Integrated Science

[Kfamily]

I have The Sciences: An Integrated Approach by Hazen and Trefil and I am considering this text for my older dd.

 

Here:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Sciences-An-Integrated-Approach/dp/0471769924

 

I also have Science Matters: Achieving Scientific Literacy by the same authors. I could add this book and other books, essays, dvds and other supplements. I could also add a lab component by either adding a kit(s) or something else.

 

This is a college level text, so I'm assuming it would be okay level-wise. My dd really agrees with the idea of integrated science (and math too, but I'm just not ready to handle that....lol). What do you think about this?

 

I was thinking about this sequence....

9th Introduction to Physics and Chemistry (we've already started this text from Prentice Hall)

10th Integrated Science with lab

11th Chemistry (Prentice Hall) with lab

12th Biology (Prentice Hall) with lab

 

I'm fairly confident that she won't be able to do a calculus based physics (we won't make it there in math....pre-calculus for 12th). Both 9th and 10th grade would cover some physics, so I was thinking this would be enough.

 

The only other idea I'm considering is to do integrated science throughout with the above text, supplements, Biology text and Chemistry text (Prentice Hall) and adding one more text....something with a lab....????

 

I know I keep putting these questions out there...I'm sorry if it is becoming annoying to some....I'm really try to sort this out....

 

My dd and I really love the integrated science idea, but since I'm not experienced with it I would love some guidance.

 

Thanks for any suggestions.

Edited June 12, 2012 by Kfamily

[lewelma]

It looks like a great book. Are you planning to do this textbook for 10th grade?

 

My one comment is that 600 pages of a college text will be difficult to finish in 10th grade. Have you considered what you plan to leave out?

 

Ruth in NZ

[Kfamily]

Yes, I had this concern too. And I don't want to leave anything out. :001_smile:

I could do a little less of the text we are now working with (which we have already started) and start the Integrated Science work half-way through 9th grade. We school year round as it is.

Or I could start it in the fall (9th) and use it for two years. I've had that sequence written out too.

[lewelma]

Yes, I had this concern too. And I don't want to leave anything out. :001_smile:

I could do a little less of the text we are now working with (which we have already started) and start the Integrated Science work half-way through 9th grade. We school year round as it is.

Or I could start it in the fall (9th) and use it for two years. I've had that sequence written out too.

 

Personally, I'd spend 2 years on it. It covers chemistry and physics so would be repetitive your current text. I agree that it would be hard to leave anything out.

 

Ruth in NZ

[Kfamily]

Thanks so much Ruth! It is so nice to have some feedback. I also intend to go back to your thread on the Logic board (Scientific Inquiry) and read and take notes from all of your advice from that thread as well. Thank you so much!:grouphug:

 

 

I think we will take the two year plan...it's the one we both really wanted to do anyway.

Edited June 12, 2012 by Kfamily

[elegantlion]

I don't find your questions annoying, expensive maybe, but certainly not annoying. :D

 

I ordered the text this morning. :lol:

 

another addition that might be good for your needs is the science readings books from the Great Books foundation. You can get a sample unit, which gives you a good idea of how it works.

[Kfamily]

Sorry about that Paula...:001_smile:

 

Thanks for that link. I do have one of the Great Books readers...the one for biology...and had intended to use this as one of our supplemental books. I didn't realized there were others, so I want to take a look at those too. I've also collected some primary sources that we will add to our readings. I'm hoping to pick out a couple of really good books (dd is not as easy to please in the science category) and then add dvds and/or lectures (maybe Khan Academy) plus I'd like to order a lab kit or two.

 

Thank you.

[Chrysalis Academy]

Ok, if you did a text like this over two years, would you give 1 chemistry credit and one physics credit? I love the idea of integrated science, particularly for physics & chemistry. I know dd would get more out of an integrated course than two separate courses - this is how her brain works! Would you separate it out on the transcript, to make it clear both had been covered, or list "integrated chemistry & physics" and give 2 credits? Or something else? I know there was another thread about this recently, I'll go look for it, too. :auto:

[elegantlion]

Ok, if you did a text like this over two years, would you give 1 chemistry credit and one physics credit? I love the idea of integrated science, particularly for physics & chemistry. I know dd would get more out of an integrated course than two separate courses - this is how her brain works! Would you separate it out on the transcript, to make it clear both had been covered, or list "integrated chemistry & physics" and give 2 credits? Or something else? I know there was another thread about this recently, I'll go look for it, too. :auto:

 

I ordered and received the text since this post. This is my plan for it. I'm going to stretch it out over 3 years and add a focus for each year. 9th- physics, 10th- chemistry, 11th- biology. The text lends itself well to that as it introduces the subjects basically in that order with Earth science between chem and bio.

 

I plan to use hippocampus and a physics kit from HST to round out the physics portion. So he'll read from this text, then do some corresponding work on hippocampus and do a few labs.

 

I'm also adding this book, which goes with the text, Great Ideas of Science. It has sections from the scientists discussed in the book, sort of like adding part of the Great Books of science.

 

I had planned a more intense course of physics, but ds has stalled in some of his math abilities and I think it would be overwhelming to him. Using this text as a spine we can go as deep as ds wants, but still be advancing through the subject.

