Inside: BookShark is the perfect homeschool science curriculum for your family: hands-on, literature-based, and convenient. No time to pick up science supplies for experiments? No problem. Everything is already included in the package.
When it comes to the homeschool science curriculum, we have tried just about all of them. Today, I’m super excited to be talking about our new discovery, the BookShark.
Disclaimer: I received this product for free and was compensated for my time. As always, I’m honestly sharing my opinions and experiences.
BookShark Curriculum
First of all, how cool is this name? If I were making a list of my top twenty-five favorite words in the English language, “book” and “shark” would definitely be included. How about you?
BookShark is a Colorado-based educational company that offers a diverse, quality-made curriculum aimed at developing critical thinking, logical reasoning, and the love of reading.
When choosing the best BookShark program for your family, you have the option of choosing the all-subject package (history, language arts, math, and science) or selecting individual subjects that are typically made to educate your child for one school year.
Today, I will be sharing our experience of using BookShark Science Level B.
Science Level B
Many parents and teachers think that giving kids a successful science education is about putting in the hours, buying expensive science toys, and investing a ton of effort. In reality, a simple tool might be just the thing you need to deliver the best results.
Raise your hand if you are ready for science that is simple and easy!
Well, of course, you say, but … I know what you are thinking right now. Just like you, I’m bombarded every day with shiny ads for a perfect new science curriculum that promises amazing results. How do you know if it’s the right choice for you?
Personally, I believe in reading reviews to get a feel for whether a curriculum is a good fit for our needs. I’m also a big fan of downloading samples…
For those homeschooling high school science, there are a wealth of options available. From online courses, programs, and tutors to virtual field trips, homeschool teaching resources, and laboratory classes, there is no shortage of possibilities.
How to Use BookShark
– GET IN THE MINDSET
Every day is already planned out for you, so all you have to do is open the instructor’s guide and discover concepts to highlight, activities to do, and questions to discuss. I like how this helps me mentally prepare for what’s coming. I know I can have the right words on the tip of my tongue, instead of hastily scanning the pages as my kids are waiting and I’m hoping I can come up with something meaningful to say.
– STAY IN THE MOMENT
Each lesson includes reading, activities (the materials for the experiments and observation sheets are already included), and science worksheets. You might choose to follow it exactly or deviate to make the lesson more to your liking. The most important thing is to pay attention to your kids, have fun, and help them feel great about learning together with you. Think of this as bonding time!
– TALK A LOT
Ask questions, help kids make connections, invite scientific guesses, encourage hands-on investigations, and finish up with some conclusions. What did all this really teach us? Don’t worry: it’s all included! All you have to do is read the right line but since you already did step #1, you know exactly what to say.
– ADAPT ALL THE TIME
Kids are like all humans, sometimes they are all in, and other days their mind is somewhere else and their bodies are doing little dances in their chairs. Use BookShark’s flexibility to your advantage. You can simplify the lesson, skip some bits, or break the material up with periods of playtime or family hikes. Maybe you’ll see something on yoru walk that relates to today’s lesson.
– GO DEEPER
If you discover that the topic inspires you and your kids, dive deeper and maybe even do some additional “do together” activities (already included). When your kids become genuinely curious, it’s a gift. And BookShark helps you take advantage of that moment.
A Few Things You Need to Know about the BookShark Science Curriculum:
No Grades
Instead of grades, there are levels (A through J) based on age ranges, which makes it much easier to select the right program for your child, as well as use the same curriculum for siblings of different ages. (Psst, I’m using it with my preschooler, eight-year-old, ten-year-old, and a teen. Because who doesn’t want to learn about rainbows, germs, or volcanoes?) Plus, this way, the kids learn as a team. They motivate, help, and inspire each other.
Self-Contained
Each science package for kids pre-k through high school includes a variety of exciting science books, a kit with supplies for hands-on activities, the main textbook, a packet of science activity sheets, and an instructor’s guide. No more searching for missing items – you get everything you need both to do and to record your science experiments.
Instructor’s Guide
The best thing ever! The Instructor’s Guide provides detailed lesson plans, which means you know exactly what to say, read, discuss, and do each day. The instructions are straightforward, easy to follow, and absolutely fantastic.
Quality
This quality-made curriculum was designed with the NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) in mind. This means that your young scientists won’t just be learning science facts, but getting ready for the world by making guesses, synthesizing, testing, drawing conclusions, and relating scientific principles to real-life situations.
Raising Readers
The curriculum includes exciting stories from Magic School Bus and Usborne books to Sci-Fi classics and everything in between. In other words, expect to spend a large portion of the learning time curled up with your kids on a couch reading and bonding. This curriculum is definitely designed to raise readers.
Wide Variety of Fun Science Topics and Activities
So many things to learn about and do! Topics covered by BookShark Science Level B include weather, earthquakes, germs, light, sound, engineering, energy, sharks, insects, coral reefs, and so much more.
The hands-on activities include putting together a bird’s nest, discovering how fireflies communicate, examining why offspring look like their parents, doing a rainbow experiment, and (once again) so much more!
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