Apologia Chemistry before Biology

[cjzimmer1]

My son is currently using Apologia Physical Science and enjoying it very much. Next up would be Biology. However, due to his young age, I'm a bit concerned about moving onto Biology. He's several years advanced academically but his emotionally maturity is a couple of years behind so I really don't won't to go anywhere near reproductive issues at this point. Also I'm fairly sure he would want to do the dissections but I'm not ready to turn him loose with a scalpel and there's no way I want to assist with dissections. He's got the math background to handle chemistry. So my question is, is there anything in Biology that must be covered before tackling chemistry or can the major branches (biology, chemistry and physics) be covered in any order?

 

Thanks for any info/thoughts you can provide on this.

[FloridaLisa]

Stephanie,

 

I can't think of anything that he would need in biology to complete Apologia Chemistry. They are almost two entirely separate animals as Apologia lays it out anyway. Be aware, though, there are chemical mixtures and reactions with the labs. At such a young age, I'm wondering whether you might be better served to introduce another science -- perhaps Earth Science. He won't get much of this in Apologia. The Runkle text makes a great physical geography course and . . . no chemicals or scapels required! ;)

 

HTH,

Lisa

[ciyates]

A friend of ours did that and things are fine. She had no problems.

 

FYI I have the Apologia Biology 2nd edition and would be happy to look up anything you may have questions about. The 2 chapters containing reproductions are not until the very end of the book. The dissection is completely optional.

 

Carrie

[kate in seattle]

I have heard of several people doing Chemistry first as there is significantly more chemistry in biology than when I took it many years ago in college. I understand this is particularly true if one does AP Biology.

 

I think a large part of the reason is that Chemistry needs to be done after (or at least concurrently) with Algebra I. But you have said he is there. Go for it.

[Chris in VA]

There's no human body element to the Apologia Bio, is there? (I may be wrong--it's been 4 years)

 

The dissections are easy, btw. But is your son up to the memorization?

[FloridaLisa]

There's no human body element to the Apologia Bio, is there? (I may be wrong--it's been 4 years)

 

No. It does cover sexual and asexual reproduction, but at a cellular level.

 

The dissections are easy, btw.

 

:iagree: completely, says this non-science major mom who loves biology. Yes, the only difficulty with biology lies in the memorization needed.

 

Lisa

[cjzimmer1]

Thanks for all the responses.

 

The dissection may be easy but it totally repulses me, so I would prefer to not even be in the same room (I didn't do it in high school either) hence my apprehension with the scalpel and an untended 12 year old. I have no qualms about helping him with chemistry if needed.

 

Memorization isn't going to be a problem. He is in Bible Quizzing and has memorized 276 verses verbatim. After watching him do that, I know he can memorize anything that he puts his mind to.

 

He also says he is more interested in Chemistry so I think we will be going in that direction and hold off on Biology.

[Hoggirl]

BJU sells a separate dissection DVD for $50 that shows the four dissections that Apologia covers. You could just watch them, which might or might not be less repulsive!

[Chris in VA]

Also, you may be pleasantly surprised to know that the "new" dissection animals were preserved in that nasty formaldihyde, but then they drain it out and just use saline, so the gaggy smell is gone, if that's any help! (I'm talking specifically about the dissection kit from Sonlight, where we bought ours.)

 

I don't think you'll have any problem with Apol Chem, tho. If he's had Algebra and can do complex fractions, the math is cake, and the experiments are pretty easy, too.