DD is planning to use the "honors chemistry" lesson plans from the Dr. Tang site and use Chang Essential Concepts in Chemistry book. The Dr. Tang site has 9 labs. The Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments recommends 36 labs for a student heading towards a science major in college. So..... that's a big difference? :001_huh: I prefer the Illustrated Guide to Tang (Tang uses chemical formulas in the materials list and Illustrated Guide spells it out in good old English for us non-Chemistry folks... so it was much easier to make a list of what we need while flipping through the Illustrated Guide because I didn't have to translate things into a layperson's language). But, is 36 labs overkill? There are probably 2 or 3 that we won't be able to do due to lack of materials or equipment, but everything else in his first year labs seems very do-able. But when I look at the syllabus for Tang, and it being Honors Chemistry, and it only having 9 labs... I dunno. Time is a precious commodity for dd and although I am quite sure she would love nothing MORE than 2-3+ hours per week doing JUST Chemistry Lab work, I worry about it swallowing up more precious time than is perhaps really neccessary for a thorough first-year Chemistry class. She will also have Environmental Science labwork to do on top of the Chemistry. So - thoughts? Pick and choose from the Illustrated Guide, or attempt them all (that he suggests for 1st year labs)?

FYI, it's almost ready! Here's the link to the "straight from his word processor" draft: http://www.ttgnet.com/diy-bio/diy-bio-pdf-uncorrected.zip and here's the link to pre-order the actual book http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920017691.do He's particularly interested in feedback from home-schoolers on the first few narrative chapters, in case they've left anything out. It goes to the publishers on the 31st and the hardcopy is expected to be available in April. PS. No, I'm not getting a cut from this. I just really liked the chemistry book and can't wait for this one!

My son has announced this is the direction he would like our science program to go in. I don't really know anything about forensic science, I've never even seen one episode of CSI or Law and Order or anything like that. I tried to google a bit, but really didn't find anything. I was hoping someone here has btdt. *SIGH* Help! Thanks in advance.

I got a query from a reader today, asking if there was an inexpensive local source for small quantities of concentrated hydrogen peroxide. (HST sells 30 mL--about one fluid ounce--for $5.50 + shipping.) I replied that food-grade (very pure) concentrated hydrogen peroxide is available locally in many places, but usually in gallon or larger containers. There is, however, an easy and inexpensive way to get small amounts of concentrated hydrogen peroxide. Simply purchase a pint bottle of drugstore 3% hydrogen peroxide for a buck or so, pour a little bit out (to leave room for expansion) and then put it in the freezer. After an hour or two, you'll find that most of the water has frozen solid, leaving a liquid that's much more concentrated hydrogen peroxide. (The actual concentration may vary depending on conditions, but the concentration you get should be fine for nearly any experiment that specifies concentrated hydrogen peroxide.) Note that this concentrated form of hydrogen peroxide lacks the stabilizers present in commercial products and so will decompose pretty rapidly over time. Make it up immediately before you need it. Also note that concentrated hydrogen peroxide is an extremely strong oxidizer, so read the MSDS for concentrated hydrogen peroxide on the HST site or elsewhere and follow all safety precautions.

What would be the best way to approach labs for Biology? I just ordered The Teaching Company's Biology: The Science of Life course and Campbells Biology text (it was recommended for the Teaching Co. course). I was looking on-line for some lab ideas. I found some free high school Biology lab activities that I could print off and have ds work through. I also found this: http://www.sciencecourseware.org/BLOL/ You purchase a lab manual for $30 and get a 1 year access to the on-line labs. I think you can also purchase a 1 year subscription without buying the lab manual. I was also looking at Castle Heights Biology lab manual. Should I choose 1 of these options or do a combination? What types of labs have you done if you have completed a Biology course? Thanks for any advice!

In trying to put together a chemistry course for my dd, who requested not to use Apologia, I learned a few things. After much frustration over the weekend, I wanted to pass along what I learned. If you have The Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments by Robert Thompson, per Mr. T himself, you will need to spend roughly $400 on lab equipment. There is a guide to THGHCE available for free download which requires a kit beginning at $150. If you wish to add (2) goggles and digital mulitmeter, add $15. The guide is not complimentary to the book. It is comprised of most of the experiments in the book, but certainly not all. Great link: http://www.squidoo.com/chemistry-for-high-schoolers This smart gal put together what looks like a dynamite chemistry class for her boys using videos, books (including the Thompson one), notebooking, and more! One more thought....Georgia Public TV has a free chemistry course consisting of 30 minute videos, notetaking outline, lab reports, and quizzes. GA educators can request teacher materials which will be mailed directly to the instructor. Whew! Hope that helps someone! Teresa in NC

Have you seen the new kits put out by Robert Thompson, the author of the Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry? http://www.thehomescientist.com/kits/CK01/ck01-main.html While I'm not fond of microchemistry, the manual looks very good. Simple. Clear. Doable. And easy to monitor. (I love the Illustrated Guide, but realize that I have to be at the elbow for most of it. The labs we have used really do require a very mature student. "Don't you dare pour that down my sink, didn't you read what he said on page ___!") If these materials are anything like his Illustrated Guide, I'm guessing it is terrific! I think the original book is top notch, but so far no one in my house has shown a huge interest in chemistry so I just couldn't justify the time in the schedule; that stupid textbook hogged most of the week. There just wasn't time to DO chemistry which really bugs me. There are a couple of things about our high school line up that still scratch at my soul. This is one of them. Chemistry is meant to be DONE, not talked about. It's like baking or cooking. You learn how to manage the book so you can DO it. But if some insurance agent determines that it's too dangerous for kids to saddle up to the stove and a frying pan full of sputtering hot oil, cooking is going to become a mighty hum-drum "course." The final outcome? No one will ever really learn about cooking. sigh.... So, 8 Fill the Heart, would you like to test drive this one and get it all reviewed and aligned to match the Prentice Hall text/Kolbe syllabus FOR ME for 2012/13? I want JUST enough textbook blah, blah, blah for the lab to be in context. More than any other course, I think the lab is the trump for chemistry. I'll send you a Starbucks card as a gift! ;) Pretty please! So far my two oldest kids think they don't like chemistry. I am SURE it is because of the lack of cohesion/wow-factor between the text and the lab materials we have used. Ironic, huh! Third time is a charm, right? Care to do the leg work/test drive on this one? :001_smile:Janice