brendafromtenn Posted March 6, 2010 Share Posted March 6, 2010 Can I do this? My freshmen finished Physical Science last year and is presently finishing Biology this year. Both of these were using Apologia. But for her 10th grade year, before we hit Chemistry in 11th, we were thinking of doing something very different. Can we do a 1/2 semester of Astronomy and then follow with a 1/2 semester of Geology. She LOVES two. Just LOVES them. Even has thought about being a geologist. I have seen that AO has LifePacs for both of these. Not sure we would go that route. Still in the looking stage. (DD is my "Wiggly Willie" hands on learner, if you are familiar with Cathy Duffy's book. She is always crocheting, knitting, cooking, digging in the dirt....making something.....She has thought about Elem Education, Geologist, Nutritionist.....But we are still in that thinking stage....I could even see her design clothes for a theatre company.....) Just wondering about this..... Blessings, Brenda:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teachin'Mine Posted March 6, 2010 Share Posted March 6, 2010 What about Geology combined with archaeology? Maybe some hands on work with the archaeology too. But I don't see why you can't combine the two you mention - sort of an earth and sky course. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alphabetika Posted March 6, 2010 Share Posted March 6, 2010 Since you used Apologia, can we assume that you're open to a Biblical treatment of astronomy and geology? If so, you might look at Answers in Genesis for resources. Also, there's an excellent astronomy book called Signs and Seasons. HTH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted March 6, 2010 Share Posted March 6, 2010 We did a semester of Astronomy with Astronomy Today, and a semester geography course with Runkle's. We paired the astronomy with the activity book SWB recommends in WTM (but sadly didn't use it--looked good, tho). Totally doable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pip Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 I found a both a book and magazine with the title Astronomy Today. I assume you used the book? What is the workbook SWB recommends? Did you count these as lab courses for high school credit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
titianmom Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 As another Astronomy lover, I can identify with your child. We did Astronomy this year...again (did very basic stuff in the 4th grade.) Mine is 13, now. We go to the observatory up the road when the weather is decent. It's our final fling before HS for us, but what we are covering is pretty much a college survey class for non-majors. I went over basic chemistry in the beginning of the year and delved into the nuclear fusion of stars, heavy and light elements, etc for her to have a bigger pic of what Astronomy is all about, then jumped into actual Astronomy with some light math (parsecs vs LY, parallax, etc.) I don't see anything wrong with your plan as long as you get thru the lab classes req for HS. (the usual Chem/Bio/etc) We're using the AO lifepacs. They're not bad, but not terrific, either. I use them more as a guide as she works though them. There are soooo many resources online, youtube, whatever. I use the guides also for experiements and project ideas, but mostly we use the observatory and a pair of binos. On youtube there are movies and actual college lectures you can watch. What was kinda scary was one particular college lecture on planets. Mine has known the info taught since about the 5th grade, and I really wonder what kids were learning in PS that they didn't already understand the basics of Astronomy that this class covered. Man! Frankly, what is in the AO lifepacs was deeper than the college lecture on youtube. Sad. A drawback to the lifepacs is they're dated. They need to be revised IMHO; they're from 1998, and a TON has happened in Astronomy since then. But the good news is, there are TONs of websites with up-to-date info that a simple search can find that will complete your study. We're into blackholes and quasars right now. :) PS: We also picked up Standard Deviants Astronomy I & II for cheap and that helped some, also. Take care, Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 My teen took Conceptual Physical Science as a 9th grader using Hewitt's book of that same title. In 10th, she did Chemistry with the MicroChem Kit for a lab at home. She had no particular interest in taking Biology, so in 11th grade she did three quarters of classes at the local Community College (Geology 101 and 102 as well as a Rocks and Minerals class). Each of these classes had a lab portion. In 12th grade, she did Environmental Science with lab at the community college. She did not run into any issues with the colleges to which she applied for not having the standard Biology, Chemistry, Physics triad. Currently she is at college considering majoring in Latin/the Classics and minoring in Geology. All this to say, go with your daughter's interests. