Jump to content

Menu

What is your dc's science sequence for high school?


Recommended Posts

This is my youngest son's schedule:

 

8th grade: Algebra 1 (not counted towards high school credit)

9th grade: Geometry and Conceptual Physics

10th grade: Algebra 2 and Chemistry ( both classes are more advanced than standard, but not Advanced Placement level, will not use "Honors" designation on transcript)

 

11th grade: Precalculus and Biology

12th grade: Calculus and Physics (potentially Advanced Placement)

 

It's a very traditional pathway. Depending on his progress, the biology course may be taken at the CC with marine biology for the second credit. We'll probably make room for AP Statistics as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My more STEM minded DC is doing physics first.

9th: conceptual (not math heavy) physics and geometry

10th: chemistry and alg 2

11th: biology and precalc

12th: advanced physics and calc

 

My DC who wants to drop science the moment he gets the big 3 boxes checked did biology first.

9th: biology (no biochem, etc) and alg 1

10th: chemistry and a combined alg 1/geometry text

11th: physics and alg 2

12th: probably finishing alg 2, and something like the physics of how stuff works

 

They are currently 9th and 10th grade though, so take our plans with some salt. :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

dd1

8th Alg 1 part 1/ Alg-based Physics

9th Alg 1 part 2 / Biology

10th Geometry / Chemistry

11th Alg 2 / AP Biology

12th PreCalc/ Trig-based Physics

 

dd2

8th Alg 1 / Alg-based Physics

9th Geometry / Biology

10th Alg 2 / Chemistry

11th PreCalc / AP Chemistry

12th Calculus / Calc-based Physics (prob at CC)

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

DS #1

Biology

Chemistry

AP Environmental Science

Physics

 

DS #2 (planned)

Physical Science

Chemistry

Biology

dual enrollment science- physics or geology or another biology maybe.

 

I know most on this board will not do physical science in 9th but it seems the appropriate placement for this kid.  He will likely dual enroll so he should be able to get in whatever sciences he needs even if he starts with physical.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8th: Algebra I, Algebra based Physics, Programming

Summer: Intro to Number Theory, Programming

9th: Algebra II, Chemistry, AP Stat (maybe)

Summer: Intro to Counting and Probability

10th: Geometry, Biology

Summer: Intermediate Number Theory

11th: Precalculus, ???

Summer: Intermediate Counting& Probability

12th: Calculus, ???

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Both of my kids kid an Integrated Physics & Chem in 8th grade then...

 

DS (currently in 11th)

9th: Biology

10th: Chemistry

11th: Forensic Science

12th: Advanced Chemistry

 

DD (currently in 9th so the last 2 years could still change)

9th: Biology; Athletic Training

10th: AP Biology; Chemistry

11th: Physics; Nutrition

12th: AP Chemistry; Anatomy & Physiology

 

ETA: ds took Algebra in 8th and 9th and will be taking pre-calc in 12th. Dd took Algebra in 8th and will continue through Pre-Calc, then take AP Stats in 12th.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is really helpful!  I see a variety of paths and learned a couple things (like I thought everyone did Biology in 9th, but lots of people take it later high school; I thought earth science was middle school, but I see there are classes that must qualify for high school credit, etc.) 

 

I need to give some thought to what the high school path will be so I can figure out what dd should do for next year (8th)........I'm torn between doing Earth Science (which I think she would enjoy) or Integrated Physics and Science (maybe BJU with DIVE) to help get her ready for high school classes (and she is doing LOF Elementary Physics this year in addition to other science- but maybe that would be a good transition to Integrated Physics or some sort of conceptual physics?

 

Still open to seeing other paths (or really any advice on science for 8th and suggested high school path)- this momma is having anxiety at the thought of homeschooling high school.  Science was NOT my subject- I got A's but had an engineer dad who helped me through Physics, etc.

 

Paula

Link to comment
Share on other sites

DD 1 / DD2:

8th: Physics/ Biology (prior to HS- Alg I, II, Geometry)

9th: Chemistry (PreCalc)

10th: AP Chemistry (Calc)

11th: AP Physics (Multivariable Calc)

12th: AP Biology (?)

 

DS 1:

7th: Physics  (Algebra II)

8th: Biology (Precalc)

9th: Chemistry (Calc)

10th: AP Physics  (Multivariable Calc)

11th/12th ?? University course work

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 non-STEM dds

 

dd 1

 

8th -   Physical Science (no credit)

9th -   Botany  (1cr)

10th - Oceanography (.5 cr)

10th - Earth Science (.5 cr)

11th - Biology (1 cr) planned

12th - Intro to Chemistry (.5) planned

12th - Advanced Botany (.5) planned

 

dd 2

 

8th -   Geology (.5)

9th -   Conceptual Physics or Physical Science (1 cr) planned

10th - Biology (1 cr) planned

11th - Chemistry (1 cr) planned

12th - Advanced Geology (1 cr) planned

12th - Advanced Biology (.5 cr) planned

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My older two (private schools)

 

9th biology

10th chemistry

11th AP physics C mechanics (ds), physics (dd)

12th AP Physics C E&M and AP Environmental (ds), AP Biology (dd)

 

Planned for dd

 

9th chemistry using Chang

10th git er done biology, geology or AP Environmental

11th AP Physics C (doing algebra-based physics in 8th)

12th courses at the university, would be geology and astronomy if based on current interests

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My daughter was one who did not take the sacred trio of Bio/Chem/Physics. Instead she followed this progression during high school --

 

9th: Physical Science

10th: Chemistry (Lab)

11th: G 101: Earth's Dynamic Interior (Lab)
11th: G 102 Earth's Dynamic Surface (Lab)
11th: G 146: Rocks and Minerals (Lab)

12th: ENVS 181: Terrestrial Science (Lab)

 

We allowed her to study the sciences that interested her at the community college in 11th and 12th grades (namely Geology and Environmental Science) rather than mandating that she study the more traditional Biology.  She went on to major in Latin and minor in Geology at the four year college she subsequently attended.

