I thought you might enjoy a few sneak peeks at the new guide Missions to Modern Marvels!
I'll start out by sharing our thoughts about science for the new guide. The main topic for science for our newest guide will be an introduction to chemistry, and we have also decided to end the year with a creation vs. evolution focus. We had originally planned to include an intro. to physics in technology, but we have already covered this area thoroughly through the inventor study and EE kit in Revival to Revolution. So, to cover the topic again would be redundant.
Instead, we've chosen to head into the very important topic of creation vs. evolution. We've decided this is an incredibly important topic to cover prior to children going into high school, especially since it may be some students only exposure they will ever have to this topic. Another thing I'll share is that in pondering what we desired for our kiddos to accomplish experiment-wise in preparation for high school, while still keeping in mind the potentially dangerous chemicals that can come into play with chemistry experiments, we had a hard time deciding what route to go with the experiments.
We finally decided that rather than taking back the science experiment time through using a potentially dangerous chemistry kit (thus forcing the parent to oversee each and every experiment), we would instead use a less dangerous experiment type kit that would still allow kiddos to do some real chemistry type experiments on their own. In order to do this, we passed by the higher-priced, more dangerous chem. kits (with experiments that in multiple reviews often did not work or were not explained well) to instead use a smaller set that will still give our kiddos a feel for real chemistry that goes beyond kitchen chemistry, contains good directions and explanations, with experiments that work well.
We've paired these chemistry experiments with hands-on activities/experiments from Ellen McHenry's "The Elements" and a Genetics and DNA experiment kit (to be done alongside Evolution: The Grand Experiment as well).
We're very excited with the combination of resources for experiments, biographies, and textual material for this year of science that still retains the living books/narrative feel. We'll give you a glimpse at the combination of our chosen resources below:The World of Chemistry by John Hudson Tiner http://www.newleafpublishinggroup.com/p ... ucts_id=89
A biography about Marie Curie
The Elements by Ellen McHenry http://www.ellenjmchenrydownloads.com/T ... D-ELHC.htm
Atoms in the Family (a biography of Enrico Fermi)
A biography about Albert Einstein
Evolution the Grand Experiment with Teacher's Guide and coordinating DVD segments
Link: http://www.newleafpublishinggroup.com/p ... cts_id=497
Link: http://www.newleafpublishinggroup.com/p ... cts_id=625
Chem C500 Experiment Kit http://www.thamesandkosmos.com/products/chem/c500.html
Genetics & DNA Kit http://www.thamesandkosmos.com/products/ge/ge.html
As always, if preferred, you may choose an alternate science route than that offered within the HOD guide without affecting the flow of your day.
At HOD, we desire to offer a different science path than is typically offered other places and to provide a more CM living books type approach (while still covering our science bases) for those who want that type of approach. We also strive to honor our Creator through our chosen materials. We've seen the benefit of this type of science education with our own boys, and have boys with a deep interest in science, who draw inspiration from the lives of the scientists they have read about, and use their passion to pursue experimenting and scientific thinking in their free time! If you have additional questions on the science path, here is one last thread explaining our philosophy for our choices for science for the middle school years (which contains a link within it to a previous very active discussion on a similar topic).: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=7880
Blessings,
Carrie
And even though she is high school level all this stuff just makes it fun and gives deeper understanding. I absolutely love it for my other kids too. And I am so happy you are covering evolution vs creation and love that you paired it with DNA fun stuff too. Can't wait to hear what else is around the corner. 
)