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Gather Resources for High School Science

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We’ve talked Elementary School science and middle school science, how about today we tackle resources for high school science?   Might as well eh?  It only makes sense to finish the series!  Today I thought I would Gather Resources for High School Science.

Gather Resources for High School Science

What we are doing

Some of you may know that one of my jobs is marking papers for Tree of Life.  It’s a great organization to work for. Over the past couple of years I’ve grown to appreciate the Exploring Creation with Biology textbook. I picked up the student workbook for him and that’s what he is doing for Grade Nine Science this year. 

If we didn’t have this resource on hand, I would have looked more closely at some of the resources I will share with you today. 

Physical Resources

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention G.L.O.  In real life, group classes for highschool kids.  Located in the nearby big city.  I keep wanting to teach a class with them as I’ve got the know-how.  They teach a variety of classes, depending on the teachers they get in. 

Textbooks can be picked up from a variety of sources.  Locally we have The Learning House which provides textbooks for homeschoolers.  I could also order from different companies and have them shipped out.  Just a matter of doing your research and finding companies to work with. Companies such as:  Bob Jones, Apologia, Pearson, Glencoe, or Steck-Vaughn.  What others would you suggest?

Carl Sagan quote

On-Line Sources

In interactive unit studies I introduced to you Kristen Moon Science.  She makes some great science based unit studies.   You should check them out. 

Cross-wired Science (reviewed them this past year) does a good science program. Currently they have a free program called Mighty Feathers so you can get a good taste of how they do their program. If you decide you like it and want to purchase Sound & Fluid Dynamics you can use the discount code (intime29) to takes $5 off.

MIT has open courseware.  Search for the program you want, and then run through list. From what I can tell the courses are free but you may need to buy the textbook from Amazon. 

If you want to supplement what your students are learning Exploratorium has a number of videos, activities and experiments to delight the learner.

There are some interesting science lessons at Science Net Links. It would be easy to just set a student loose to learn what they’d like here. 

Learning about the weather?  Sci Jinks has you covered.  Videos and well-written essays. 

Khan Academy has science and engineering classes for highschool. 

If you are learning about the periodic table you might find this site helpful.

 ACLS has an educational page on human body systems. 

In highschool, most any course you might want to take as an adult a highschool student could potentially take as well (depending on interest and ability).  Check out this post on wanting to learn anything for some excellent on-line resources. 

What resources would you gather for high school science?

31 days of free writes

Today’s Free Write word is Gather.  See all the write 31 days posts. 

Gather

The Introduction of Kingship

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For those who are regular readers you know that I have been slowly making my way through Learning about the Old Testament.   This isn’t one of those early read books that I often get into, but one that forces me to take my time and think so I’ve been reading through it more slowly than I initially was.   It’s good to think about the theology of the Old Testament, it is a foundation for New Testament theology. 

The Introduction of Kingship

The last time we met we learned about The Judges and why they were needed.  Today we’ll be looking at the introduction of kingship. Israel so desperately wanted to be like the nations around them. Maybe they thought it would make them safer from attack, I don’t know… I haven’t delved into the book yet!  🙂   Same is the word of the day for the Write 31 Days challenge which I why I’m putting this post on a Monday rather than on my normal Thursday. 

Same

The Introduction of Kingship

HUH!  New thing learned.  I always thought that God “gave in” to Israel’s demand to have a king, but Harman taught me that God knew that Israel would one day have a king.  He had prepared for it long before it happened.

Genesis 17:6, NASB: “‘I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come forth from you.” 

Genesis 35:11 NIV 11 And God said to him, “I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants.

Shocker.  Being the same as the other nations, this desire didn’t surprise the Lord.  He had already planned it out.   In Deut. 17:14-20 he even laid out what the king should be like.  He didn’t want the king of Israel to be the same as the kings of the nations surrounding them. 

So God himself laid the groundwork for Israel to have a king.   I find that interesting as I never understood that before.  God himself put into place The Introduction of Kingship.

The request

So the Elders of Israel demanded of Samuel a king.  They had all the wrong motives, but the request in and of itself wasn’t wrong.   Their reasoning

  • fear of Samuel’s sons taking his position when he passed on.  These were boys who were not following the Lord.
  • Insecurity.  They wanted a king to lead them in battle.  Their faith in God was not very strong. 
  • lack of patience.  They wanted a king NOW, not when God willed it, but because they simply wanted a king. 

