So... Since it was snowing like crazy here yesterday and I couldn't do much of anything, I decided to put together something for high school chem (plus it involved organizing and collating information, which I love - I'm weird like that). I'm going to take up the first five posts of this thread (if I can do this properly) - the second post will be a listing of regular chem courses, the third post will be honours (or honors if you're not Canadian or British) chem courses, the fourth post will be AP Chem courses, and the fifth post will be for other chem resources. Please feel free to add more to this thread - I thought this could be the "chemistry support group" thread that was mentioned previously. :) Please note - these lists are by no means exhaustive. I know I missed many resources but I thought this could be a starting point. Please feel free to keep adding! If anyone finds any mistakes or disagrees with me on anything, please speak up! :) Because I'm coming from a Canadian teaching background (specifically Ontario), I wasn't terribly familiar with the Regular/Honours designation for chem. It seems to me that it roughly lined up with what we would call Grade 11U (university-bound) Chem for Regular and Grade 11U+Grade 12U Chem for Honours so I based my judgments on whether a course was reg or honours chem based on that (if the provider didn't explicitly state which one it was). AP Chem is AP Chem no matter where you are. :) I thought about leaving out the "Secular/Christian" category - it usually doesn't make much difference in terms of content for chemistry - but I thought folks might like to know anyway so I put it in. When I say "Christian", I'm usually meaning Protestant Christian unless I state otherwise. I also have all this info saved in a PDF document so if anyone would like it all together, just PM me and I can send it to you.

Ds is probably not going to finish Discovering Design with Chemistry by Dr. Wile in one school year. It may take him a couple of months into the following school year. (I could have him finish it over the summer, but I'm trying to be realistic here. We typically don't get much done during the summer.) I'd like for him to be able to sit for the CLEP or AP Chem test after next year. Is there anything (preferably secular or not overly religious- Wile was fine) he could complete in a matter of 6-8 months which would prepare him for this? I'm considering Thinkwell AP Chem, but it has no lab component. He will need proof of labs for the colleges he's considering (STEM major.) It needs to be under $300 total.

I just noticed that Khan Academy now has a subject called "AP Chemistry". Since we are about to start that course again with the twins, I am wondering if it is helpful in the following ways: As part of the course? As drill for the AP Chemistry exam? In other ways? TIA for any and all feedback on this tool!

Woo hoo! Dh put it together :hurray: , and it took two tries! This is the first time we've submitted one for our homeschool, even though our three oldest have taken several APs each. The carrots were access to the new sample exam and teacher lab materials. It was a pain, but it's done! :party: Our CS syllabus is still pending though, after more than 2 weeks. :toetap05:

Has anyone done the new AP Chemistry? I'm about to have ds start it and I'm a bit intimidated by the change. I had the old one figured out. I'm especially interested in hearing from those of you whose students self-studied and got either a 4 or 5 on the exam. So... How did your student prepare (text, prep books, labs, any supplements)? We have the Zumdahl AP text from several years ago. Can we still use it? Did you get your syllabus approved by the CB? What did your student think of the exam? Thanks in advance!

Has anyone taken AP Chemistry with PA Homeschoolers? I'll be a junior this year, and I'm considering it. Every review of the class I've seen has complimented the teacher highly and the level of preparation for the AP exam (and SAT subject test!). I'm a little worried that the subject could be really boring, and I don't want to rope myself into a super time-consuming class that sucks up my free time to pursue my own interests. It does look like a great class, though. So what did you guys think of the class? Why should students take AP Chemistry (the class in general, not specifically even PAH)? Thanks!

preparation for the exam? What specifically did you do to help your student succeed with this online program? Please don't consider any detail as insignificant. I thought I will ask this question now as this will be fresh in memory. Plansrme and Gwen, please do share. Could you list study skills required, time management, etc that was necessary for your student to ace this course? Thanks. I have a student who is an auditory learner who maybe interesed in a couple of years. I was very hands off with my oldest and would like to plan better for the future.

Hello:seeya: I see the so-called "chemistry kits" nowadays are all microchemistry, and that's what I was heading to initially. However, it also looks like some facility with "macro" lab equipment is considered as a norm in high school chemistry, as suggested by the contents of SAT chemistry test. Just how important is learning about how to use burettes, transferring liquid over a stirring rod and so on? Would our dc have a difficult time in transitioning to a macro lab at the university level? Or is it something she can pick up easily after a few weeks of experience? I read even some universities are shifting to "green chem", preferring less chemical waste after the lab. So my gut feeling is she'll be OK with micro in the high school level, but I thought I'd ask you experienced moms. Thank you for your input! Midori

I'm thinking about my son going into 8th grade. He will do a study of Natural History in 8th grade I would like for him to do the following sequence in high school: Physics Chemistry AP Biology AP Chemistry or Physics Is it a typically a problem to do AP Biology without previously having a basic Biology course? Thanks!

I am trying to plan out my 7th grader's high school science sequence hoping to avoid an AP science the first year it is revised. I was looking at the upcoming changes to the AP Chemistry exam, and I am surprised by the changes. Imo, it looks like the course is going to be watered down considerably. According to the CB website, the following topics will not be included in the scope of the course (there are other excluded topics as well): Calculations of molality, percent by mass, and percent by volume are beyond the scope of this course and the AP Exam. Phase diagrams are beyond the scope of this course and the AP Exam. Assignment of quantum numbers to electrons is beyond the scope of this course and the AP Exam. Lewis acid-base concepts are beyond the scope of this course and the AP Exam. Language of reducing agent and oxidizing agent is beyond the scope of this course and the AP Exam. Memorization of other “solubility rules†is beyond the scope of this course and the AP Exam. Imo, with these changes, I am concerned that this course is no where near the equivalent of a college level chemistry course. I wonder if some colleges will stop awarding college credit for this course.:confused: I don't understand why this course is being revised. Are there any other hive members concerned about these changes? Ds#2 might be taking chemistry at the community college instead of going the AP route.

