Jennifer WI Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 My ds always loved Apologia Elementary, but is losing his love of science time with Apologia. The experiments he enjoys, but the reading gets tedious. He is 12, in 7th grade, if that matters. Any ideas that are not too expensive to finish the year? Or maybe I'll have him finish this one but not have him move on to Physical. But I have no idea what anyone uses for upper level sciences (with Christian worldview) besides Apologia. Help! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dory Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 I'm obviously not there with my own kids but personally I didn't mind the BJU high school science. It wasn't perfect but it was pretty good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Maybe some videos would add interest? here http://homeschoolersresources.blogspot.com/p/general-science.html and here https://wikis.engrade.com/nctgs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KellyMama Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 We're using Rainbow Science - it's pricey but so far it's been a success. You could use it to finish out 7th and 8th? I purchased all the texts/teacher guide used, which helped the costs. Maybe try the classifieds board? We love Apologia elementary but I've heard General is kind of dry. I actually think Physical gets better reviews if you wanted to switch it up early? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom@shiloh Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Just listening in.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Down_the_Rabbit_Hole Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 BJU is very good but it is written in a textbook style, not the way Apologia writes. Another thing is BJU science is very sciency...meaning it will use a lot of big words and many paragraphs to get what could be said in plain english (aka Apologia) in a sentence. My oldest detested Apologia and liked BJU, my youngest son hated BJU and is thriving with Apologia...depends on the child. Both are great. Apologia's General Science is a part history of science book if I remember correctly, maybe your son is having a hard time with this part of the book? It took my son for a loop reading all the history in the science book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom31257 Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 You could look at Red Wagon Tutorials for Apologia textbooks. I haven't used them but I've heard good things. This is a teacher who has lectures over the modules, so it might make it come more alive for him. There's also Dive Science which doesn't use General but could be used 8th grade and up. Dd used ICP last year. The Earth Science is completely online. The other courses have lectures and printable workbooks. There are reading schedules, but you don't always read everything in every textbook. From all my own reviews, BJU is the most rigorous of textbooks out there for those who want a Christian worldview. I would imagine that it's reading level might be even harder. Dd used BJU's life science text (with dvd) during middle school, and it was a very challenging course for her. She is using Apologia Biology this year and will use Chemistry next. I want to use their courses for these 2 subjects because I knew their labs were much easier to do than BJU's or Dive's. She is not interested in going into a scientific field, but ds is. I'm looking at using BJU with him with dvd/online teaching. I'm not sure you can get away from textbooks for science once you get into these upper grades. I've not used the Apologia Elementary series because I don't want to focus on one science topic at a time in these younger grades. They'll have to do it in high school, so I'd rather enjoy variety now. I have used textbooks because they offer that variety. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sahamamama Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Have you considered Abeka's Science course for 7th graders? http://www.abeka.com/ABekaOnline/ProductSearch.aspx?grade=&subject=SCIENCE&title=&sbn= Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TengoFive Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 My 13 year old DS doesn't really enjoy the reading, but he doesn't mind listening to the audio. Maybe try that instead of scrapping the program altogether? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 My 13 year old DS doesn't really enjoy the reading, but he doesn't mind listening to the audio. Maybe try that instead of scrapping the program altogether? That is what my ds used. :) Made it much easier for him to stay focused as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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