godpoetry Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 My son had a hard time with Apologia general science this year. It could be a maturity issue, but I am not a fan of their test, but I like their text. Anyway, I would like suggestions on what else is available. I know he wants to go into the Airforce Academy so he will have to have a strong science background. What have you used that has worked for those grades? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoggirl Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 This is what I plan on using with my son, but we aren't there yet! We'll be starting their Life Science (grade 7) course next year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 From another Christian family that isn't a fan of Apologia... My older ds (he's a science guy, will possibly go into microbiology) 6th-7th - Rainbow Science 8th - A Beka Biology w/ outside lab class (you could do labs at home or get labs on DVD) 9th - Spectrum Chemistry www.beginningspublishing.com Easy to do labs at home. 10th - Conceptual Physics by Hewitt 11th & 12th - Don't know yet but probably lab sciences at cc, or else we will attempt AP classes at home. For my younger ds who is not into science, he did Rainbow with us when he was 4th/5th & didn't want to do it again, so he's doing: 8th - AO Lifepac science w/ lab kit from Home Science Tools 9th - BJU Physical Science 10th, 11th, and 12th - A Beka Bio w/ lab class, Spectrum Chemistry, and Conceptual Physics in whatever order we choose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorna in the boonies Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 I really like BJU with the live class/satellite option. I can't speak highly enough of it. (Okay, so my only experience is with Biology, but I have been extremely impressed with it this year and plan on continuing it with all of my kids from here on out.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kim in Appalachia Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 it is a solid, tradional program. You can get the DVD's if you want extra help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in PA Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 We used Apologia General and Physical science. I also teach at a co-op and use the HS chemistry. By far, I think the wosrt Apologia text is the general science. I found it to be dull, dry, and boring. The physical science was a little better. I really like the chemistry and biology. We are also using the BJU science at our co-op for 9th grade (Physical World), 7th grade (Life Science), and 8th grade (Space and Earth). I think these texts are great and are a much better alternative to the Apologia texts at this level. I taught the physical world last year and will teach space and earth in the fall. The BJU tests usually follow the format of several multiple choice questions, completions, matching, short answer and true and false. Definately different from the Apologia test. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brindee Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 10th - Conceptual Physics by HewittI went to look this up and it seems there are all sorts of things they have that have the name Conceptual Physics on it. What exactly are you using for your ds's? Thanks for sharing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrscopterdoc Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 My son had a hard time with Apologia general science this year. It could be a maturity issue, but I am not a fan of their test, but I like their text. From another Christian family that isn't a fan of Apologia... We signed up for Apologia Physical Science at Potters School [online] for next year. Never used Apologia before so now I'm concerned.:001_unsure: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Only me Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 I'm still trying to decide what to use for 8th grade dd next year. She will go to a private school for 9th and have biology. I've heard good things about BJU. We weren't overly thrilled with Apologia and have covered most of the topics in Prentice Hall Science Explorers. Are there a lot of labs with BJU? Are they all necessary? Can they be done easily at home without a lot of equipment? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 http://www.conceptualphysics.com/books.shtml If you go to the link, the book I'm using is the third one down from the top. I picked up a used copy of the 9th edition along with Practicing Physics, which is kind of a workbook with additional practice problems to solve. I'd like to get a lab book as well, but if I can't find a 9th ed. I will just buy the new 10th ed. lab book and match up the labs as best I can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberly in Sedona Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 We have never been fans of Apologia either! We did use their Physical Science one year and tried to get through Biology. Most of the colleges we looked at wanted labs with science. Community college ended up being a lifesaver! My oldest two took Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy there. Do you have a good community college near you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmuse04 Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 We signed up for Apologia Physical Science at Potters School [online] for next year. Never used Apologia before so now I'm concerned.:001_unsure: We are using Potters School for Physical Science this year-we did for last year General Science also. My son, who isn't a science kid-at least not just yet, had some trouble keeping up the schedule. General Science was extremely difficult, with weekly lab write-ups that I felt were at least close to college level. This difficulty bothered me more than it did him. He said this year that he thought it was good for him. Next year, for Biology, I am doing it on my own with him, and no outside teacher. Hope that doesn't turn out to be a mistake...anyway, stay involved with your student and the schedule and things should go just fine. Blessings, Michelle in MS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngelaC Posted April 29, 2008 Share Posted April 29, 2008 We do mostly Apologia in our home, BUT I won't do the General Science anymore. It is just a bit hard to slog through for a 7th grader or so. We do Rainbow science in the 6th-8th grade. Apologia for Physical Science on up . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
godpoetry Posted April 30, 2008 Author Share Posted April 30, 2008 Thanks everyone for the advice. I am going to our convention on the 9th and I wanted some idea of what to look at while I was there. I will discuss these ideas with my husband also. He is the one who will probably have to help me because he is the science guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brindee Posted April 30, 2008 Share Posted April 30, 2008 http://www.conceptualphysics.com/books.shtml If you go to the link, the book I'm using is the third one down from the top. I picked up a used copy of the 9th edition along with Practicing Physics, which is kind of a workbook with additional practice problems to solve. I'd like to get a lab book as well, but if I can't find a 9th ed. I will just buy the new 10th ed. lab book and match up the labs as best I can. http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=conceptual+physics+9th+edition Are these the books you have? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maverick Posted April 30, 2008 Share Posted April 30, 2008 Mine looks just like that except it doesn't say "media update." The book has some references to a website called www.physicsplace.com and it might just have updated links or something like that. Like I said I bought it used so there are more updated versions now available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrscopterdoc Posted April 30, 2008 Share Posted April 30, 2008 We are using Potters School for Physical Science this year-we did for last year General Science also. My son, who isn't a science kid-at least not just yet, had some trouble keeping up the schedule. General Science was extremely difficult, with weekly lab write-ups that I felt were at least close to college level. This difficulty bothered me more than it did him. He said this year that he thought it was good for him. Next year, for Biology, I am doing it on my own with him, and no outside teacher. Hope that doesn't turn out to be a mistake...anyway, stay involved with your student and the schedule and things should go just fine. Blessings, Michelle in MS Thanks for the heads up! I have always felt a little weak in the science department so I wanted to try this, so someone else was in charge. If nothing else hopefully it's a good experience for her since Mom can be a 'softie' sometimes! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denise in NE Posted April 30, 2008 Share Posted April 30, 2008 I was very pleased with Rainbow Science for middle school (our attempt to use Apologia General Science for one semester was a bust). My 9th grade daughter is using BJU this year, but I REALLY wouldn't recommend any upper level BJU science course without HomeSAT or the DVD's (unless you are a science whiz yourself). Doing the labs at home requires specialized equipment and supplies - most of which can be purchased from Home Science Tools. In the future, we will be taking science at our local coop which uses Apologia exclusively. Denise in NE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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