MS/HS science for one semester?

[cloversandlions]

DS13 has been taking a middle school life science course through a local (homeschool) teacher; she's terrific teacher and he likes the other class he takes with her, but this class is really too simple for him. It's seems to be designed for the earlier ms-aged kids, I think; the other parents think I should have signed ds up for the high school class, but I was new here, and did not know.

 

This kid loves science, and he knows plenty. He's weak on writing and, of course, we haven't done much in the way of actual bio or chem experiments. Any recommendations for a curric, or better, some books that will give some grounding in chem, phys sci, or physics, and that offer - or are easy to pair with - activities we can do at home. DH is a chemist, but he's often traveling, and although he wants to set up a chem lab at home some day, we currently have no lab equipment here. I don't mind spending some money, but any labwork needs to be done without the heavy duty stuff. Otherwise, easily at-home activities/experiments are welcome.

 

I'm sleepy so this is probably pretty rambly, for which I apologize. :)

[Lanny]

One of my DDs courses in the Middle School of Texas Tech University ISD (TTUISD) is 6th grade Science. It does require some things be purchased, for experiments. So far, we had to buy a test tube and a beaker, for an experiment. From your description, I am not sure what grade level your Son would be at, with regard to their Science courses. This is Distance Learning, and does require that traditional textbooks be purchased. We bought ours from Amazon.com sellers. (BTW, the Science textbook is the only one we purchased used. There was a huge difference, for that book, between New and Used). This is a possible option for you. The Middle School courses are $160 for one semester, and also you need to buy the textbook. HTH

[freesia]

DS13 has been taking a middle school life science course through a local (homeschool) teacher; she's terrific teacher and he likes the other class he takes with her, but this class is really too simple for him. It's seems to be designed for the earlier ms-aged kids, I think; the other parents think I should have signed ds up for the high school class, but I was new here, and did not know.

 

This kid loves science, and he knows plenty. He's weak on writing and, of course, we haven't done much in the way of actual bio or chem experiments. Any recommendations for a curric, or better, some books that will give some grounding in chem, phys sci, or physics, and that offer - or are easy to pair with - activities we can do at home. DH is a chemist, but he's often traveling, and although he wants to set up a chem lab at home some day, we currently have no lab equipment here. I don't mind spending some money, but any labwork needs to be done without the heavy duty stuff. Otherwise, easily at-home activities/experiments are welcome.

 

I'm sleepy so this is probably pretty rambly, for which I apologize. :)

 

The American Chemistry Association has a free curriculum called Middle School Chemistry. It can be done mostly without anything special (and you could skip or show videos of anything that you can't get the equipment for.) We will be using next semester.