By Elemental Science·Science - Zoology · Science - Anatomy · Science - Botany · Science - Earth Science · Science - Geology · Science - Astronomy · Science - Chemistry · Science - Physics
2 video reviews: 2 positive
Both reviewers are enthusiastic about Sassafras Science, a Charlotte Mason-style elementary program built around an adventure novel: twins zip-line around the globe meeting local experts, and kids follow along with a read, do, write rhythm — read the adventure chapter, record learning in the SCIDAT logbook, then pick hands-on activities. One reviewer used Volume 1 for an entire first-grade year and bought into the series so completely that her daughter chose it again; she praises how the teacher's guide lists supplies and living books chapter by chapter. The other highlights its flexibility — two-day or five-day schedules, eight semester-long topics in any order, and easy multi-age combining for roughly grades 1-6. Caveats are mild: it's not a full curriculum for seventh grade and up, and content is neutral rather than secular.
Synthesized from 2 independent video reviews — every claim sourced from what real homeschool parents said on camera.
Families with elementary kids (roughly grades 1-6) who love read-alouds, Charlotte Mason living books, and combining multiple ages around one story-driven science program.
Families wanting a traditional textbook, a standards-aligned secular program, or a full science curriculum for seventh grade and up.
SASSAFRAS SCIENCE: VOLUME 2 ANATOMY || ELEMENTAL SCIENCE || HOMESCHOOL SCIENCE CURRICULUM Welcome to Knowledge By Nature! In today’s video, I will be doing a flip-through for Volume 2: Anatomy of Sassafras Science produced by Elemental Science. This curriculum is a wonderful option for families that love read alouds and story-like-spines. Elemental Science kindly sent me Volume 2 of Sassafras Science for my honest review. I am not new to Sassafras Science as this was the curriculum, I decided to purchase for our 1st-grade year. We enjoyed it so much it was easy to know what to move on to next. Even tho I received Volume 2 at no cost to myself, it is honestly a curriculum I would have purchased again with my own funds anyways, so you can believe when I say I love this curriculum I really do. You can find Sassafras Science Adventures here: https://elementalscience.com/collections/sassafras-science Anatomy Volume 2 Link: https://elementalscience.com/collections/the-sassafras-science-adventures-volume-2-anatomy (As of 4/6/21 Sassafras Science Adventures Bundles & Combo Set’s are On Sale!) I hope this is video is a huge help to someone, and I hope that at the end of this I also can decide which program I will be using going forward. If you are interested in seeing more of my content please check out a few of these videos below: Sassafrass Science: https://youtu.be/w9U6Ihdj1iI How I Teach 1st Grade Language Arts: https://youtu.be/eQ0PQNGtg08 4th quarter freak out: https://youtu.be/nUEL9ZBoJCc Singapore Comparison Video 1: https://youtu.be/V9f5h2mSBf0 February 2021 Friday fun day: https://youtu.be/DYnq4fL72C0 Human body unit study: https://youtu.be/AH--o_R3xGY If you haven’t already done so, please consider subscribing, so you don’t miss any of my upcoming content! Want to see what we are up to when I'm not posting videos, come check me out at: https://www.instagram.com/knowledge_by_nature/ All opinions are my own and what works best for our family. **This Video is not intended for children** In our homeschool we love books, reading aloud, and finding a curriculum that works for us. We homeschool year-round while taking breaks when needed or wanted. We take a small summer break but summer homeschool is filled with gameschool, nature school, outdoor schooling, unschooling and lots of fun! Homeschool is a different journey and path for every homeschool and we hope you enjoy following along in our journey and that something we share can be a help for you!
Differences among secular science curriculum - S2E23 Sorting out the differences between secular science curriculum that is available for homeschoolers can be a challenge. What curriculum utilizes a Charlotte Mason approach? What about Classical? Are their online options? How demanding are each option going to be on me, as the teacher? These are all great questions and our curriculum consultants look at 6 difference options and discuss their differences. Science Curriculum Comparison Chart https://www.rainbowresource.com/pdfs/resources/Science_CurriculumChart.pdf Download/Request a Curriculum Guide https://www.rainbowresource.com/request-catalog Sassafras Science https://www.rainbowresource.com/sassafras-science Elemental Science https://www.rainbowresource.com/elemental-science Discover! Science https://www.rainbowresource.com/discover-science Elevate Science https://www.rainbowresource.com/elevate-science-homeschool-bundles R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey https://www.rainbowresource.com/r-e-a-l-science-odyssey Primary Science https://www.rainbowresource.com/primary-science 00:00 - What is "secular" science? 01:55 - Sassafras Science 08:09 - Elemental Science 12:49 - Discover! Science 18:12 - Elevate Science 25:02 - R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey 30:23 - Primary Science
“There's two twins named Blaine and Tracy. And you follow them on adventures all around the globe.”
“So, if you've got a first, a second, a fifth grader, it's perfect for that. Combine them all together. Multi-level learning is one of the key aspects of Charlotte Mason learning.”
“we absolutely love sassafras science i bought volume one for our first grade year”
“it is obvious that this was a homeschool family that set this up because this is insanely helpful and i love it immensely”
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Reviewers place it at roughly first through sixth grade as a full curriculum, and note it's well suited to combining several kids of different ages. A seventh or eighth grader could still enjoy reading the adventure text for fun, but reviewers wouldn't use it as their full curriculum at that level.
The heart of the program is read, do, and write: read a chapter of the adventure text, record learning in the SCIDAT logbook, and choose hands-on activities from the activity guide. Each volume covers one topic and lasts a semester, with eight topics available (zoology, anatomy, botany, earth science, geology, astronomy, chemistry), and the guide offers both two-day and five-day weekly schedules.
One reviewer classifies it as neutral: it avoids religious and theoretical topics, so there's nothing a faith-based family would likely find contrary to their beliefs, while still working for secular families. The anatomy volume's reproduction chapter is handled gently — sperm, egg, and a baby-in-the-womb image, with no detailed anatomy — and can be skipped.