Disclaimer: Complimentary Product Received
For parents seeking a simple open-and-go homeschool science curriculum for their children, BookShark is an option well worth looking into. I recently had the opportunity to review, with my 10-year-old, the BookShark Science curriculum, specifically the BookShark Science Level F, over the last several weeks.
If you’re seeking an all-encompassing homeschool science curriculum with minimal preparation required on the part of the parent/teacher, this may just be the option for you.
As a member of the Melanated Gold Review Squad, I periodically receive products to use in our homeschool and share our experience with the curriculum so other melanated families have a library of curriculum resources to help them make informed homeschooling curriculum decisions for their families.
Geared for kids aged 10 – 13, BookShark Science Level F combines the signature literature-based approach that BookShark is known for and incorporates the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) – essential not common core – to help your upper elementary or middle school-aged child understand and apply engineering and science ideas through hands-on projects (of which BookShark provides supplies for) and literature options that will engage your child’s interest.
Let’s dive in!
What does BookShark Science Level F Cover?
With BookShark Science Level F, you and your children will take a deep dive into all things Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) and learn about the solar system and stars, how human action and interaction impact the earth and its systems, energy, matter, and life sciences.
You’ll also take part in a number of experiments like creating an articulating hand, understanding acids and bases through practical, everyday ways – like using antacids to cure stomach upset, how to engineer and improve upon a catapult, and countless other engaging hands-on projects, demonstrations, and experiments.
Curriculum Spine: How to Be Good at Science: Technology, and Engineering
How to Be Good at Science, Technology, and Engineering is published by DK, Penguin Random House, so you know it’s going to be a great resource.
It acts as the spine for your BookShark Science Level F curriculum and is filled with countless images and illustrations that guide you and your child through a variety of topics, including the business of water, life sciences, matter, atoms, and molecules, forces and energy and earth and space.
In addition to the DK book, you’ll also receive the BookShark Science Level F, Instructors Guide that includes a full 36-week schedule (four days per week) tips for teaching, and student activity sheets and answer keys.
Probably the most fun portion of the package is the BookShark Science Level F experiments book! This is a standards-based book chock full of experiments – one for each week – that will guide you and your child through everything they’ve learned and read about in the corresponding lesson.
What I love about the experiments and demonstrations is that they’re not presented as activities for the sake of hands-on busy work. They each have a practical purpose and goal relating back to the lesson at hand.
It’s one thing to learn about ph levels and acids and bases, but an entirely different experience when you learn about them in the context of how antacids – a product many are familiar with – work to alleviate stomach acid and the resulting discomfort.
It’s these connections that help solidify the science behind these everyday items, that will help your child see how it’s applied in the real world.
Additional Literature Included in BookShark Science Level F Curriculum
As stated, BookShark is a literature-based curriculum, and as such, includes a variety of books that go along with each of the curricula offered. For BookShark Science Level F, your child will read a book about space, learn about the water industry and read a biography about marine biologist, Rachel Carson.
See for Yourself: Water by Trevor Day
Trevor Day started out his career as a marine biologist, and in this book, he chronicles the eye-opening world of the water industry. It also covers water-related topics such as erosion, ocean depth, the water cycle, marine life, and icebergs.
Listening to Crickets: A Story About Rachel Carson
This biography about Rache Carson introduces your child to this award-winning author, marine biologist, and environmental protection pioneer.
BookShark Science Level F Discover and Do Box
What I truly loved about the BookShark Science Level F curriculum is that it includes the Discover and Do box containing most of the supplies you’ll need to complete the science experiments.
While we’ve only done the first three experiments, it seems pretty thorough. The only issue I had was that Experiment 2 should have included three types of antacids; Pepcid, TUMS, and Alka-Seltzer.
Unfortunately, the Pepcid was missing from our kit, so we just skipped that. I could have gone out to purchase some, but since I had already spent $12 on a bottle of Milk of Magnesia for the experiment (not included in the BookShark Science Level F Discover and Do box) I didn’t want to spend any additional money on products we never use in our home.
Overall, however, the box looks to be complete and will make the open-and-go portion of the curriculum that much easier. Additionally, as you work through each lesson, there are notes within the Instructor’s Guide that tell you what you’ll need for the following weeks’ experiments. This is great for prepping and planning and makes things a bit easier!
My Final Thoughts About BookShark Science Level F Curriculum
BookShark Science Level F is a homeschool science curriculum that I can 100% recommend. We’ve been enjoying it the last few weeks that we’ve used it and it has opened my eyes to the full line of amazing resources that BookShark offers across all subjects. (I’ve got my eye on the BookShark Reading With History Level F for the very near future)
BookShark Science Virtual Seat
But wait! There’s more!!
When you pair BookShark print curriculum with Virtual seat, parents and students get cool online features like assessment, grading, and accountability – these are all accessible via mobile or desktop, so if you’re frequently on the go like we are, this is ideal.
But, 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 as the Instructor’s Guide samples have been.
So, go ahead over to Virtual seat, watch the demo videos to familiarize yourself with everything, and then give it a go! Oh, and let your kiddo take a look too!
If this has piqued your interest in the BookShark Science offerings and you’d like to learn more, take a look at the BookShark Science scope and sequence – this will tell you exactly what’s covered in each level and give you a better overall understanding of the curriculum.
You can also Download Instructors Guide Samples to see how everything is laid out, to see if BookShark Science will work for you and your child.
If you’re interested in learning more about some of the other BookShark offerings, you’re in luck because members of the Melanated Gold Review Squad have reviewed a few additional curricula options from BookShark!
Check out what my fellow Melanated Gold Review Squad Members think about BookShark
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