Their demand was actually a breach of the covenant between God and the Israelites.  He could have acted differently toward them but instead he showed them mercy.   He gave them a king, the kind of king they wanted.  And so Saul was made king.  The people were delighted.   In the end he was shown to be the wrong sort of King, but even that paved the way for the right sort of King.  The king they found in David.

The Introduction of Kingship

King David

We are told David was a man after God’s own heart.  He loved God.  He didn’t live out his love perfectly (do any of us) but God was so loved by David.  When David sinned it grieved him when it was pointed out to him.

David’s kingship did the following for Israel

  • Stability.  No switching out of Judges, just one man with his team of trusted men, leading the country.
  • removed the Philistine threat.  The land God promised them was fully realized under his leadership. 
  • established a lasting dynasty.   This dynasty was fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Look, Ye Saints! The Sight Is Glorious

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I will freely admit that I am not familiar with this hymn at all, but the Write 31 day challenge word for the day is Notice.  I couldn’t find a hymn with the word notice in it, but a synonym of notice is look!   Look, Ye Saints!  The Sight is Glorious points us toward the Lord, commanding us to notice him. 

Look, ye saints! the sight is glorious

Lyrics

Look, ye saints! the sight is glorious:
See the Man of Sorrows now;
From the fight returned victorious,
Every knee to Him shall bow;
Crown Him, crown Him,
Crown Him, crown Him,
Crowns become the Victor’s brow,
Crowns become the Victor’s brow.

Crown the Savior! angels, crown Him;
Rich the trophies Jesus brings;
In the seat of power enthrone Him,
While the vault of heaven rings;
Crown Him, crown Him,
Crown Him, crown Him,
Crown the Savior King of kings,
Crown the Savior King of kings.

Sinners in derision scorned Him,
Mocking thus the Savior’s claim;
Saints and angels crowd around Him,
Own His title, praise His name;
Crown Him, crown Him,
Crown Him, crown Him,
Spread abroad the Victor’s fame,
Spread abroad the Victor’s fame.

Hark, those bursts of acclamation!
Hark, those loud triumphant chords!
Jesus takes the highest station;
O what joy the sight affords!
Crown Him, crown Him,
Crown Him, crown Him,
King of kings and Lord of lords!
King of kings and Lord of lords!

History

Thomas Kelly is the author of Look, ye saints! the sight is glorious.  Kelly is an Irishman who originally planned to be a lawyer.  Then he came to know the Lord and his focus shifted to ministry. 

Originally an Anglican priest he eventually became one of the dissenters.  Over the course of his lifetime he wrote some 760 hymns.   He lived was born in 1769 and died 1855.  He was known to be a friend of good men, as a excellent biblical critic, and for his piety.  

Comments

I read the words to hymn and I have to ask myself… do I really take the time too look and notice the Lord?  Have I really noticed what happened when he died? 

But then see it… See how Jesus wasn’t left on his own.  He was alone, but yet he wasn’t alone.  Notice how the angels were gathered round.  We know they were at the tomb.  I know, I know… it’s a bit fanciful.  We aren’t told in scripture that as the soldiers scorned and mocked that the angels were there to be mindful of the Lord Jesus. 

Do we really notice the station that Jesus holds?  His is no longer lonely human, suffering with man on earth, but instead is full of kingly, heavenly glory.  NOTICE him!  See him there.  This is the Jesus that we worship!

notice = look

The Flag Book

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If you don’t know by now I LOVE Lonely Planet Books.  I am currently reviewing The Flag Book and let me tell you… It is SOLIDLY well-done! Flags from everywhere in the world including provinces, states and regions.  It’s flag bonanza! 

The Flag Book

What I am Reviewing

The Flag Book: The amazing stories behind the world’s flags.
Lonely Planet Kids.
184 pages, Ages 9-12 years, hardcover

Geography, Reference book, Explore the World, Flags, Countries of the World, History, Middle school

Reviewed for Raincoast Books. 

In The Flag Book, Lonely Planet Kids introduces you to the flags of every country in the world, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, and tells you what their design, colors, and images represent, along with lots of other incredible facts.
What’s the only country that doesn’t have a rectangular flag? Why does Hawaii’s state flag feature the UK’s Union Jack in one corner? And what do the 13 stripes of the USA’s Star Spangled Banner represent? You’ll find out the answer to all these and much, much more.