 

I had wanted to go integrated with a different approach, but our budget wouldn't allow my original plan. This text is affordable (bought 5th edition). It doesn't go deep enough in any one subject to be considered full coverage, so you couldn't use the text alone and give credit for physics, chem, and bio.

 

Obviously we haven't started yet, but I think it's worth a lot if you want an integrated approach and are willing to add to it.

[Kfamily]

I ordered and received the text since this post. This is my plan for it. I'm going to stretch it out over 3 years and add a focus for each year. 9th- physics, 10th- chemistry, 11th- biology. The text lends itself well to that as it introduces the subjects basically in that order with Earth science between chem and bio.

 

I plan to use hippocampus and a physics kit from HST to round out the physics portion. So he'll read from this text, then do some corresponding work on hippocampus and do a few labs.

 

I'm also adding this book, which goes with the text, Great Ideas of Science. It has sections from the scientists discussed in the book, sort of like adding part of the Great Books of science.

 

I had planned a more intense course of physics, but ds has stalled in some of his math abilities and I think it would be overwhelming to him. Using this text as a spine we can go as deep as ds wants, but still be advancing through the subject.

 

I had wanted to go integrated with a different approach, but our budget wouldn't allow my original plan. This text is affordable (bought 5th edition). It doesn't go deep enough in any one subject to be considered full coverage, so you couldn't use the text alone and give credit for physics, chem, and bio.

 

Obviously we haven't started yet, but I think it's worth a lot if you want an integrated approach and are willing to add to it.

 

 

 

Thanks for sharing Great Ideas of Science by the same authors. I hadn't seen that before now.

Also, were you able to find a teacher's guide? I can't find one and I tried to access the companion site but haven't heard back for that either. (Of course, the latter was purely a gamble, since I'm not with a school.:001_smile:)

[elegantlion]

Thanks for sharing Great Ideas of Science by the same authors. I hadn't seen that before now.

Also, were you able to find a teacher's guide? I can't find one and I tried to access the companion site but haven't heard back for that either. (Of course, the latter was purely a gamble, since I'm not with a school.:001_smile:)

 

I haven't been. I think most of the teacher's resources are on CD, and I haven't been able to locate one used.

 

I haven't quite determined how I'm going to grade this course. Labs will get some credit, and someone linked to tests for Conceptual Physics the other day. I may try to find a state year end test on physics and pull out questions from that.

 

I also have a few (slight understatement) other science books where I can pull questions from the text and have the answers available.

[Kfamily]

Thanks!

 

I really like how this book presents science and want to find a way to use it.

(And my dd likes the idea of integrated science too...and she is my not-interested-in-math-and-science girl as many here probably already know:D). I know she would love for me to add in the study of primary sources, GB readings and the history of scientists and science ideas too.

 

I have to admit, I do have some fears and hesitation about this approach, especially without a teacher key. It is such a struggle to find the best path for the student and yet still keep the teacher (me) within my range too.

[barybar]

:lurk5: Char

[Connections]

KFamily and Elegantlion-

 

If you read this I would love to know what you decided to do!

 

Thanks,

[elegantlion]

KFamily and Elegantlion-

 

If you read this I would love to know what you decided to do!

 

Thanks,

 

We ended up not going with the Integrated approach. We did what amounted to conceptual physics last year due to a lot of personal interruptions in school. 

 

I wasn't super pleased with the Sciences text for our needs. I think it would be good for a truly integrated year using the text and study guide - I wish we had done that in 8th grade. I was trying to supplement and pull concepts from too many places, it became too confusing for me and ds. 

 

We ended using The Physics Classroom for most of the year. 

[Kfamily]

KFamily and Elegantlion-

 

If you read this I would love to know what you decided to do!

 

Thanks,

 

We've just recently moved back to the states from Okinawa Japan, so I don't have access to all of my books right now. I haven't been able to fully work on my integrated and simultaneous science plan as of yet. (Although I really wish that I could.)

 

I have to agree with EL on this one too. I really like the text, The Sciences, but after looking at it more closely I decided that my dd would need more background knowledge in all areas before I felt that she could take from it what she needed. I will probably (when I have access to it again) use it as a reference as we work through science over the next three years. I actually think that it will work better for her after she has already studied and better understands the concepts in biology, chemistry and physics before reading it. (I hope that makes sense.)

 

We do plan on following an integrated and simultaneous science plan but with a different approach. I did purchase a biology text that I like (Cecie Starr) and a conceptual physics text (Hewitt) but I'm still looking for the right chemistry text. We've just started Science Matters and the Hewitt text. This will have to do until I've had a chance to put more together. I'm so ready to be settled again! :)

 

I've been gathering together as many living books that I can and plan to add these in to our study. I also intend to add in some work from science journals/magazines.

 

I think that we will follow more of a simultaneous science plan (with limited integration) until her final year of science. This is when I think that having more foundational science behind her (and math), she could then follow a more true integrated approach. I'm still very knew to all of this and dd is my first to go through high school, so I very humbly admit that I have limited experience and knowledge with this. We will most likely make some changes along the way as we move through high school for the first time.