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Observing Rocks and Minerals – Nancy Larson Science 2 Review

I can’t believe we’re already done with another unit! Even though we do more than the 2 lessons a week of science, I swear it seems like the kids are learning more than I could have imagined from something that seems so easy.

As a commenter pointed out on the last unit review a couple months ago, “… it takes complex topics and explains them in simplified language so every kid can “get it”. This perfectly sums up the quality of Nancy Larson Science.

Observing Rocks and Minerals introduces kids to geology, a subject near and dear to every girl who loves shiny rocks. In my case, I like the yellow ones with bugs in them, and the blue corundum pretties.

Included in the kit is a set of mineral samples 2014-09-14 11.22.25demonstrating Moh’s Hardness Scale – that one thing has utterly fascinated them!! The boys have gone around trying to figure out what is harder than what, and which rock can scratch another. Nancy Larson Science is fantastic for visual and tactile learners.

Ok, so play time aside (isn’t that learning too?), the lessons are wonderful and thorough. I do next to no prep on every lesson. THAT is worth money to me. If I don’t have to spend time prepping for a lesson, then I can spend that time with the boys making their school that much more fun.

This time, instead of writing in the vocabulary words for the boys, I’ve printed them out and had them just glue into the space on the word list. They had fun with it, and they paid more attention to the words! And regarding the vocabulary introduced through Nancy Larson Science – I have seen David and Daniel more and more often using vocabulary they learned here in every day life to explain something to someone. Then taken great pleasure in the expression of, “I can’t believe they use such advanced vocabulary!”. Getting them to spell everything correctly is another matter – but they understand it, and that’s worth something!

2014-09-14 11.20.47I can’t get over how much of the information they retain, even a couple months later after summer break – they still remember everything from the first unit, Physical Properties of Matter. This is in no small part due to the fact that every unit builds upon previously introduced information, so it is constantly being reinforced.

Teaching science should not be a chore, kids love it! All that is needed is the right resource, and yes, Nancy Larson Science isn’t the cheapest on the block, but I think it is among the very best. The beauty of this is you can use it with multiple children of different ages! Buy a kit, then just add on the booklet packs for each additional child.

For more information on Nancy Larson or to purchase it, click on NancyLarsonStore.com.

Disclaimer: This product was given to us at no charge in exchange for our honest opinions, we have endeavored to be fully honest and thorough in the review. We are NOT required to give a positive review. There are affiliate links which pay us a small commission on purchases of items when using those links, but they do not affect the cost of the products you purchase. See our full disclosure policy.