AmyS wrote:We switched to MFW for 1st and now 2nd grade. I love MFW!! But My daughter's favorite subject happens to be Science and Sonlight had much more to offer in my opinion. 1st and 2nd grade science for MFW seems to have some of the same books/experiments as her Kindergarten books from Sonlight. And it doesn't have as much as Sonlight.
I guess my question is, does the Science in MFW get better with more experiments, etc in the next grade levels, 3rd and up? We are trying to supplement but it has been difficult for me. I would rather eventually get back to using MFW Science but want her to enjoy it. Anyone feel Science gets better in the later grade levels?
Thanks! Again, I love MFW and would never go back!! Wish I would have started it in Kindergarten.

Hi Amy!
So glad you are enjoying MFW so far! Our family has used MFW since my now-8th-grade daughter started Kindergarten, and this year we are on the 5th year of the 5-year cycle. So, we have used each year of MFW except high school.
I would have to say that science has a different flavor each year. Some years are more reading and notebooking, while other years have lots of experiments. What I love is that the science often fits well with the history you are studying (such as studying Creation science and pyramids while studying ancient history or studying ecosystems while learning about geography and the different people groups around the world). I also love that there is a variety of topics covered throughout the various years of MFW...botany, astronomy, animals, human body, chemistry & physics, etc.
Yes, I remember that the science in ADV is pretty much the same as the K science in Sonlight. I have never used Sonlight, but when we were doing ADV, I stumbled across the Discover & Do Level K DVD from Sonlight, so I bought that to supplement our science. We were able to watch the experiments on the days that it didn't work out for us to do them ourselves.
So, since the science is the same, and your dd has already done that science while doing Sonlight K, I would recommend trying one of the Apologia elementary science books. One year, we used the Exploring Creating with Zoology 2: Swimming Creatures of the Fifth Day book. We really enjoyed learning about sea creatures in more depth, and your child can make an ocean box. At the end of each chapter you study, your child makes a sea creature out of clay and you add it to your ocean box, kind of like a fake aquarium. There were fun experiments to do, as well. We've really enjoyed those books.
However, you would want to avoid using the Apologia Astronomy and Botany books, because those are already scheduled in future years of MFW. A study of animals is scheduled in future years, but using different resources. I'm not sure how much overlap there would be with the Apologia Land Animals of the Sixth Day book. I have not used that one. But, I would think that the Flying Creatures or Swimming Creatures books would be okay because they just help you study a certain category of animals in more depth.
Of course, there are lots of other elementary science programs available, too. You should just look over the MFW catalog or website to see what is studied in science each year and which resources are used. Then, you could choose something different to do with your daughter in ADV this year. Just one idea for you.
And, always, you can call the MFW and ask for advice. I'm sure they would have some suggestions for you, as well.