Science Chunks versus Classical Science - which is better? It's a question we get often here at Elemental Science. Along with it's cousin - Should you use Classical Science or Sassafras Science?
And so today, we wanted to help you sort out the answer to this common question.
The main difference is that the Science Chunks series touches on multiple disciplines in a year, while the Classical Science series spends the whole year exploring the topics within one main disciple. Both programs feature weekly hands-on science activities, reading from children's non-fiction books, and notebooking.
In other words - both are good options, but they approach teaching science in a different way. So, it really depends upon which approach fits your unique homeschooling style better.
We believe that every science program needs to have three keys...
There are many different ways that you can put these three keys together to teach science at home. We shared more about how this works in the free conference session - The Three Keys to Teaching Science.
Here at Elemental Science, our different series plan out these three keys in different ways. Here's how this works...
The programs in the Science Chunks series are 4 to 12 week long units. However, we also have year bundles with 36 weeks of plans for you to use. The idea is that you will cover multiple discipline through several units each year. In other words, you'll do a bit biology, a bit of earth science or astronomy, a bit of chemistry, and a bit of physics each year.
Here are how the three keys work in these units...
The programs in this series also include...
Our Science Chunks units range in age from kindergarten through sixth grade. You can combine all your students into one group, adjusting the writing and reading expectations based on the age of the student.
This series is designed for you to pick and choose what you want to study, which is why there are single units. However, if you choose to use the year bundles, here is the typical progression through this series...
You can pick up the Science Chunks Series at any point and with any unit, so choose what you would like to learn about and start there.
This series is best for...
If you want to dig more into the philosophy behind this series and what it looks like, check out the following video:
The programs in the Classical Science series are full-year long programs, meaning they contain 36 weeks of plans for you to use. They cover a single broad discipline per year - biology, earth science and astronomy, chemistry, or physics.
Here are how the three keys work in these programs...
The programs in this series also include...
Our Classical Science programs range in age from kindergarten through eighth grade, but you can combine 1st- to 4th-grade students, 5th- to 8th-grade students in groups.
Here is the typical progression through this series...
You can pick up the Classical Science Series at any point, so find what would be best for your student and start there.
This series is best for...
If you want to dig more into the philosophy behind this series and what it looks like, check out the following posts:
The Science Chunks series and the Classical Science series cover similar broad topics over the years, but the specifics are different.
In other words, you won't miss out on anything important by choosing one series over the other. But the specific topics and types of the methods you use to learn the basics will be different.
If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to drop us an email using the envelope icon at the top left or bottom right of our website.
Are any of these ideas floating around in your head? Flip them with the podcast episodes from season 8 of the Tips for Homeschool Science Show. Click "Read More" to start listening!
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