And then we’ll show you the other fascinating ways flags are used throughout the world. Learn the International Code of Flag Symbols to communicate with ships at sea; read about flags used in sports, like Formula 1’s checkered flag; marvel at flags commemorating world records and incredible human achievements; and peer with a microscope at the planet’s smallest flag, which is no wider than a human hair.

The Flag book by lonely Planet cover
The Flag Book

The Details of The Flag Book

Reviewing this book brought to mind one of my favourite clips from The Big Bang Theory.

Though not quite as exciting as Sheldon’s fun with flags gig, The Flag book is a cornucopia of flag information.   I learned about pirate flags, country and state flags, flags used in sporting events and more.  Flags are used for so many things.   Flags for ships at sea, flags for racing, international flags, flag record holders, old flags, new flags, this hardcover tome has them all.   

The only thing I didn’t see (and I could simply have missed it in the volume of information) was how flags are used in moving equipment like airplanes from one place to another. 

The flag book

Country pages are about what you’d expect.  Information about the country and then information about each section of the country’s flags.  So for Canada (as pictured above) you have the Canadian flag and then each province’s flag. 

The Flag Book

I love that frequently, full colour images are interspersed among the country pages.  Seeing the vibrancy of those images. brings those countries into sharper relief.  

The Flag Book

Learning about flags, beyond the normal country and state flags was fascinating. Do you know the oldest flag?  What about which country has two flags?   How about the biggest flag underwater?  You get to learn all sorts of information like this in The Flag Book. 

The Flag Book

Thoughts/Recommendations

Such a great book!  The Flag Book is one that I will be keeping around for a few years yet.  At 14 years old I am sure that my lad will be finding a good use for it over the next while.  I am fascinated enough to want to read it through cover to cover.

For instance, did you know that Lesotho is known as the “kingdom of the sky” and this is referenced in their flag.  Isn’t that a wonderful piece of history?  I love this kind of stuff!  🙂  Don’t you?

Intrigue your children, your students today with The Flag Book!

disclosure

The Other

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Currently I’m listening to a story where a dad has to make a choice. Fulfill the treaty as he AUGHT to with his oldest, obedient daughter, or send off his youngster, a girl who was prone to cause no end of trouble. I haven’t reached the point in the story where he makes that choice, but I’m tending to think (given the nature of the book and the author) that he’ll send off his troublesome one. That he will strongly consider giving “the other”.

The story is causing me to pause in my thoughts.

Other

Understanding The Other

Lately I’ve been reading the devotional My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. Chambers challenges us to think about what it means to give our utmost for the Lord. It’s not always as easy a decision as we think it is.

Today’s reading gave me this challenge “Worship is giving God the best that He has given you.”

When I get something that is a blessing to me… a card from my hubby, a compliment from my son, a monetary gift from someone, my inclination is two-fold.

1. to thank them and
2. to keep it my own.

Oswald though says “Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to Him as a love gift. take time to meditate before God and offering the blessing back to Him in a deliberate act of worship.”

Deliberate. Giving back. Doing the OTHER.
So not just saying Thanks God that was awesome and then hoarding it in.

But taking the time to genuinely praise and worship him and offering it back. Therefore if God blesses me with plentiful rain and an abundant harvest I need to THANK him for it. Not take it for granted. I need to take that abundant harvest and allow him to use it.   If he blesses me with good health, then I need to use that good health as a praise offering to him.   Not just merely going about my business without giving him a thought.

It’s a deliberate act on my part.  To consider those blessings given, praise him for it, and offer them back to him as worship. 

It’s an outside focus.  A focus that is non-worldly, not self-centered 

It’s The Other.

31 days of free writes

This post is part of the Write 31 days Challenge. 

Listen well

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Sometimes I think we have lost this ability to listen to those around us, to deeply hear the spoken and non-spoken words around us.  At times, it feels like we spend too much talking past each other.  When will we listen well to what is being said?

Listen Well

Go

“Can you let me finish?”
I questioned my lad.
“Allow to me say everything before you answer.
Listen to what I am actually saying.”
I’ve learned the importance
of having my lad STOP and actually hear me.

Giving him that “you have to stop” moment
Seems to give him permission to not rush ahead
To ponder my words and
not worry about my gaps as I collect all my thoughts.

