bjh97 Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 I'm working with my youngest son (15) on planning his next year's science course. We're nearly done with the Apologia Biology, and plan to start the next science right after (probably before end of spring). We school year round because we have to take off throughout the year for various hockey travel and robotics competitions, plus it's just too darn hot in the summer to do much else sometimes 🙂 . I know traditionally, they suggest Chemistry next. He does not want to take chemistry at all. He's not done with Alg 1 yet, but should be or pretty close by the time we finish Bio.... but he's not a fan of math (although better at it than he cares to admit). Chemistry would probably just frustrate him to no end. He has no intention of being any sort of science major...he's made that quite clear. (Usually followed up with a "sorry mom...I know you were a Bio major." haha). He wants to go more towards History/Education for a future career path. That's what interests him, and anything hockey related. Back to the science planning though....he's more interested in taking the Apologia Adv. Bio (Human Anatomy) course, than a Physical Science class (which we hadn't done in middle or high school...just General Science and then regular Bio). My question though is how much chemistry is truly involved in the Apologia Adv Bio course? I know it will come up here and there. But are a lot of elements in which not having taken a Chemistry year will make it impossible or difficult for him? Or is it enough that he could supplement and make up for it...if a concept comes up he isn't familiar with, we stop to look it up and learn it. My son is pretty smart (if he applies himself), and could easily pick up a concept even if he just has to side-step here and there to do so throughout the course. And with my science background, I know we could easily do that....I just don't know how MUCH we'd have to do that with this course. If you or your child has first-hand experience with that particular course with Apologia, can you let me know how heavy the chemistry was in it? Would it be a big struggle or is it just in certain concepts? Looking at the Table of Contents and samples, it's hard for me to tell. I haven't gone to the resale shop to look over the book yet, but that' might be my next step too. I'd much rather find a course he's INTERESTED IN, than force him to do something he has no desire or interest in and then we just struggle or fight over it all year long. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SebastianCat Posted March 11, 2019 Share Posted March 11, 2019 I haven't had a child take this course, but I am currently teaching Apologia Biology at a co-op and purchased the Advanced Biology book to look through when I was deciding what to teach next year. I decided that it had too much chemistry for my students to handle, so I will be teaching Chemistry next year, and will consider teaching Advanced Biology the following year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
almondbutterandjelly Posted March 12, 2019 Share Posted March 12, 2019 There's a lot of talk of ions and things moving into and out of cells. You could probably get away without having had chemistry if you were prepared to cover stuff he hadn't seen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerryAtHope Posted March 13, 2019 Share Posted March 13, 2019 Might he be interested in Marine Biology instead? That one doesn't have chemistry as a pre-requisite. Here's a PDF file of the science and math pre-req's for all of Apologia's courses. I've found their list to be accurate. It's not that your son couldn't get *something* out of Advanced Bio without chem first, but he'd probably miss a lot too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bjh97 Posted March 14, 2019 Author Share Posted March 14, 2019 Thanks all for the advice. I think the Apologia Adv Biology probably isn't the best idea. I'll ask him about Marine Biology, but after looking at the TOC, it seems like a lot of repeat of what we are just finishing. I also found PAC has a Chemistry course that isn't as focused on the math side of things as the science side of it, and still counts as 1 credit. We have a homeschool book store in the area that has lots of used curriculum. I'm going to head over their next week to try to look at things in person and compare. Thanks!! It was a big help. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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