Returning to BFSU was an excellent decision. Last week’s lesson, (C-4) Distinguishing between Matter and Energy, was a lot of fun. We first spent some time reviewing the concepts from previous lessons in the C thread (physical science), then we got on to the lesson. Esa really enjoyed investigating energy to determine whether it was matter or not.
He shined a flashlight into a balloon to see if we could inflate it with light energy. This proved that light does not contain particles or take up space- but matter does.
We compared the weights of batteries- one fresh and one drained- with a sensitive kitchen scale to see if electrical energy has weight. Both batteries weighed in at 25g, proving that electrical energy does not have weight- but matter does.
We ran a few other tests, such as trying to trap light in a box, but alas energy is not matter.
We both enjoyed this lesson thoroughly. I felt so much satisfaction at having spent the time to carefully prepare for the lesson and actually do the lesson- and on a Monday. It was a great start to our week.
To aid reference, I propped the book up in a book stand, which made things so much easier.
Another great tip: use these multi-reference bookmarks to keep tabs on the separate threads. These sure beat those little post-its that curl up and tear.
I’ve also gone through the previous lessons and prepared narration sheets to facilitate review. Feel free to download these and use them as you wish (see below). You’ll notice that I’ve not used closed questions. I’ve phrased the questions in such a way as to encourage full sentence answers and discussion. I will add more as we go along and I’ve added the ones below to the “Our Curricula” page.
This lesson was so engaging that there was no need for me to find additional activities or adapt it in any way. A few days later, we read a little from the Usborne Internet-Linked Science Encyclopedia and felt very satisfied with our science studies for the week.
Whimsyway, House of Learning and Play 
Maria
December 12, 2010 at 8:14 pm
Do you know what is recommended once you finish this book? We have also been using REAL science and we are finding it lacking. But, my daughter needs something a little more advanced than BFSU.
Thanks!
whimsyway
December 13, 2010 at 6:47 am
Hi Maria, There is a second volume of BFSU: http://www.amazon.com/Elementary-Science-Education-Foundations-Understanding/dp/1432762362/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1292222528&sr=8-3 and a third book is being written as we speak. Do you have the first volume? It’s highly recommended that you begin with the first volume, even with older children because all of the lessons build upon each other. You could possibly move quickly through it. The initial lessons in BFSU are quite easy, but once you get past the first 2 or 3 lessons in each thread, the concepts become much more challenging to understand. Even I’m learning from this programme. 🙂
Neo
December 12, 2010 at 8:54 pm
Wow, what a fantastic post! Glad to hear of your success with BFSU. It sounds like you’ve got the hang of delivering the lessons effectively! Your review sheets are very useful too and I’m printing them off to use with Tiger.
I still feel a little jittery about restarting BFSU, but it’s really a psychological barrier I have to get past.
BTW, the bookmarks are a fantastic recommendation. I’ve ordered those! 🙂 Thanks very much!
whimsyway
December 13, 2010 at 6:41 am
Thanks, Neo; glad I could help. 🙂 Good luck with restarting BFSU. 🙂
Neo
December 15, 2010 at 8:21 pm
Like the new changes to your blog! 🙂
whimsyway
December 16, 2010 at 7:09 am
Thanks, Neo; thought it was time for a new look. 🙂
Sheila
December 16, 2010 at 3:38 pm
I’ve run into this snow effect on a couple of blogs and it tricks me every time! There I am, reading away, thinking to myself “It’s snowing!” and then suddenly I realize that I am in front of a computer and it can’t possibly be snowing…
We’ve got BFSU and I’ve never given it a chance. I think I might get it out now. Thanks for the review.
whimsyway
December 17, 2010 at 8:15 am
“I’ve run into this snow effect on a couple of blogs and it tricks me every time!”
Lol. 🙂
I can’t recommend BFSU enough. It *is* very teacher-intensive, but really worth it.
karenevoy
January 11, 2011 at 1:44 am
I so can relate to your ythe grass is greener thoughts! BFSU is the first science I bought on the recommendation of Satori Smiles- we did a few and my son loved them when we did them but I found it confusing to what order to follow. Also, I found it just also got shelved because it took prep time (boo for me)
I jumped to two other Science curriculums and looked closely at Apologia.
I even tried the dreamy Nancy Larson Science… would you believe we just did a lesson today that is so scripted ( not a fan) and then it didn’t have us do much more than look at a picture card and draw it. Sigh. Dare I say I don’t love it?? I am considering going back to BFSU and just get my but in gear. I think it would be a great weekly blog topic for those of us out ther who would love to follow along – hint hint 😉
whimsyway
January 11, 2011 at 7:17 am
“I think it would be a great weekly blog topic for those of us out ther who would love to follow along – hint hint ;)”
Hint taken. 🙂 I do plan to blog about BFSU, so watch this space. If you’re in the BFSU Yahoo! group, there are some suggested schedules in the files section that may help you with planning which lessons to do next. I’ll also post my sequence of study here on the blog.