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Apologia – General Science
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My will be 7th grader is going to be doing this book. (I think
) He’s liked the other Apologia books and I think just sticking with it will be good for him. I have been told it’s a bit different but yet the same.Would someone who’s used these say the same? Also, would I need to buy the “kit” or any other extras or would the book be enough? (moneys tight and I’m hoping the reading would be enough) Thanks Misty
They are the same in that they’re written to the student, conversationally. Since they are written for older students, they are different in level of difficulty. Our twelve year old loves them, but he is a science nut. He’s already reading through their biology book for fun.
You can survive without the kit. We like the multimedia cd-rom. It shows some good experiments that would be impossible to perform at home. You can survive without it also, but it does enhance the program. There is a link to lab supply on this page, follow the “Lab list by module” link:
https://apologia.securesites.net/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2
Most items can be found at home. The lab kit is for the sake of convenience. If you didn’t do some experiments because you didn’t have the items, life would go on. But it does enhance understanding.
Gaeleen
Thanks – would you say if your child is not an “experiment” type of person that getting the CD-rom might be a good way of showing things with out doing things per say? Does that make sense? My kid isn’t a do it guy but he’s be more than willing to watch someone do it and that just might get him going? Then my question is the CD-rom worth the cost? (which I will look at in 2 seconds)
One more things (sorry) did you get the questions/test book? I’m wondering if this might be nice being I have many children and just to randomly pick a chapter to have a test on to make sure he’s getting it. As, I’m terrible in science and I will not have the time (or desire) to read the book first.
We did get the qurstions/test book. I like to know their retention levels also. Our son does them all, at his option. He finds it useful to gauge his retention/understanding.
The cd rom wouldn’t help with the simple experiments that are meant to be done at home – it is meant to illustrate some of the more difficult concepts and difficult experiments that could not be done at home – eg gravity in a vacuum (where there is no air), and a penny and feather fall at the same rate.
The text alone does explain the experiments – what to use, what to do, and the results, but actually doing them is more memorable. They are quite simple, and fun.
My DD, 13, is ‘just reading’ General Science. Our plan is that she do more experiments/book work once she gets to Physical Science. She comes to me and talks (narrates) about it, so I guess she’s doing fine. We don’t do the multimedia CD or tests/solutions thing-y at all. Just reading. *She also listens in on the younger kids Science (Usborne: Air, Kitchen, etc), and does some Nature Study.
Jumping in here — I have a question about the general science. It looks to me as if it’s recommended to start that in 7th grade. My ds will be in 7th next year, but we haven’t done Anatomy yet and I’d like to. I was hoping to do it with most of my children next year. What are some advantages to starting it in 7th instead of 8th grade? Will that mess him up later on?
We are almost finished with this year’s science and I was thinking of doing Botany over the spring and summer months and then doing Anatomy and beginning him in General Science in 8th grade. Would it be better to skip Botany and fit in Anatomy instead?
Opinions apprciated! Thanks!
Hi Jean,
I think it depends on what you have already covered/what you would like to cover.
Have you seen the Table of Contents for General Science? It will give you a good idea of what would be new material for your son. There is a link from this page:
https://apologia.securesites.net/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=2
They also give some guidelines for choosing here:
http://www.apologia.com/courses.php
I might be able to suggest more if you share what you have covered for science already, and what the long term goals are (just basic study, or study for possible university entrance and in what field).
Gaeleen
Misty, one idea for watching experiments are Sonlight’s Discover & Do dvd’s.
http://www.sonlight.com/SS07.html
I’m not sure how or if they would match up with any in General science, but as a general resource they are good, especially for elementary ages. I picked some up pretty cheap on homeschoolclassifieds.
http://www.homeschoolclassifieds.com/default.asp
For General Science we did as bailymom, reading & narrating – with a few of the labs thrown in (if we had items on hand or were of particular interest) Now, ds has worked himself up to Biology and doing it, as is, with the study modules, tests & labs since he’s college bound. Jean, I think it would be fine to wait until 8th to begin, since Apologia’s yearly scheudle is ahead of the game. Ex: Most schools & other homeschool curriculum do not start Biology until 10th grade, while Apologia starts in 9th.
) He’s liked the other Apologia books and I think just sticking with it will be good for him. I have been told it’s a bit different but yet the same.
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