Advice needed re: Apologia Science, 8th-9th gr.

[Julie in GA]

My son is in the 8th grade and we have just finished Apologia General Science. :(

 

For 9th ninth grade, I'd really like to start with Biology. What I wondering is whether we should begin Physical Science now, and do as much as we can before 9th grade, or if we should just skip it. He's not slow -- I just didn't schedule enough science time last year.

 

Any thoughts?

[Ms. Riding Hood]

Julie,

 

I, too, have a 13 y.o. 8th grader doing general science. I absolutely plan to have him jump right into biology next year. I think it will follow up nicely the intoductory material he's had in the general science. This was his first year to do "real" science and he's gotten enough of a taste of what I expect and the level at which he needs to perform. He's fairly coasting along and needs more challenge. We're skipping physical altogether, unless he cares to come back to it at some later date.

[Laura in OH]

My 14yo dd is just finishing up GS and will do Biology next year as well. She just is more interested in biology than physical science.

[Anne in Hawaii]

What I wondering is whether we should begin Physical Science now, and do as much as we can before 9th grade, or if we should just skip it.

 

Any thoughts?

 

I don't think there would be a problem with skipping it. He'll get much of what's in that course in later science courses, anyway.

[Julie in GA]

what microscope will you be using? The Brock?

[NCMom]

My 7th grader is doing Apologia Bio and the only hard part is the massive amount of vocabulary she has had to learn. She isn't super advanced, we just had the book and she begged to try it. The usual sequence here is Bio in the 9th anyway or in the 8th if you are tracked a level up. (or whatever they call it)

 

Though I am not the biggest fan of Apologia, this has been a good experience for her and she has certainly learned a LOT about how to study from this course and is really enjoying it. She does use the MP3 to help w/ pronunciations and likes the other CD that has the additional stuff on it, too.

 

Georgia

[FloridaLisa]

Apologia's biology course can absolutely be done without completing either General or Physical Science. The only pre-requisite is the math level. My oldest did biology in 8th having done General in 6th and "delight-directed" science in 7th.

 

HTH,

Lisa

[Julie in GA]

my ds REALLY wants to do as much science as possible, and told me that he doesn't want to take a break until August. So, we're going to go ahead and do Physical Science after all, but will stop wherever we are in June, and then start Biology in August. (Anybody have a used copy of Physical Science for sale?) :D

 

I guess I should have asked him first. :rolleyes:

[momee]

I have physical science for sale - we're just finishing it and moving to biology.

email me at fivehalfs @ hotmail dot com

great timing

Stephanie

[Chris in VA]

I know you've got a plan, and I'm not questioning it--but why not go ahead and start Biology now?

If he truly wants a lot of science, taking Bio now will let him finish it early, then he can take upper level sciences.

If he tracks 4 months ahead, and just finishes a month and a week early each year, he can actually fit in 5 years of science. (By all means, count Biology on his transcripts) Physical science is more of an overview. Getting into the nitty gritty in the advanced sciences can be tons of fun for a science-y kid!

 

Also, we have loved the Sonlight microscope. Good price, nice design, reliable, good guarantee, can be used in advanced bio should he go there.

[Julie in GA]

Good idea, Chris, but I realized that my ds is very interested in mechanical, electrical and technical stuff, and that doing some of the Physical Science book would be right up his alley.