I’ve also needed to learn to
Stop, and as I listen to consider
the words beyond what he is physically saying.
To ask questions of clarification.
My lad often assumes that I know
what he hasn’t told me.

And so, as we pause in our communications
we discover something interesting.
We are enabled to listen well to
each other.
And in practicing that skill,
we are surprised to discover the depth
of knowledge and insight that each other has.

Conversations are wonderful
when you take the time to listen well to each other.
To catch glimpses of a heart.
To consider ideas that previously
weren’t there.
and so we learn as we listen well.

Stop

31 days of free writes

This post is part of the Write 31 days Challenge.  Find a list of the rest of my posts here. 

The Problem with Middle School Science

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The problem with middle school science is this…. it is not elementary school science. No more short unit studies, or quick lap books.   Middle school youth have a keen interest in understanding how the world works.  Their interests in science are starting to specify with a growing love for plants or animals and maybe a keen interest in rocks or gems emerges. 

Middle school students are becoming more proficient at managing their own education, so giving them material that they gravitate toward helps them complete their need for a science component. At the same time, you want a broad based science study to help develop interests perhaps not previously considered.   

So how does one allow for a particular interest to be developed while also expanding their awareness of what science is?   

25 middle school science sites

You might want to focus on Life Sciences, Earth Sciences, or study scientists of various fields.  You could take on zoology, botany, or even forsenic science.  Use one interest to lead toward another. 

Options for Middle School Science

CK-12 Life Science for Middle School.   They also have earth science, and more.  The first two are amazon links, or you can also check out their website.   (free)

Easy Peasy science – all in one, you can specialize in biology, zoology, Earth science or Physics/Chemistry.  (free)

Fossils, Facts and Finds.  Is an earth science program where archaelogy, dinosaurs and fossils are the main focus.  (free)

Old Earth Ministries lets you study geology from a faith-based perspective.  Lessons, with research options and tests. They have earth history and a dinosaurs course as well. (free)

Jason Learning – focusing on STEM based learning.  A complete science curriculum that doesn’t use textbooks.  (paid)

 Time4Learning – an online curriculum, three primary courses: Earth/Space Science, Life Science, and Physical Science.  Interactive lessons.  (paid)

25 middle school science sites

Chemistry, Coding, Engineering and more

ACS has a middle school chemistry course that looks intriguing.  Six chapters with free lesson plans and more.  (free)

TeachEngineering is a k-12 online website.  You’ll need to sort through the lessons to find the middle school classes.  They have a handy sidebar though that helps you define your grade range though.   (free)

PhysicsQuest is put out by the American Physical Society.   This is a physical kit you can request.  Get on the wait list for next year!  🙂  (free)

If looking to purchase a science program CHER has a number of books you can order. (paid)

Edquest has a middle school science that can be viewed as HTML or PDF’s.  (free)

The Canadian Government has put together some educational resources.  I haven’t browsed them to see the age range, but it came up when I looked for middle school, so I’m making assumptions that they’ll fit. 🙂  You could even explore their full science page and learn what’s happening in Canada.  (free)

Innovators Tribe has a robotics course that my grade 8 boy really enjoyed.  (paid)

The Canadian Encyclopedia will let you look up all things Canadian.  🙂  (free)

SchoolhouseTeachers.com has a good science section.  Animal Science, Chemistry, Dinosaurs, Marine Biology, Physical science and much more.   Just so you know right now they are having a sale. 3 months for $29.95 with the code LASTCHANCE.  A full curriculum for the entire family!  (paid)

schoolhouseteachers

Some More Sites

More information here has a whole whack of science courses for your middle schooler.  Small classes, different teachers, might be a good option for you. (paid)

Free courses at CODE for learning computer science.  (free)

Google CS – a computer science course.  (Free)

You could explore the solar system with NASA. 

Cross-wired science (my review) isn’t just for middle school science, but it worked well for my lad last year. (paid) two main tracks that cover a lot of information.   More information here.

Science NetLinks has a large number of free lessons.  You can search for a particular grade easily. 

The Happy Scientist has free and paid option.  He has a number of free video lessons.  (free)

BetterLesson has a number of life science lessons.  (free)

Middle School Science Blog.   All types of science lessons.   (free)

How to Smile.  Diverse science lessons 

problem

This post is part of the write 31 days challenge. 

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