Physics or chem for a kid with mechanical gifts, but really low math?

[Dmmetler]

I have a teen friend who has dyscalculia, and who's math skills are barely on a 5th grade level with a calculator. She is also really, really good with her hands and good at watching a youtube video and doing things like home plumbing repairs, rebuilding an iPhone, car repairs, and so on. She wants to go to art school.

 

 She's had what is essentially two years of biology so far-one focused on plants, the other on animals, where she's had the general bio content plus a lot of additional stuff, which worked because she didn't need to use math much at all.

 

She needs at least one, if not two, more high school science classes (one would be the minimum, since officially 3 years of science is what the cover school requires to graduate, two would be better for college admissions purposes), and physics seems like it may be easier to manage at a conceptual level while still giving some depth due to her mechanical strengths over chem, but I'd welcome suggestions there as well.

[Amateur Actress]

Guest Hollow has a new, inexpensive, high school Chemistry curriculum with low/no math.

 

http://www.guesthollow.com/homeschool/science/chemistry_highschool/chemistry_home.html

[merylvdm]

I saw your question and immediately thought Chemistry would be a better fit as the math for that is usually simpler than Physics. Physics you really use a LOT of math for. The Guest Hollow suggestion above sounds like  a good idea. For the 4th year she could do Environment Science or Engineering (which could be very hands on)

[foxbridgeacademy]

She could do Hewitts Conceptual Physics and skip the harder Math.  Also it might help her to assign real life to the numbers and most of Physics is formulas that can be written down and used as a "cheat sheet" when doing assignments.  I'm a proponent of Physics (or Physical Science) first, it just makes sense to me.  Other options would be Environmental Science,  Earth Science, ICP, Oceanography, Geology, etc... 

[foxbridgeacademy]

Another thought, Power Basics has both a Chemistry and a Physics course and the math in both is minimal.

[Dmmetler]

Ok-I'll pass it on!

[KarenNC]

The Hewitt has a ton of resources and self-study classes at www.conceptualacademy.com. Suchocki's Conceptual Chemistry is there as well. I strongly considered these for my non-math-oriented kid.

 

You could also check out "How Things Work" by Louis Bloomfield from UVA as a possible physics class. A portion of it is available on Coursera starting Aug. 29. https://www.coursera.org/learn/how-things-work. Even if you just accessed the videos from this class, he gives very nice explanations using everyday objects and situations.

 

[katilac]

I would consider a stronger course on a different topic. I think the interest-led, hands-on stuff she does is likely to teach her more than a watered down physics course, and she could achieve a lot more in a solid course in something that is less math based. 

 

Geology comes to mind, possibly bc that is what younger dd is studying this year  :laugh:

 

Forensic science is interesting to most teens, and would give her the chance to explore many different forms of science. It could definitely have conceptual physics and conceptual science components, and she could build on her biology knowledge in a more applied manner. 

 

Both geology and forensic science have the potential for a great deal of hands-on work. 

 

When a student has a profound weakness in a certain area. I tend to want to go off the beaten path and find a solid and interesting substitute that builds on their strengths, rather than trying to plow through the standard sequence. In most cases, I feel like they wind up learning a lot more that way, and it makes for no weaker a transcript than conceptual physics and such. 

[Mike in SA]

There's also a Conceptual Chemistry (Shuchocki).  It's pretty good as an intro course, almost on par with Hewitt's Conceptual Physics.

 

Neither require math strengths.

[Lanny]

With the "Math skills" you described, I think she would have an easier time with Chem.  Physics would be tougher sledding for her.  GL to her!