AFwife Claire Posted January 6, 2011 Share Posted January 6, 2011 I teach science in a small co-op of just 4 families. This year we're doing BJU Life Science, which is going really well. Next year I am planning on doing a physical science course, and I am having a hard time coming to any decision about what curriculum to use. There will be one 9th grader, three 8th graders, and two 7th graders (all of the kids are boys). All are advanced in math, and both 7th graders will be taking Algebra 1 next year. The whole co-op is pretty rigorous, as a whole. I am not sure if BJU physical science would be too advanced for the 7th graders (or need too much algebra before they have mastered it), but I'm not sure something like Apologia, which I think would definitely be fine as far as math goes, is as rigorous as people (the other parents and me!) are expecting. The year after next, I'll be teaching BJU Biology to the older boys, and the two younger ones will be doing Life Science, along with 2 girls who will be in 7th grade that year, so it's not like the younger boys will have to struggle to keep ahead with high school science all the way through. So next year is the only one where we will be combining these boys all together. I know others have mentioned CPO and Prentice Hall physical science, but I know of no one who uses those, so BJU and Apologia are the only ones I will be able to really look at. That is why I am hoping someone can give me their impressions of any physical science program that might work for all these boys! Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFwife Claire Posted January 7, 2011 Author Share Posted January 7, 2011 Okay, having done some more research, and having read about every post I could find on physical science, has anyone ever used the old edition of BJU physical science ("The Physical World")? Is that one as math-heavy as the new editions seem to be? And also, do people who use Prentice Hall Concepts in Action actually do labs? It was hard to tell how user-friendly the labs are. I am thinking of buying an old edition of PH Concepts in Action to see if I like it and think it might fit all the boys better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy in NJ Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 I'm just going to put a plug in here for Apologia Physical. I can't compare it to BJU or the other texts you mentioned. I can only say my 8th grader is using it to good effects this year. You should probably cross post this on to the high school board for more experienced feedback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom22ns Posted January 7, 2011 Share Posted January 7, 2011 We're doing the PH Concepts in Action this year. Ds is just finishing pre-algebra and starting algebra. It officially has algebra as a prerequisite, but other than spending a little extra time on math in the first few chapters, it has been fine. All the math he has needed this year was covered in pre-algebra, although he learned a couple things in science before he learned them in math. We are just starting the physics section of the book. I don't know if math will be a problem there or not, but he will be doing algebra along side of it and I think it will be fine. I would expect BJU to be the same way if you prefer a Christian text. I used BJU through Life Science and would have skipped to use their Physical Science but I wanted to use all secular science for high school. If the 7th graders are doing algebra next year, I wouldn't worry about the math in whatever you choose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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