BookShark: Literature-Based Science
Literature-based science from BookShark is an excellent way to include both living books AND hands-on science activities in your homeschool.
Science and Living Books
It’s no secret that we love a living books approach to learning. Goodness knows you’ve heard me mention it enough times, right?
Of course I’m usually talking about it in terms of language arts and history, but did you ever consider it for science?
I usually think of science as a “doing” kind of subject. It requires hands-on experiments and observations. It’s not easy to find a curriculum that balances both doing and reading, without the use of boring textbooks.
Guess what? I found one! BookShark science not only includes great living books for a delightful reading experience, it also includes plenty of hands-on activities to bring those concepts to life.
We’ve had the opportunity to review BookShark Science Level E for ages 9-12 and we’ve enjoyed digging into it for our science time over the past month.
If you’re looking for an excellent science option for the elementary years that has everything in one neat package, including the living books, you’re going to want to read the details!
Honestly, we’re so relaxed in our learning approach that I don’t generally buy boxed curriculum. I haven’t in years. I was somewhat skeptical that we would like anything that involved a set schedule to follow or worksheets to complete. I was wrong and pleasantly surprised by my daughter’s enthusiasm about giving it a try.
BookShark Science Level E
What makes BookShark Science different than typical science curriculum packages?
- It isn’t based on boring or overly complicated textbooks.
- It includes everything you need in the Discover and Do science supplies kit so you don’t waste time or get frustrated planning and setting up activities.
- It includes the living books you need to go along with the hands-on activities to bring it all together in an engaging and memorable way.
BookShark Science Level E is ideal for 9-12 years old, but there are levels that cover ages 5-16, so be sure to visit the website to see what’s available for your child’s age.
Topics covered in Level E include:
- energy
- Earth’s systems
- properties of waves
- physical characteristics of living things
- coding
What’s included with BookShark Science?
This is one of my favorite parts of BookShark Science — they include everything you need all in one nice, neat package!
You get the living books for the suggested reading, the worksheets with the companion questions, Instructor’s Guide with answer key, the Science Experiments book, and the Discover and Do kit with the supplies you need to do the hands-on activities. It’s awesome!
My daughters were excited to see the intriguing stack of books, which they wanted to dive right into reading. That’s always a good sign!
I was especially happy to see the book Hedy Lamarr’s Double Life included because we’re always looking for ways to learn about women’s valuable contributions throughout history.
When my daughters discovered there was a separate book full of fun experiments AND a supplies kit to go with it, they were ready to get started right away. Just seeing it all laid out in front of them was enough of an incentive to want to do the hands-on activities.
If you have a child who loves science, this will be right up their alley. On the other hand, if you have a child who isn’t so interested in science, this format could turn the tide for them. You could take a strewing approach and just set out the supplies and the books, letting them know that they can pick and choose what to read and what to try. It might just be the encouragement they need to develop a curiosity about science and the natural world around them.
Science Planned Out for You
BookShark makes it easy to plan out your science study. It includes an easy-to-follow 4-day a week schedule that works this way:
Day 1: Read and complete the questions in the activity sheets packet included in the package
Day 2: Read and complete the questions in the activity sheets packet
Day 3: Read and complete the questions in the activity sheets packet
There are optional Do Together things within those days if your child has a particular interest and wants to take a deeper dive into it. I love this aspect for delight-directed learning!
Day 4: Do a hands-on activity from the Science Experiments Book included in the package
This truly is an open-and-go science option and honestly, I love that!
BookShark Science Standards
BookShark is written from a secular, or faith neutral, standpoint:
“BookShark does not espouse or oppose any faith. Our Science and History programs do not teach evolution, creationism, or intelligent design theory. So BookShark may be better termed faith-neutral. BookShark leaves the teaching of the origins of life and matters of spirituality to the parents rather than promoting any particular viewpoint in the curriculum. Our faith-neutral curriculum allows families from a variety of backgrounds and beliefs to enjoy a well-planned homeschooling year steeped in living literature, read alouds, and hands-on science activities.”
BookShark science is aligned with NGSS, Next Generation Science Standards. This is not to be confused with Common Core. BookShark works hard to provide engaging literature-based curriculum with a spiral approach that homeschoolers love, while also keeping up with the ever-changing nature of science and science standards.
These NGSS guidelines are a reassurance to parents that their children are receiving a thorough and quality science education. You can read more about BookShark’s NGSS compliance to get the full details on what this means.
BookShark Virtual
When you pair BookShark print curriculum with a Virtual seat, parents and students get cool online features like assessment, grading, and accountability—accessible via mobile or desktop!
The best way to understand BookShark Virtual is to try it yourself. The first three weeks of every Virtual course are available for free just like the Instructor’s Guide samples always have been.
Watch the demo videos to get your bearings, and then take it for a spin. Let your child take a peek, too!
Learn more about BookShark Science
You may request a catalog from BookShark as well as download samples and read the Scope and Sequence.
BookShark Science Giveaway
You’re going to LOVE the great giveaway BookShark is having right now for their science packages!
One winner gets their choice of the newly updated BookShark Science levels A – F plus 1 BookShark Virtual seat for the same program.
The giveaway ends Oct. 11, so enter now for your chance to win!
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This is Really a Helpful Review! I like it a lot and I want to use Bookshark now. Thanks Sara!