Tohru Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 My ds has informed me that he doesn't want to do Apologia this upcoming year. We have tried Rainbow and Real Science 4 Kids. I didn't like the TM in Rainbow. For some reason it bothered me. I don't like Science Explorer either. Also, we need something where the experiments aren't necessarily required. That was one of the reasons why I liked Apologia, because the experiments were already completed on the CD. I know there are a ton of science curricula out there. I've looked at Noeo and like the looks, however Level 2 is geared toward 4th-6th. Would it be easy to meat it up for middle school? Any other suggestions for secular middle school science? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 We're planning on using CPO middle school science - they have Earth, Life and Physical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyDay Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Just curious, does he not want to do Apologia because he is sick of the elementary style? If so, then their General Science is completely different. It is very, different from the unit study style of the lower grades. He might be pleasantly surprised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna A. Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Just curious, does he not want to do Apologia because he is sick of the elementary style? If so, then their General Science is completely different. It is very, different from the unit study style of the lower grades. He might be pleasantly surprised. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tohru Posted July 5, 2009 Author Share Posted July 5, 2009 No, he doesn't want to do it because the first chapter was terribly dull and the 2nd chapter has way too many Christian references. I'm too busy to edit all the religious content this year. I have heard that the content is good, but he is becoming more and more sensitive to any Christian slant, probably because we are Jewish. I'm pretty sure it is his age and he is starting to see the world a bit differently. Dorothy Sayers (Lost Tools of Learning) defines this logic stage very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
love2read Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 The Neo chemistry is not easy, but it is project based for the most part and maybe he doesn't want to do that? Tell us what part of science he likes or what kinds of things he likes in general so that we can narrow it down. I had one 7th grader who hated science, so I just had him memorize factual information (e.g., definitions, body parts) and he read biographies from the library because he enjoyed reading. Many were simple biographies too, like the ones in BF History of Science. By the time he got into high school he was very excited about science and did just fine using the higher level material. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyDay Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 I agree Noeo level 2 is not light. We did Chem 2 and the experiments were very easy and not challenging for me to get set up (supplies and all). You could do a couple levels in a year if ds was really motivated. I also agree with your ds that the first 2 chapters of Apologia General are, well, boring and difficult. I understand why the author feels they are important (sort of like why I understand sit-ups are important :001_smile:) but they are heavy, boring, and overwhelming for the first chapters. Noeo might be your best best. Many love BJU, but I personally cannot stand their 7th grade program, and again, you would have a bunch of editing to do. Do you have a school supply house nearby that would have textbooks? You could look at what they offer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy in NJ Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Physical. I looked at General and agree that it's pretty boring. Physical looks more like a typical Physical Science text. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sagira Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 CPO Science may a good choice like a PP said. I would also recommend checking out Singapore Interactive Science for Inquiring Minds. It looks excellent for this age range. This is what's in my long-range planning for 7th and 8th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Granny_Weatherwax Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Physical. I looked at General and agree that it's pretty boring. Physical looks more like a typical Physical Science text. :iagree: That's what we are doing. I have looked through the text and while there are some young earth references I (and we are old earth christians) I think it's a pretty darn good science text. Dragonrider is excited about Apologia, however this is our first year using it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaSheep Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 We'll be using a Science Explorers textbook from Prentice Hall this fall for 7th grade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tohru Posted July 5, 2009 Author Share Posted July 5, 2009 Thanks for all the recommendations. The CPO mediaplayer didn't work for me. I got a five minute stream of nothing but a title page. So I think I'm going to pick up Noeo and look at it. Now to decide which one to use. BTW, Mamasheep, are you on DS too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mktkcb Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Well, if you aren't against online interactive type stuff, you might check out the unbeatable price on Plato Science that the Homeschool Buyer's coop is having right now. It is pretty cool, very thorough, but doesn't require outside experiments, although there are lots of interactive things. Homeschool buyers coop is free to join, and they often have really good group buys on things. https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/index.php?option=com_hsbc_epp_order&Itemid=1024 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIch elle Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 It's meant for gr. 9 but having looked at it at the hs conf. I liked it. It's simple in layout (no color) but meaty in content for gr. 7. It's very easy to use for student and teacher - read & do science 3 x/wk, quiz every 5th day; review test every 9 wks. http://www.landmarkbaptistchurch.org/modules/lfbc/pdf/S145.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matryoshka Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 The CPO mediaplayer didn't work for me. I got a five minute stream of nothing but a title page. I've never even looked much at the mediaplayer - it certainly isn't integral to the program; I doubt I'll ever use it - it's mainly for a couple of short videos illustrating stuff that's in the text anyway and for showing how to set up equipment (and I'll likely never afford the CPO equipment anyway). If you're looking for samples, links to PDFs of the TOC and a sample chapter of both the student and teacher texts are just below the media player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8filltheheart Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 My 7th grader really enjoyed these last yr. So much so that he completed all 3 in one yr. (Definitely NOT necessary. He liked them so much he spent over an hour a day doing science.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaSheep Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Thanks for all the recommendations. The CPO mediaplayer didn't work for me. I got a five minute stream of nothing but a title page. So I think I'm going to pick up Noeo and look at it. Now to decide which one to use. BTW, Mamasheep, are you on DS too? DS? (Help me out, I'm feeling dense...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tohru Posted July 5, 2009 Author Share Posted July 5, 2009 DS? (Help me out, I'm feeling dense...) lol. You're probably not then. DS= http://www.diaperswappers.com There is a mamasheep over on that board too. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaSheep Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 lol. You're probably not then. DS= www.diaperswappers.comThere is a mamasheep over on that board too. :) Oh, well that makes sense. No, that's not me. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.