4 Reasons to Try Virtual Science Labs with College Prep Science
This post is sponsored by College Prep Science. I received compensation in exchange for a review and my honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure for more information.
One of the best parts of science is the science experiments. Creating magic with chemistry and physics. Learning how the world around you works by gaining first-hand experience. But there are also some downsides. And those downsides shouldn’t hinder the ability to have some awesome science labs in your homeschool.
A Little About Pre-Physics Live Class with Greg Landry
My 11-year old son, Haydn, has been taking the live Young Scientist Pre-Physics course with Greg Landry at College Prep Science. Since the course is geared toward 6th-9th graders, it is conceptual and requires only basic math.
Once a week, there is a live lecture. Don’t worry if you can’t make it! Our schedules got a little helter-skelter here for a while and Haydn was able to keep up by watching the recordings at a later time.
As with Greg’s self-paced science classes, there is a study guide for students to use. This class also requires the book The Way Things Work Now by David Macaulay.
My son loved this book and happily did the assigned readings. He not so happily did the writing assignments that were required to be submitted.
Differences Between the Live and Self-Paced Classes from College Prep Science
We have taken both live and self-paced homeschool science classes from Greg Landry at College Prep Science. The overall content is the same, but there are a few key differences.
With the live classes you also get access to:
- Live lecture, with access to the recording
- Assignments and quizzes graded by the instructor (These have a firm due date. Remember, though, as the homeschool mom, you determine the final grade.)
- Access to Virtual Labs
Related| Greg Landry’s Online Self-Paced Homeschool Science Classes
Pre-Physics Virtual Science Labs with Greg Landry’s College Prep Science
Haydn’s favorite part about the class were the virtual science labs he got to participate in. He loves doing science experiments, and these virtual labs eliminated most of the main reasons he doesn’t get to do them as often as he likes.
Virtual science labs are experiments that take place in a virtual setting. Students begin by turning on the light and then donning their virtual lab coat and safety goggles. From there, they can do the experiment. When they are done, they submit a lab report through their Canvas portal.
So let’s talk about four reasons why virtual science labs are a great fit for homeschool science classes like the Pre-Physics live science class.
No Lab Materials Necessary with Virtual Labs
First, there’s no lab materials required. Despite so many labs that claim they use “common household ingredients” there have been a few times I’ve set off in search of an elusive ingredient that may have been common in the 70’s, but no one has anymore.
And let’s not forget the many times when you’ve set out to do an experiment only to realize you’re a grape short. Perhaps that’s just me. But finding we are missing an item right when we’re ready to begin, or worse, once we have, is the perfect damper.
With virtual science labs, there are no materials needed. Which also means no last minute drives to the store.
No Parental Help Needed
Sadly, the biggest reason science experiments get put on indefinite hold in our house is me. With several younger children constantly vying for my attention, in addition to all the other demands for my time, it can be difficult to find the time to devote to supervising science experiments.
With the virtual labs, there is no mom guilt because I don’t have time to help with an experiment.
Haydn was able to do the virtual labs when he was ready. There was no falling behind because I didn’t have time to help him.
No Mess
With a virtual science lab, there is no mess to clean up. Clean-up is the part my kids dislike the most, and with a virtual lab, there is no clean up needed.
Greater Experiment Options
Virtual labs offer greater experiment options. Students are able to do experiments that require harder or more expensive materials to obtain or that may be difficult to get the correct results in an uncontrolled environment. We’re all familiar with the experiment of dropping balls from different heights to observe speed. With a virtual lab, students can see more plainly the differences and the speeds are captured by the computer for greater accuracy and comparison.
Check Out the Pre-Physics Live Science Class with Greg Landry from College Prep Science
If you are looking for an all-inclusive (Christian-based) homeschool science class for your 6th-9th grader, then check out the live Pre-Physics classes Greg Landry offers. Live weekly classes, with access to the recordings, fun virtual labs, and assignments graded for you are just some of the benefits.
