Anyone use Hewitt's Conceptual Physical Science or other good science...

[Michelle in AL]

I want a science book for 8th or 9th grade that is interesting with excellent labs and also that has real life applications. I want a strong background in chemistry too: chemical bonds, electron formation, organic chemistry basics. Would this book fit the bill? Dd will be taking algebra 1 concurrently.

 

I really like BJU's science for it's depth & interest level, but I truly dislike some of their attitudes and don't want to support that.

[Hilary in MI]

Dh, high school teacher, has used Hewitt’s Conceptual Physical Science with honors freshmen for the past five years. Strengths of the book include good explanations overall, accurate science, and an excellent conceptual approach. Conceptual Physical Science was developed for college students, so the reading level is high and the print is dense. As it is conceptual, it does not include much problem solving.

 

For middle school, we’ve used and been very happy with Prentice Hall Science Explorer books, which include many hands-on labs and activities. These books are easy to find used. Here’s the publisher site:

 

http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PSZ16f&filter_161=&filter_423=6732&filter_422=&filter_424=&filter_281=&filter_425=&programFilterTypeList=161%2C423%2C422%2C424%2C281%2C425&PMDbSiteid=2781&PMDbSolutionid=6724&PMDbSubSolutionid=&PMDbCategoryid=814&&PMDbProgramID=52181

 

Prentice Hall also publishes a good high school physical science text, Physical Science: Concepts in Action (two versions are available, one with chemistry and physics, and one which also includes chapters on earth and space science at the end). We’re going to use this book next year when ds2 is in 8th grade.

 

Here are my ISBN numbers, including instructor materials:

 

Student Textbook: Prentice Hall Physical Science: Concepts in Action (with Earth and Space Science) ISBN 0-13-166308-9

Teacher Express (2 disc)-interactive teacher edition, test bank, resources ISBN 0-13-069981-0

Annotated Teacher’s Edition Laboratory Manual ISBN0-13-069985-3

 

(I googled Teacher Express and see there are used copies for around $7.00; texts, etc., probably are available used, too.)

 

The publisher's page, with more materials, ISBN numbers, and the table of contents :

http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PSZ16f&filter_161=&filter_423=6732&filter_422=&filter_424=&filter_281=&filter_425=&programFilterTypeList=161%2C423%2C422%2C424%2C281%2C425&PMDbSiteid=2781&PMDbSolutionid=6724&PMDbSubSolutionid=&PMDbCategoryid=814&&PMDbProgramID=52181

[Michelle in AL]

Thanks Hillary, that is an excellent description. I think college level would be too much.

 

I do have the Science Explorer Earth Science books, but they're kind of dull to me. I know everyone loves them, maybe it's just the earth science topics that are dull though.

[EKS]

There is a book called Conceptual Physical Science-Explorations which is by the same authors (and is based on Conceptual Physical Science) but written at a 9th/10th grade reading level. I'm using it with my 12yo son right now and it is at a good level for him. We are using this for physics only.

 

One thing that I find to be a problem with the book is that it is sometimes obvious that it is a simplified version of something else. Some times things are harder to understand because they have been simplified too much. Because of this, we are going to try Conceptual Chemistry next year to see if having more detail actually helps with this problem. (Hopefully, my having a degree in biochemistry will help too, but you never know, LOL!)

[Ruth in Canada]

I'm not familiar with Conceptual Physical Science, but we've been very happy with the other two. If you have an audio-visual learner, the DVDs that come with Conceptual Chemistry are a real plus.

[Christy B]

There is a book called Conceptual Physical Science-Explorations which is by the same authors (and is based on Conceptual Physical Science) but written at a 9th/10th grade reading level. I'm using it with my 12yo son right now and it is at a good level for him. We are using this for physics only.

 

One thing that I find to be a problem with the book is that it is sometimes obvious that it is a simplified version of something else. Some times things are harder to understand because they have been simplified too much. Because of this, we are going to try Conceptual Chemistry next year to see if having more detail actually helps with this problem. (Hopefully, my having a degree in biochemistry will help too, but you never know, LOL!)

 

Could you share the ISBN number for this book? It sounds like exactly what I'm looking for.

[EKS]

Here's the link (the ISBN is in there too):

 

http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PSZ16f&filter_161=&filter_423=6732&filter_422=&filter_424=&filter_281=&filter_425=&programFilterTypeList=161%2C423%2C422%2C424%2C281%2C425&PMDbSiteid=2781&PMDbSolutionid=6724&PMDbSubSolutionid=&PMDbCategoryid=814&&PMDbProgramID=22950

[Gwen in VA]

Which of the MANY Conceptual physics - related materials do folks recommend?

 

Obviously I should get the student text and matching instructor's manual, but what about workbooks? There seem to be several available -- does anyone have a recommendation for a specific one?

 

Thanks -- i have spent so much time googling Conceptual Physics looking ford the TM that would match my used student text (8th edition) that I am going loopy! (Buying everything new is looking better and better.....)

[Michelle in AL]

Thanks Kai, this looks like a good option.

[Christy B]

Thanks for the link and the information!

[saved1112]

Which of the MANY Conceptual physics - related materials do folks recommend?

 

Obviously I should get the student text and matching instructor's manual, but what about workbooks? There seem to be several available -- does anyone have a recommendation for a specific one?

 

Thanks -- i have spent so much time googling Conceptual Physics looking ford the TM that would match my used student text (8th edition) that I am going loopy! (Buying everything new is looking better and better.....)

 

I am interested in the responses to this as well!

[Nan in Mass]

We had this problem with a biology book (dragonfly on the front), especially about the genetics. It made me realize that easier isn't always easier, and made me realize why my own science teachers sometimes didn't make sense.