1 semester science recommendations...

[Heather in VA]

I am looking ahead to next semester and need to make a decision on science. We are currently doing a semester on Anatomy using Quarks Chronicles, her extra recommended books, and a Moving Beyond the Page guide. It's going very well. Next year, for 8th grade, we will do Physics/Chem/Physical Science. But I need something for next semester. We've done a lot of biology and life science so I'm thinking something else. I don't think there will be any new Quarks books available by the time we'd need them.

 

Thoughts on tops and/or curriculum?

 

Thanks

[regentrude]

I would ask my student what she wants to study. Then get resources for this topic.

[Aurelia]

If you're OK with Catholic schools, Homeschool Connections has a spaceflight operations science class where the students are virtual astronauts. I keep drooling over it for my DD.

 

From the site:

Course description: This course is a jam-packed assortment of space-related sciences taught by a former NASA Space Shuttle Engineer. The variety of topics covered in this course could each be courses in themselves. The approach taken here is to present some very interesting aspects of the subjects in a way that doesn’t over-simplify the topics. Recognizing that homeschool students are exceptionally bright and are capable of understanding the fundamentals of complex subjects and researching additional material, the course material will be presented in a manner that captivates the child’s attention, makes them more aware of the depth of knowledge still to be gained, and then shows them how to learn more by providing a plethora of resources that the child will explore on their own and with the collaboration of fellow students. Class discussions will also be peppered with these subjects/topics:

• Material science – why certain materials are used and why some are not

• Circuits and electronics

• Sensors and other instrumentation

• Sun science: Sunspots, radiation, solar wind, solar flares, Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), and how “space weather†affects the Earth.

• Earth observation science: Meteorology, Infrared, satellite imagery

• OSS: Traveling from the Earth to the Moon and back  

• Use of computers and software in spacecraft, especially during long-distance trips

• Work stories, lessons learned, and other valuable real-world advice

• The importance of public speaking skills

[Reefgazer]

Options to run by your student: McHenry's Botany, Carbon Chemistry, Cells, supplemented with lab exercises.