The Elements; Ingredients of the Universe

One of the best science curriculums we've used! She starts by teaching the elements in the idea of cooking recipes: How many food items are made up of the same (or almost the same) ingredients, but how much of each ingredient determines the end result: For instance, the difference between cookies, bread and biscuits. All have similar or same ingredients but in different amounts. THOSE ingredients, when broken down, are made from a variety of elements. This way of teaching really "connected" things for my kids. The teaching is so simple, but NOT dumbed down or watered down.A very interesting way to teach the elements, with a lot of historical information as well. My boys especially loved to learn that phosphorus was discovered via experiments with urine :) Boys!After we finish this particular book, we're going to try out more of Ellen Johnston McHenry's curriculum.

I am using this curriculum for a 8-year-old and a 11-year-old. It is fantastic. The front of the book consists of a reproducible "student book". You will probably want one for each student, so you will want to reproduce this. I suggest purchasing this book WITH THE DIGITAL DOWNLOAD from the author's website to make reproduction easier. I don't know about you, but I don't like standing by the copy machine copying pages one by one, so for me the digital version is essential.Each chapter has a few pages of reading (which I had my kids read aloud for practice), and then a host of activities. Our favorite activities were the "Quick Six" game, the "Periodic Table Game", and activity in which we separated the hydrogen and oxygen in water. We also enjoyed the links to videos about the "Periodic Table Song", and my son was very interested in all the videos in which elements burned or blew up. (Of course.)We paired this with Theodore Gray's book titled The Elements, Elements with Style by Basher, and the Elementeo board game. My kids and I have learned SO MUCH.This is a great resource for late elementary/middle school, and fills a big gap for Chemistry instruction at this age range. I was also very pleased that the author responded quickly to an email I sent. It's nice to know that someone is out there to answer any questions you might have.

Practical way to learn what chemistry is...love the useful analogy. I'm always amazed by a book when I am reading it with my homeschooled child...and I learn from it as well. I have a minor in chemistry and I wish, wish, I had started learning about chemistry this way. Excellent resource.

Great book to go along with Periodic table of Elements class.

Explains chemistry in a way my kids can understand. I love the explanations of fluorescence and radioactive decay.

I really wish this curriculum was how I was introduced to Chemistry. Fun games, perfect length for lessons, very engaging for my middle schooler.

Really helpful to give extra Chemistry explanation in easy to understand terms

My kids LOVE this program for their homeschool chemistry studies. It's a fun way of learning the periodic table which can be daunting at any age. The projects have been appropriate for a 4th and 6th grader and the links to websites and related information is great.

This is an excellent resource for any teacher of chemistry, and there are many useful activities and suggestions applicable to all ages making it a valuable supplement. This text makes the elements very accessible for students. The "atom-izer" page, a visual representation of s and p orbitals, has been the best demonstration I have used with students to explain valence electrons. They understood immediately. Not fancy - just practical (and fun). A wide variety of crafts, games, labs and hand-outs make this a valuable resource when covering the Period Table. Highly recommend!