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atozmom Posted March 8, 2010 Share Posted March 8, 2010 My teen took Conceptual Physical Science as a 9th grader using Hewitt's book of that same title. In 10th, she did Chemistry with the MicroChem Kit for a lab at home. She had no particular interest in taking Biology, so in 11th grade she did three quarters of classes at the local Community College (Geology 101 and 102 as well as a Rocks and Minerals class). Each of these classes had a lab portion. In 12th grade, she did Environmental Science with lab at the community college. She did not run into any issues with the colleges to which she applied for not having the standard Biology, Chemistry, Physics triad. Currently she is at college considering majoring in Latin/the Classics and minoring in Geology. All this to say, go with your daughter's interests. Regards, Kareni Thank you for posting this! My daughter does not like science and was REALLY dreading Biology in high school. I think we may also look at different options as well. She would be thrilled! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted March 8, 2010 Share Posted March 8, 2010 Thank you for posting this! My daughter does not like science and was REALLY dreading Biology in high school. I think we may also look at different options as well. She would be thrilled! You're welcome, Ann-Marie. One caveat, do check with the specific colleges in which your child is interested. Some still do have specific requirements. The ten to which my daughter applied varied in their requirements but none demanded Biology. Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atozmom Posted March 8, 2010 Share Posted March 8, 2010 You're welcome, Ann-Marie. One caveat, do check with the specific colleges in which your child is interested. Some still do have specific requirements. The ten to which my daughter applied varied in their requirements but none demanded Biology. Regards, Kareni Yes, I will be checking into that this year at our homeschool conference. Two of the colleges (actually, the only 2 right now) she is interested in will be there. I had planned on spending quite a bit of time at both booths. Thanks again! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnitaMcC Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 Can I do this? My freshmen finished Physical Science last year and is presently finishing Biology this year. Both of these were using Apologia. But for her 10th grade year, before we hit Chemistry in 11th, we were thinking of doing something very different. Can we do a 1/2 semester of Astronomy and then follow with a 1/2 semester of Geology. She LOVES two. Just LOVES them. Even has thought about being a geologist. Just wondering about this..... Blessings, Brenda:001_smile: Sure you can do astronomy and geology for high school sciences. My 9th grade Ds is doing geology now (just for fun) and is taking a dual credit astronomy course at CC over the summer. Next year for 10th grade he will be doing physics and chemistry. Now that weather is getting warmer I plan to add in geology field trips/labs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnitaMcC Posted March 17, 2010 Share Posted March 17, 2010 Thank you for posting this! My daughter does not like science and was REALLY dreading Biology in high school. I think we may also look at different options as well. She would be thrilled! My Ds loves science but is not into biology. I don't plan on him taking it for high school. He may have to do a life science course at college for general ed requirements and so he will take it then if needed. To get into college it isn't required. The sciences Ds plans to cover in high school are: geology, astronomy, chemistry, physics, environmental science and maybe more... he loves science, except biology. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saved1112 Posted March 21, 2010 Share Posted March 21, 2010 As my son began 9th grade, he wanted to dig into some topics of science that interested him. He completed these two books in one semester. The Geology Book http://www.newleafpublishinggroup.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=195&osCsid=e254030a834a0377553c44aed347bf36 The Astronomy Book http://www.newleafpublishinggroup.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=187&osCsid=e254030a834a0377553c44aed347bf36 I was able to print study guides and answer keys for each book from the website for free. These books are also available at www.rainbowresource.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmichigan Posted March 21, 2010 Share Posted March 21, 2010 LabPaq even makes a geology lab kit if you are looking to make it a lab science. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKS Posted March 21, 2010 Share Posted March 21, 2010 We are going to be doing a semester of geology next year and I think we will be using the book Visualizing Geology combined with the LabPaq for physical geology and field trips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted March 21, 2010 Share Posted March 21, 2010 Ah, sorry I didn't get back to you, OP-- Astronomy Today is a textbook. You can incorporate math or not--we chose not to go the "mathy astronomy" route. It actually comes in two volumes, with some chapters overlapping--we did the stars and galaxies book, I think (I've since sold it). It has questions and even some activities (websites and such) after each chapter. I don't have my WTM handy, but perhaps someone else can tell you the title of the book that goes along with the Self-Teaching Guide to Astronomy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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