RS4K, Noeo, and Apologia Biology...comparisons??

[5sweeties]

Hi! Well, we are definately doing Biology here next year, and I've narrowed to these 3 programs. Can anyone compare them for me? Which ones are easier to teach, more or less experiments, more information, more actual science, accuracy, etc?

 

TIA!

[5sweeties]

I'm using this for a 10yo, 8yo, 7yo and 6yo next year!

:)

[Beth in Central TX]

Apologia Biology is a 9th grade program. Is this the one you mean? It's really not on the same level as RS4K or Noeo...

[Melmc]

Since RS4K biology is only a 10 week course, I'm thinking of combining it with NOEO (or something else) to last the entire year since I want to follow the four year WTM science cycle. Then, I will have a 10 yo, 8 yo and 5 yo (who'll be tagging along. Will be first year of hs so take what I say with a grain of salt.) I just know I want to use RS4K. I really like what I've heard about it.

[Laura Corin]

Since RS4K biology is only a 10 week course, I'm thinking of combining it with NOEO (or something else) to last the entire year since I want to follow the four year WTM science cycle. Then, I will have a 10 yo, 8 yo and 5 yo (who'll be tagging along. Will be first year of hs so take what I say with a grain of salt.) I just know I want to use RS4K. I really like what I've heard about it.

 

Chapter 1 is very simple taxonomy, the chapter 2 is quite in-depth microscopic cell work. Chapter 3 takes you back to a simpler level for photosynthesis. After that, you drop to a lower level again, for chapters 4 through 5: parts of a plant and how a plant grows. Then you are back up to the serious microscopic level again for chapter 6 and 7 about protists. Finally, you drop way back down for the last three chapters: life cycles of frogs, butterflies, then ecosystems/water cycle.

 

I plan on doing the simple areas with my 3rd grader next year - he would actually be fine doing them in 2nd grade this year - then putting aside the rest of the course until he is in 4th or 5th (depending on his ability to deal with abstraction).

 

Best wishes

 

Laura

[5sweeties]

Oops, not, sorry, I meant one of the zoology or botany courses with Apologia.

 

RS4K is only a ten week course??? I knew that it was only 10 chapters, but I was thinking that they were meant to be covered in longer than a week each? No?

[KIN]

I'm planning to use RS4K pre-level 1 chemistry and just do science 1x a week to last 20 weeks. It looks really good! Not biology, but thought you might want to know how to make it last a bit longer!

[Beth in Central TX]

I'm using the Elementary Apologia series with my sons. I really like the approach. The books are well written and interesting. The experiments are easy to do and don't require much preparation or unusual supplies. The lesson plans incorporate notebook assignments, and I've been able to get quizzes from the Yahoo! group for my older boys. Here's a website with specific information on all of the books in the series: http://www.jeanniefulbright.com/home.html

 

I think the easiest one to start with is Astronomy followed by Botany, Zoology I, and Zoology II.

 

HTH!

[5sweeties]

We are actually using the Astronomy one this year, and really do like it. I was just wondering about other publishers for life sciences. I would do it in the same order that you are saying, if I would continue with Apologia.