Check in - Emotional and science

So i thought after 4 months (i don't count december as we didn't do much with holiday stuff and a death in the family) i'd do a check in as to what we are doing and where we are at:


Emotional:
His general anxiety level and ability to try new things and adjust has improved quite a bit since September. He seems happier and has a more positive attitude. A long way to go but a definite great start. He is starting to recognize some areas that he likes to learn (although only in the moment) which is a step above huge temper tantrums at the mere suggestion something might be educational. We are looking to work on some of his issues around sensory; getting dirty (he still won't do art).

Science:
His definite favorite area of learning! He enjoys hands on science experiments and documentaries. His highlight was a trip to a micro-biology museum in Laval (with some friends from the homelearners group) where he got to wear a real lab coat, learn what different tasks there are in a lab and actually perform them with his friends to extract DNA from a banana. He learned a lot of the science behind what is being done. He would excitedly explain to anybody that would listen for weeks afterwards. Currently we are doing science experiments that we make up based on goals from cycle one (grade 1 and 2) of the Quebec's ministry's curriculum guidelines. So far we have done: "Which objects are permeable to water?" so he learned in a general way the types of objects that would be (cloth, paper, candy) and which wouldn't (plastics). He also learned what the word permeable meant and how to look it up in the dictionary. Another we did in the same manner is then using what we learned from the first, we "compare amount absorbed by different materials". I was admittedly annoyed by the simplicity of these questions. After all, there are so many more exciting science experiments for young minds out there but he got really into it. To expand on this we are hoping to save up enough soon to buy a comprehensive science curriculum that was recommended and used by families at the community centre. Found at: http://www.gravitaspublications.com/ we'd be using the pre-level 1 bundle (chemistry, physics, biology) for k-3. All of their materials are viewable online.