I thought I had read posts from people who had used it and gone on to take the exam, but now I can't find any of those and wonder if perhaps I dreamt it. ;) I'd love to know if it really is stand-alone, or if one must supplement (and, if so, with a full textbook course or simply with an AP prep book).

I am looking ahead for my middle child. Will Spectrum Chemistry prepare a student for AP Chemistry? My oldest completed Plato/Cyber Ed Chemistry program in 8th grade, and there is no way he would have been prepared for AP level chemistry after that course. He learned a ton of new material last year in ChemAdvantage's honors chemistry class. I am wondering if I should also plan on my middle son having another year of Chemistry after Spectrum before he tackles an AP level class?

Hi! for those of you who are considering using ChemAdvantage for AP Chemistry, I wanted to share our good news! My ds just found out that he scored a 5 on the AP Chem exam! AP Chem with CA really prepares the student well for the exam, and I really feel that my ds learned the subject matter and enjoyed it. I will say that he worked extremely hard in this class - his final average in the class was around 94%, while the class average was in the 70's somewhere (as should be expected!). I just wanted to encourage those considering the class that we found it outstanding. I would not put a first year chem student in this course, however. As I have mentioned in other posts, we found the DIVE Chemistry cd course used with both Apologia chem texts to be an excellent foundation for AP Chemistry. Interestingly, my two sons (older ds was a freshman in college) enjoyed comparing what they were learning in chemistry; they found their courses tracked pretty closely. Older son did not take AP chem in high school. He used both Apologia chem texts and found he was very well prepared for Chem I and II and was happily surprised by how much he remembered after a two-year gap. Hope this helps and encourages someone! Blessings, April (so enjoying hearing the AP results of all of our "board" kids!)

My oldest ds is doing Apologia Chemistry this year at a co-op. He's got an 89 right now in the class. First of all, does he have to take the AP test in May, or can he arrange to take it during any month of the year? Second, is Apologia Chemistry a rigorous enough program in preparation for this? Finally, what did your student do to prepare for this exam? How many hours, materials used, etc... This will be our first AP exam (if he takes it). I just figured that taking it at the end of his Chemistry course would make the most sense. Any input is appreciated. Lisa

Would you recommend taking AP chemistry right after the first high school chemistry course or after the basic science series has been completed. I'm looking at various AP courses and am second guessing some ideas I had formed. If my boys are currently doing BJU chemistry and the plan was to take biology next year, would it be better to take AP Chemistry before biology or after?

How have any of you done AP Chemistry? I see that PA homeschoolers has a class, but it is over 600 dollars. I'm already having both boys take AP Government which will be 800 total. Plus, they will both take Spanish at my local community college ( 300 total). If you didn't do an online class, how did you handle doing GOOD labs. I have the advanced Apologia Chemistry book ( I got it for a dollar when a store was getting rid of their homeschool stuff... got the teacher materials for another dollar) , but I don't mind buying other material since it didn't cost much. Any thoughts? Christine

Good Morning Everyone! For those of you who have used Zumdahl for AP Chem, can I ask which text you used? What is the name of the text, and the ISBN if you still have the book? I found a copy of an old Zumdahl chem text at a library book sale, but I don't know if that is what you all are using. My younger son is finishing up DIVE Chem with Apologia (both texts) and is doing very well with it, so we are considering doing AP Chem for 11th grade (starting late August). Any and all advice is appreciated! Could we do it adequately here at home (no lab buddies this time) or should we go with PA Homeschoolers, assuming we can still get in? Thanks mucho for any advice! Blessings, April

My son is very interested in learning chemistry. I am attempting to choose a curriculum consisting of an introductory course followed by an AP course. I have looked at Spectrum and Apologia for his first course because they have real live labs. DVD labs would be discouraging to my son. He needs the hands on experience. But, I have read in other forums that these courses are not very rigorous. Also, I am concerned about the Christian aspect mentioned in the course descriptions. Although I understand how it effects the teaching of Biology, I do not understand how it would effect the teaching of Chemistry at this level. Although Christian, I do not dismiss the possibility of the evolution and I do view it as the paradigm for much of current scientific research/discoveries. Possibly I'm looking for something secular? Specifically I would like to hear of courses that would prepare him for AP Chemistry and have labs available that can be integrated with the coursework. He has had Algebra already and I will be giving him more practice with Bridge math, not because his algebra is weak, but because I think that math practice never hurts and will make Chemistry a little easier at the start. Debb S.

feedback? Also, if you did Apologia Chemistry prior to taking this course did it prepare your child adequately for the AP course? How can one prepare for the course during the summer? Any advice or tips will be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Nissi

? High School Chemistry and making it AP ~ Part I: I've been researching on the web and found a couple of different views: 1. One AP Chem class won't accept students for AP Chem without having had regular high school Chem first due to the level of work and difficulty of an AP Chem class (or his anyway). 2. One AP Chem class teaches regular high school Chem and bumps it up to AP Chem (no prior chem prerequiste) and his course is approved by the College Board. Opinions on sequencing? Part II: Do you have to have your course "preapproved" by the College Board in order to take the AP? I've read different things and am a little confused. In, other words, can you register to take the AP exam without the course approval? I've been looking at the Dive Science supplement which he markets as AP Chemistry (if you use both Apologia Chem and Adv Chem together). So, if we do this at home, do we need to get prior approval? And yes, I've searched a lot of threads on here and read ~ but am just wanting some clarification of what I deducted. TIA ~ Debbie