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High School Chemistry
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I’m trying to narrow down the chemistry “spine” for next year. The three options are:
Apologia with MicroChem set
Friendly Chemistry…probably with the MicroChem set as well
Spectrum from Beginning Publishing with their lab set
With these they will watch Chemistry 101 videos, the periodic table videos from the University of Nottingham, and read some living books.
They are college bound but not sure if they’ll go into a science career. I want them prepared enough that they can if that’s what they decide. I’m looking for engaging, interesting, clear and understandable. I’d also like it to be mostly self-led, but I’m totally willing to jump in and help.
Thoughts? And did I miss a good spine program I should be looking at?
fwiw…these are the living (mostly) books we’ll be adding on the side. Let me know if I missed any good ones! –
Molecules – Theodore Gray
The Elements – Theodore Gray
Crucibles: Story of Chemistry – Bernard Jaffe (biographies)
The Elements: Ingredients of the Universe – Ellen McHenry
World of Chemistry – John Hudson Tiner
Mauve: How One Man Invented a Color That Changed the World – Simon Garfield
Napoleon’s Buttons – Penny Le Couteur
Disappearing Spoon – Sam Kean
The Story of Salt – Mark Kurlansky
Mystery of the Periodic Table – Benjamin Wiker
Chemistry: Getting a Big Reaction – Simon Basher
Periodic Table: Elements With Style – Simon Basher
Complete Periodic Table: All the Elements with Style – Simon Basher
That’s the Way the Cookie Crumbles – Joe Schwarcz (he has several other books if they like this)
Itch: The Explosive Adventures of an Element Hunter – Simon Mayo
Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments – Robert Bruce Thompson
Integrated Physics & Chemistry – John Hudson Tiner (PAC)….maybe, just for fun
I have been trying to read ahead of my high school student for next year and The Disappearing Spoon is/was on his list. I think it was Jawgee who shared her experience with this book. She mentioned that it had some “language” that was questionable and her daughter decided not to finish it. I have read a smidgen into it and I have to agree. If you don’t have the book, I can let you know what is in the book that you may, or may not, want for your child. I think the author uses some of the words for comparison and probably has his reasons for them (he is the author :), but I think there are plenty of other words in the English language to choose from:(
Just a head’s up. I plan to leave it out of my son’s list, for now, as there are many other books to read.
I have The Joy of Chemistry, as well. Not sure of the author, but it looks good.
I got my ideas from Barb Harmony’s site and we’ll add in labs with a home school class throughout the year.
The first part of The Joy of Chemistry is good. The second part is full of evolution, which is why we don’t recommend it on our curriculum guide.
I’m also planning HS chem for my oldest for next year. He loves Life of Fred so we are going to use their chem book as the spine. Here is the list of living books I am collecting so far:
Periodic kingdom
joy of chemistry
wonderbook of chemistry (fabre)
Elements of faith
chemical history of a candle
six easy pieces
thats the way the cookie crumbles
bonus: molecules of murderI am making a note of your list. There is so much to look at now; I don’t know how I’ll choose!
What are the chemistry 101 videos? I was also thinking if adding a video component. I looked at a great courses series but it was way too slow. I was also looking at Khan academy videos.
Nebby
Have you looked at the Chemistry/Biology 101 DVDs? These are on my list! http://www.the101series.com/chem/
ETA: Nevermind, I just saw it on your list! lol
We are reading The Elements by Theodore Gray and it is a beautiful book with engaging text. My non-science loving daughter really likes this book!
We are also planning on reading The Wonder Book of Chemistry by Fabre this upcoming year. My daughter is going into 8th grade.
My friend used Spectrum Chemistry and she liked it.
My son worked through the Apologia book and we bought the chemistry lab set that went a long with it. It wasn’t a good fit for him but it is a great textbook, as far as textbooks go.
I looked at Friendly Chemistry as well. It looks like it would be a lot of fun with a co-op. Many people don’t seem to think it’s rigorous enough for highschool chemistry. However, since you are beefing it up with living books and a chemistry set, that may take care of the problem. It does look very doable.
Just a couple of notes I have jotted down for Chemistry….
The Apologia Chemistry course changed between edition 2 and edition 3. Edition 1 and 2 were written by Dr. Wile. Edition 3 is a total rewrite by another author – and there seems to be a number of problems with it.
Dr. Wile is writing a new high-school Chemistry course which is due out this fall.
http://blog.drwile.com/?p=12871
http://blog.drwile.com/?p=13366
Our dd loved Chemistry 101! I thought it was a great introduction to chemistry, but needs supplementation for a complete high school chemistry course. Here is a couple of posts on what we ended up using and how I arrived at these decisions…
http://reflectionsfromdrywoodcreek.blogspot.com/2012/10/chemistry-complications.html
http://reflectionsfromdrywoodcreek.blogspot.com/2012/11/chemistry-ever-lasting.html
She was also very intrigued by Napoleon’s Buttons. I created a sheet to go with the book. You can find it here….
http://reflectionsfromdrywoodcreek.blogspot.com/2012/10/try-and-try-again.html
Blessings,
Melissa
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