 

There are some colleges which do require the 'standard' three sciences -- Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. However, not all colleges do.

 

Regards,

Kareni

Link to comment
Share on other sites

DD:

Algebra based physics in 9th

chemistry in 10th

calc based physics in 11th

more physics in 12th :-)

 

 

May I ask you (or anyone else who posted that they did it) what curriculum or spine you used for the algebra based physics? And is that what is meant by conceptual physics, or is conceptual physics even less math?

 

I want my DD to take physics first. She will hopefully have completed most of the AoPS Intro to Algebra book by the start of 9th (she is in 8th now).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

May I ask you (or anyone else who posted that they did it) what curriculum or spine you used for the algebra based physics? And is that what is meant by conceptual physics, or is conceptual physics even less math?

 

I want my DD to take physics first. She will hopefully have completed most of the AoPS Intro to Algebra book by the start of 9th (she is in 8th now).

 

I believe Regentrude recommends Knight's College Physics. She generously shares her syllabus in this thread.

 

That would not be Conceptual Physics. CP would be less math.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Dd is my lit/writing girl
9th-Integrated Chem & Physics
10th-Biology
11th-Chemistry
12th-May do astronomy with some theoretical physics, which she is interested in

Ds is the more likely STEM student. I like BJU's science, so he might do their sequence from middle school and up.
6th-general
7th-life science
8th-earth
9th-physical (chem&phys)
10th-biology
11th-chemistry
12th-physics

 

Edited to add:

I've had some more time to think about this. I should say that I might switch the Chemistry and Biology and might add in Anatomy his senior year. He likes life science the most right now and may end up in a medical field. It's quite some time until we're there, so nothing is set in stone.

 

If I continue co-op, Apologia might be what is used. This would be the sequence if so. 

 

6th-General

7th-Physical

8th-Biology

9th-Chemistry

10th-Physics

11th-Anatomy

12th-Advanced Chemistry or an AP Biology

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My son's math and science sequence has been somewhat non-traditional.

 

He completed Algebra I, Geometry and honors Earth Science before 9th, and he'll be finishing high school in three years.

 

Year 1:

- Topics in Discrete Math (a course we pulled together using various resources)

- Science in Popular Culture (ditto)

 

Year 2:

- Algebra II

- Chemistry

 

Year 3:

- College Mathematics (dual enrollment)

- Physics

- Astronomy (dual enrollment)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oldest - did a business major in college:

 

9th Bio

10th Chem

11th Marine Bio

12th Phyics

 

All fairly "basic" classes.

 

Middle - headed toward a neuro or cognitive major and pre-med:

 

9th Bio

10th Chem

11th Microbio - college level - at cc, 1/2 of Advanced Chem, 1/2 of Advanced Bio

12th Physics, 1/2 of Advanced Chem, 1/2 of Advanced Bio, Anatomy I

 

His Advanced Bio was the equivalent of AP level.

 

Youngest - in ps, so options are based upon what they have - headed toward a Marine Bio/Science major:

 

9th Bio

10th Chem

11th Animal & Plant Science, Advanced Bio, Wildlife & Natural Resources

12th Anatomy I and Anatomy II & is a Teacher's Aid in the Advanced Bio class.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8th - Algebra 1 & General Science (he was still in public school)

9th - Algebra 1 & Earth Science 

10th - Geometry & Integrated Chem/Physics

11th - Consumer Math & Biology

12th - whatever he chooses

Link to comment
Share on other sites

DD18 [Currently a freshman molecular biology major]

8th: AP Environmental Sciences / Algebra I /Geometry (finished over summer)

9th: AP Biology / Algebra II & Trigonometry

10th: AP Chemistry/ Calculus AB/Research Methods/Independent Research*

11th: AP Physics*/Claculus BC/Calculus Based Statistics*/Microbiology*/Research*

12th:Differential Equations*/Genetics*/Physiology*/Research*

*Undertaken at our local 4 year college

 

DD14[Thinks she wants to be an attorney]

8th: Physics/Algebra I

9th: Biology/Geometry (currently completing)

10th: AP Environmental Sciences/ Algebra II & Trigonometry (planned)

Her junior and senior years are still quite uncharted. She will do chemistry in some form (she kind of thinks she wants the AP course so we're going to dabble with the Environmental Science course next year and see how she feels) and will do calculus at some point otherwise I'm not sure.  I do not expect her to do all of the science our oldest daughter did.  I also suspect she will do more internships (she is doing one in her dad's office currently) and has interest in a few that are more advocacy based (and also somewhat competitive so not usually awarded to 13 year olds)than independent research and that fits her much better.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Summer Intensive - Physical Science

9th - Biology

Summer Intensive - Marine Biology

10th - Chemistry

Summer Intensive - Geology

11th - Conceptual Physics

Summer Intensive - Meteorology

12th - Anatomy & Physiology

The summer intensives are DS's choice because he wants to be exposed to a variety of sciences and potentially major in Marine Biology. He has yet to decide if any of the classes will be AP.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...