Review: R.E.A.L.Science Odyssey- Life (level 1)

R.E.A.L. Science Odyssey  Life/ elementary

My review and suggestions:

We did this with grades 3 and 4 this year. Rated by the Company for grades 1-4.

Positives:
It is a good program in that it is REAL science, straight forward, barely any prep work, no extra books required, minimal supplies needed, engaging for kids, religiously neutral. Good for grades k-2 (maybe 3 if they are working with younger siblings). You can do a bunch of these and get it done in one semester!

Negatives:
This is not the right level for mid to upper elementary age for preparation for middle school science. I had to supplement heavily with outside material for them to really understand the systems and science. This is not a one year program.

Suggestions:

I would suggest doing this book in thematic sections done all together on consecutive days per theme. 

Cells 2-3 days/ 1 week
Human Body 5-6 days/1 week
Animals 15-16 days/3 weeks
Plants 4-5 days/ 1 week

For each section have a variety of books on that subject to read.
I would strongly suggest looking up online videos of most of the topics as kids really like to see things really working.

Field trip suggestions: 
Science Museum for the body.
zoo for Animals (in fact you need to go to a zoo for two labs so do those on the same day) (birds and mammals).
Aquarium or the ocean.


Labs: 
The labs are set up so the first one you do needs to be when the ground is not frozen and the last ones are in late spring. So, you might want to skip the first one and do this curriculum in your spring semester of study.

Two labs require you to go to the zoo. Birds and Mammals.
One lab requires you to have a fish. We modified this and went to Pet Smart to look at their fish.
One lab requires you to have butterflies. Order in advance. Amazon has a pretty good set.
One lab requires that you find worms. You can dig them up or you can also order them or buy at a fishing supply store.
One lab requires you to find pill bugs. If you don't think you will be able to dig them up, you can buy them from Carolina science supply. Or just get a photo of one and by pass the lab.

We did our lab notebook in a three ring binder so we did not make the suggested mini books.