Frequently Asked Questions

1) If I already have a copy of the Science Probe 8/9 textbook published by John Wiley and Sons, is there any point to me purchasing the Smart Science workbook?

Answer: Yes, about two-thirds of the activities in Smart Science 8/9 are not found in the Science Probe textbooks. Even activities that are similar to the Science Probe textbooks, contain questions that I have formed to promote critical thinking skills.

2) If I choose not to follow the BC curriculum in my home school program, is purchasing the Smart Science workbook still useful for me?

Answer: Yes, the topics covered are age appropriate and should eventually be covered in any good science program. Also I emphasize critical thinking, problem solving, and research skills. It is always valuable to practice these things.

3) If my child already has a science curriculum that is provided at school, is there any point to me purchasing the Smart Science workbooks?

Answer: Yes, these workbooks can be used for remedial learning or enrichment. They can be used with parental assistance, a tutor, or by the student alone depending on the level of the student.

4) Can students younger than grades 8-9 use the Smart Science Books?

Answer: Yes, if a younger student is capable and is ahead in his english and math skills then I think these books are appropriate for him.

5) How long will it take to work through each smart science book?

Answer: If the student works quickly and does 2-3 activities per week, it will take about 3 months to finish the experiments and answer all the questions. Please note, answering the questions can take longer than actually doing the experiment. It is through answering the questions that the student practices their critical thinking and problem solving skills. When I teach Science 8 and 9 in school, it usually takes me about 4 months to get the class through these topics.

6) Can students work together in groups to do these activities?

Answer: I recommend that students work individually. From my experience as a teacher, the more a student can do by himself, the more he learns. In my class I do allow students to work in pairs if they wish because I do know that some students do not work well by themselves and will learn better with a partner. I discourage groups of 3 or more students from working together because I find that inevitably 1 person is standing around and not participating.

7) Will there be some help and guidance for those critical thinking questions?

Answer: Yes, I have provided answers to selected questions, especially those that cannot be easily answered by:

a. looking at a science textbook, encyclopaedia, or dictionary

b. researching on the internet, or

c. doing the experiment correctly and thinking about it for a while

8) Why are all the answers to the questions not provided?

Answer: I want to give students the maximum opportunity to practice problem solving skills, research skills, and critical thinking. It is my experience that when all the answers are given away too easily students learn not to try very hard.

9) How are the Smart Science workbooks different from typical science books?

Answer: Most of the learning is achieved through observation, experimentation, and answering questions. My goal with the Smart Science workbooks is to promote critical thinking skills while learning about science

10) Are the Smart Science books suitable for students with a reading disability?

Answer: Yes, There isn’t very much text or reading needed to do the activities. The workbooks suit those who learn best by doing.