kRenee Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 She is bright, motivated and wants to work in marine biology. She worked through PH science explorer physical science (3 books) this year. I know many people think it is wise to do a higher level physical science before going into biology, but my dd doesn't want to do that. In your opinion, is it too much of a stretch to jump into biology? DD is young, 12 soon to be 13. Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle in AL Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 Is Miller and Levine high school level, AP or college? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyinNNV Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 She is bright, motivated and wants to work in marine biology. She worked through PH science explorer physical science (3 books) this year. I know many people think it is wise to do a higher level physical science before going into biology, but my dd doesn't want to do that. In your opinion, is it too much of a stretch to jump into biology? DD is young, 12 soon to be 13. Karen Miller/Levine is a challenging high school level text. We are on the second to last unit-vertebrates. We've done the entire book and it has been challenging. Your dd is going to be extremely stretched by the units which require knowledge of chemistry. The genetics chapters will also be tough. IMHO your dd will get far more out of the book if she is a year older and has had more chemistry. If she is truly advanced, I'd suggest doing PH's 9th Grade physical science book. Holly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloridaLisa Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 Miller/Levine is a challenging high school level text. We are on the second to last unit-vertebrates. We've done the entire book and it has been challenging. Your dd is going to be extremely stretched by the units which require knowledge of chemistry. The genetics chapters will also be tough. IMHO your dd will get far more out of the book if she is a year older and has had more chemistry. If she is truly advanced, I'd suggest doing PH's 9th Grade physical science book.Holly :iagree: If you are aiming for AP level, it is tough. My ds loves everything biology and had taken high school level biology and chemistry. He did well in the class and on the exam, but it was a lot of work. And I was surprised at the amount of chemistry required. Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyinNNV Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 :iagree: If you are aiming for AP level, it is tough. My ds loves everything biology and had taken high school level biology and chemistry. He did well in the class and on the exam, but it was a lot of work. And I was surprised at the amount of chemistry required. Lisa And for the record-we are not doing this course as an AP class. Holly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kRenee Posted April 13, 2009 Author Share Posted April 13, 2009 Thanks, that's what I needed to know. We aren't going for AP since she plans on taking Bio at the CC later. Are you doing a lab component with Miller/Levine? Which one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyinNNV Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 Thanks, that's what I needed to know. We aren't going for AP since she plans on taking Bio at the CC later. Are you doing a lab component with Miller/Levine? Which one? We are using the PH lab and the advanced dissection kit from home training tools (the one with the pig). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maura in NY Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 My ds did the Miller/Levine in 9th grade, without any chemistry other than what he picked up from Concepts & Challenges Physical Science (similar to the PH Science Explorer stuff, but older). He doesn't *love* science like my younger one does, but he did make his way through this and scored a 740 on the SAT II in biology. I think a younger child who is science-oriented and motivated child would do fine. It is a TON of material, and you might decide to spread it over more than a year for a younger child. We used the Study Guide and the some PH labs, along with other labs that I picked up (mostly from biologyjunction.com - a teacher's site with many cool resource for biology throught the AP level). Maura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieW in Texas Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 My oldest dd went from PH Science Explorer to the Miller/Levine book in 9th grade. I thought it was an enormous leap. I had a difficult time following the text - and I have an MS in physics. I tried to convince my dd to switch to another program, but she wanted to just finish what she had and didn't care whether she understood it or not (science is NOT her thing). I sold it as soon as my dd was done with it. My middle dd is a science nut. She has thoroughly enjoyed the Science Explorer series. We're going to try Holt Biology next year for 9th grade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kRenee Posted April 16, 2009 Author Share Posted April 16, 2009 Would you all consider the Miller/Levine biology to be comparable to community college level, or is it just advanced high school level? Angie, you have not had you dd's do a physical science text before going into biology. Have you found the science explorer chemistry to have been enough preparation? Or are you able to help them understand because of your background. I don't have a science background so I need to make sure dd is fully prepared for each level I give her. Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieW in Texas Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 The chemistry in Science Explorer wasn't enough preparation for Miller/Levine. I don't know whether it would be advanced high school or college level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyinNNV Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 According to the dads in my co-op, (who have life science degrees) PH Bio is not college level. If you do the entire book, it is advanced high school biology-not AP. All of the students that took biology through our co-op also took BJU Physical Science the previous year. Taking physical science before biology was a big help! BJU Physical Science is considered a 9th grade course. However, PH Science Explorer, Physical Science is considered a middle school course. I'm not sure if the publisher actually puts a grade on it or if it is multi-grade: 6-8th. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kRenee Posted April 18, 2009 Author Share Posted April 18, 2009 The chemistry in Science Explorer wasn't enough preparation for Miller/Levine. Angie, I'm sorry I wasn't clear. Your second dd is going from Science Explorer into Holt Biology. Do you feel that there is enough chemistry in Science Explorer to prepare for Holt Biology without using a physical science text in between? Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieW in Texas Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 While it does have quite a bit of chemistry at the beginning, I think my dd will do fine with Holt Biology. It isn't nearly as intense as Prentice Hall, but is still thorough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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