy?"

I hope that posting this comment from Carrie will clarify what exactly I am confused about!

Thanks so much for input!

Dena

[twoxcell]

It sounds like to me she is saying she prefers Apologia Astronomy to God's design Astronomy, and that is why she chose it for the guide. Also if you do not feel like repeating AA then go ahead and replace it with God's Design. that is how I read it anyways.

[flydena]

Dear twoxcell -

The confusion is not that it's God's Design she recommends. There are 3 books in the series of God's Design. One is option 2 in the RtR package, and it's called Our Weather and Water. But, there are 2 others in the same series she does not list as options in the RtR package....Our Planet Earth, and Our Universe. It looks like Our Universe does have some astronomy in it, but it's not just astronomy.

My question, and where the confusion is coming in, is...Is Carrie just suggesting to use both options 1 & 2 (which would use God's Design - Our Weather and Water) in place of Apologia Astronomy? Or, is she suggesting to use one of the other God's Design books (I'm guessing Our Universe) in place of Apologia Astronomy and use option 1 only?

I hope I'm making sense!?!

I do understand that her first choice is certainly Apologia Astronomy, as I would agree...it's a fantastic curriculum! But, because we JUST used this a year ago, and I don't want my kids to be bored in repeating it so soon, another option is needed, and I obviously want to choose what will be the next best!

Thanks so much. Hopefully, I've clarified a bit!

Dena

[twoxcell]

I see what you mean now. Also since you just did it last year, and your kids were older than I wouldn't want to repeat it either.

[LynnH]

She is suggesting you use the wind and weather instead of the astronomy. There is a schedule for it in the appendix. I am doing that since we also just did the astronomy. Wind and weather is scheduled 11 weeks and the astronomy 13 so you will have 2 weeks with nothing scheduled. My ds is pushing for building a volcano during that time.

[Carrie]

Flydena,

The ladies have already done a great job of answering you, so I'll just pop-in to clarify a few things that may be confusing in past threads. Initially, when we were writing Resurrection to Reformation, we considered using 3 of the God's Design books for the earth science segment. But as we pondered more, we instead went with a more living route, eventually scheduling Exploring Planet Earth, the Astronomy book, Along Came Galileo, Newton, and A Child's Geography. We did keep one God's Design book as an alternative for those who had already used Exploring Planet Earth in the Extension Pack of Bigger Hearts.

Since some families have also already used the Astronomy book, it makes for an interesting problem. If the children have used the Astronomy book two or more years ago, then we would advise following the plans as written with the science part of Resurrection to Reformation, choosing either option 1 or 2 as needed. Redoing the Astronomy book when the child is older, and done in conjunction with the HOD plans, will be a much different look than the child had when going through the Astronomy book previously.

However, if children have read the Astronomy book within the last two years, then you can do any of the options you mentioned in your initial post. If you would still like to use much of HOD's science though, then one unique option would be to use Weather and Water for the first 11 weeks of the science in place of the Astronomy book. Even though Weather and Water is actually scheduled in the Appendix as a replacement for the last 11 weeks of Resurrection to Reformation, this is a workable plan. The only problem is that since the Astronomy book is actually scheduled for the first 13 weeks, you'd have two additional weeks with either no science or to stretch Weather and Water before you'd begin the next scheduled science book. However, then you could go on and use the rest of the RTR science plans as written, doing the rest of option 1 which includes A Child's Geography, Galileo, Newton, and Exploring Planet Earth to finish out your year. It is not how we wrote the guide, but is one way to stay closer to what we have written and still use the recommended resources. I think it is a very viable option for the unique situation!

If you did wish to order this combination from us, you would simply add Option 1 science to your cart and substitute Our Weather and Water for the Astronomy book to receive the package discount and the science set you need for your special situation.

Blessings,
Carrie

[flydena]

Thank you so much, Carrie! That definitely clarifies!

I honestly have to say this is THE MOST HELPFUL message board I've ever been a part of! And, to actually have the writer of the curriculum respond to MORE THAN ONE of my posts....WOW! Let me just say I am very impressed!

I am saving like crazy to order....I'm not there yet, but am hoping to be by the beginning of the summer. I can't wait to see the curriculum, hold it in my hands and be able to thumb through it! It's driving me crazy I'm having to WAIT! But, the Lord will provide as He drew me here in the first place!

Thanks again, Carrie, for your involvement with this post, for your time, and for helping those of us who've never used HOD and are new to it. It is obvious that you truly care about customer service and helping us reach our homeschooling goals!