Derek Owens Physical Science vs. Concepts in Action

[Sweet Home Alabama]

Can someone please compare Derek Owens' physical science with Pearson's Concepts in Action?

 

I realize Derek Owens' class is video/workbook based (no text) and Pearson is text only (no video). Both seem to cover topics in physics, chemistry, earth/space science.

 

I'd like to know how they compare in terms of difficulty. What kind of math is needed/used? Over-all difficulty? High school science prep? Ease of use for teacher/student? What kind of labs are done? I like to do physical science in 8th grade to help prep for high school science.

 

I like the video teaching option with Derek Owens' class, yet I am under the impression that the CiA text might be a better prep because the student would have to learn how to read/understand/use a text-book.

This is such an important skill to learn.

 

My oldest is currently using the CPO Foundations of Physical Science book, and this has been VERY true for her. I don't want to re-use the CPO book with my next child because we have found many errors in it.

 

Can anyone help me out? Thanks!

 

ETA: I'm open to researching other sources for physical science. If you know of a different one that is worth me researching, please let me know.

Edited February 15, 2012 by Sweet Home Alabama

[Mom22ns]

I can't compare because I haven't used Derik Owens. I did use COA though. It is a challenging 9th grade level science course. We used it in 8th and the math was a challenge. I would say Algebra should ideally be take at the same time or done before this course. However, ds was in pre-algebra and I was able to spend extra time on the math and work him through it.

 

Having done M/L Biology this year, COA was wonderful prep in the way of Chemistry. It was an excellent intro to Chemistry and Physics. We didn't do much with the Earth/Space section. Ds just read it at the end of the course for exposure.

 

We used the COA lab manual and I was able to come up with plenty of labs that worked well for us. It was the most expensive year we have done yet for lab materials because I needed all the glassware and hardware for chemistry, but it is wonderful having a fully equipped lab now and we plan to make good use of all of what I purchased for dd doing COA next year and for both kids as they do chemistry.

 

If you have any specific questions about COA let me know and I'll do my best to answer them.

[Sweet Home Alabama]

I can't compare because I haven't used Derik Owens. I did use COA though. It is a challenging 9th grade level science course. We used it in 8th and the math was a challenge. I would say Algebra should ideally be take at the same time or done before this course. However, ds was in pre-algebra and I was able to spend extra time on the math and work him through it.

 

Having done M/L Biology this year, COA was wonderful prep in the way of Chemistry. It was an excellent intro to Chemistry and Physics. We didn't do much with the Earth/Space section. Ds just read it at the end of the course for exposure.

 

We used the COA lab manual and I was able to come up with plenty of labs that worked well for us. It was the most expensive year we have done yet for lab materials because I needed all the glassware and hardware for chemistry, but it is wonderful having a fully equipped lab now and we plan to make good use of all of what I purchased for dd doing COA next year and for both kids as they do chemistry.

 

If you have any specific questions about COA let me know and I'll do my best to answer them.

 

 

Thanks, Debbie! I was hoping you would see my cry for help!:D

 

Will you tell me more about the labs? I have a fair supply of lab equipment from doing CPO this year. We had to have supplies for both physics and chemistry.

 

When you say that you used the COA lab manual but that you also had to come up with labs that worked for you it sounds like the lab manual wasn't so open-and-go. How difficult were the labs to plan and actually do?

 

Seems like Kolbe has a syllabus for COA. I haven't looked in quite a while. What syllabus did you use?

 

I get the feeling that COA is similar in difficulty to the CPO we're using this year. Dd has learned Soooooo much! I know the hard work she's done this year will pay off when she tackles the harder high school subjects.

 

Thanks again!

[Mom22ns]

Some of the labs were not homeschool friendly. Equipment or chemicals that were too expensive or that I just couldn't get. However, there were plenty of labs that were doable - most of them in fact. The TM for the lab manual had chemical mixing instructions and all the info I needed to make the labs successful. I just read through during the summer, picked labs and ordered supplies. It was a snap from there.