khope1 Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 So I personally think that my dd will wind up in engineering or something in science for a career. So for this coming year (7th grade) versus high school for physics I have a decision to make...... Do I do a year of physics for 7th grade using all TOPS physics books and then use Exploration Education Advanced with Conceptual Physics textbook for high school for physics with a lab for credit? OR do I just do Exploration Education Advanced along with Conceptual Physics text this year and find something stronger for high school? I guess I am worried that if she winds up a science major in college, that Exploration Education may not be strong enough for the transcript, but maybe I do not know enough about it? Please help!!! I am so confused. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 (edited) For a student interested in science/engineering, I would strongly recommend doing at least an algebra/trigonometry based physics course in high school, not just physics science/conceptual physics. They will have to take calc based physics at college, and a strong prior course that actually uses math is beneficial. More importantly, however, I would make sure she works with a very strong math program; it is more important to achieve thorough conceptual understanding than race quickly to calculus. Her success at college will be determined largely by her math preparation. Edited September 22, 2016 by regentrude 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeoKitty Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 My son is using Exploration Education Advanced this year, for eighth grade. (Mostly because at the last minute we changed direction and he chose it). He loves it. I will gladly give him a HS credit for it. However, he will still be taking Biology, Chemistry and Physics in high school (plus one more). At this point, he is a history guy, not a science guy. So, IMHO, use it this year or next. But plan a stronger chem and physics in high school. :-) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kassia Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 We started using Exploration Education Advanced last year for a high school credit, but didn't feel there was enough content for high school and returned it. I think it's fine for a younger student, but don't think it's enough on its own for a high school course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted September 22, 2016 Share Posted September 22, 2016 I don't know the Exploration Education course, but the TOPS stuff is really user friendly and good for playing around and learning in middle school. I do wish a lot of it would include better explanations. It really is all experiment. Presumably she could combine it with a text or with some other books. I'm finding that one of the nice things about middle school is kids being able to read popular adult nonfiction, especially about science. I can only assume Regentrude's advice is solid - she would obviously know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khope1 Posted September 23, 2016 Author Share Posted September 23, 2016 Thank you for all of the replies. I think after reading everything, I am going to go with Exploration Education(since dd loves building stuff) with Conceptual Physics as a spine for this year and then look for something math based for highschool. I think I was thinking that all along but just needed the push. Regentrude, is there anything that you recommend for high school so I can start looking at it now? Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 Regentrude, is there anything that you recommend for high school so I can start looking at it now? For a student with solid algebra skills and a brief intro to trig, I like to use algebra/trig based College Physics by Knight, Jones and Field. It is an intro text for non majors whose major does not require calc based physics and about the level that would be taught in 10th grade in my home country. I used it with both my kids in 8th and 9th grades. If you go to the Physics resources pinned thread, there is a link to my syllabus in the 5th (or so) post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefgazer Posted September 23, 2016 Share Posted September 23, 2016 (edited) We did EE Advanced and Conceptual Physics for 8th grade last year, which was perfect for 8th grade and DD loved it and had fun with it. IMO, EE is too simple for high school credit and a math based physics would be a better choice for a sciency student. Edited September 23, 2016 by reefgazer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khope1 Posted September 26, 2016 Author Share Posted September 26, 2016 Thank you for the advice for highschool and for the others that responded. I went ahead and ordered EE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carrierocha Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 We did EE Advanced and Conceptual Physics for 8th grade last year, which was perfect for 8th grade and DD loved it and had fun with it. IMO, EE is too simple for high school credit and a math based physics would be a better choice for a sciency student. I am teaching a group of kids ranging from 3rd grade to 7th who are all bright and love hands on stuff. Any suggestions on how I could use EE for a large age spread of kids from two families - mine and a friend's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carrierocha Posted September 21, 2017 Share Posted September 21, 2017 We did EE Advanced and Conceptual Physics for 8th grade last year, which was perfect for 8th grade and DD loved it and had fun with it. IMO, EE is too simple for high school credit and a math based physics would be a better choice for a sciency student. I am teaching a group of kids ranging from 3rd grade to 7th who are all bright and love hands on stuff. Any suggestions on how I could use EE for a large age spread of kids from two families - mine and a friend's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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