Integrated Physics & Chemistry

Thanks, Des. My son has been using Apologia Science for the past few years. What peaked my interest with this however, was CM advocate, Karen Andreola giving a wonderful review of Integrated Physics and Chemistry on her website:

I stumbled upon something, quite by accident. The author of some Sower Series biographies we had read, as well as Exploring the History of Medicine, is the writer of the science course my high school student is following (though the writer’s name does not appear on the cover.) Now I understand why this course has more of a biographical style than other science texts. John Hudson Tiner’s ardent admiration of the lives of great men of science spills over into these lessons. Like a master storyteller he unravels the mystery about the development of the periodic table of elements as well as the laws of physics. In bite-sized narratives his stories unravel and little by little, these normally complex subjects begin to make sense. One discovery in science becomes a foundation upon which new discoveries are made.There is no need to be intimated by physics and chemistry anymore – not with lessons like these that are so intriguing. John Tiner’s lessons are filled with facts presented from the firm footing of a Biblical Base. Although lessons are interesting, this doesn’t mean to say the course is “a piece of cake.” Studious attention is required but it will be more pleasingly given.Four volumes together supply 180 lessons. With weekly quizzes and tests this means your student would be expected to do science everyday (and then some) unless you carry the course over to the following year as we plan to do—with no qualms. Cramming has no place in our homeschool. We make all courses be our servants—not the other way ’round. The profit that comes from doing one’s best while taking one’s time is far greater.

My first question is, do you feel this could be considered 2 Highschool credits if labs are added?

Also do you think the student activity books could be replaced with written narrations? I’m assuming this is one of the things you meant by it not being CM Style. Have your older students enjoyed the workbooks?

We’ve enjoyed John Hudson Tiners other writings, so assumed this might follow suit. You mentioned adding a biography or two, however from the looks of the course (on CBS) it looks as though there is already much biographical content. Is this right? This is one of the things that seemed to set this course apart from say Apologia.

I think my son & I are just looking for something a little more “LIVING”(as far as highschool goes) and this seemed a bit more so than Apologia – however I may be completely wrong.  My son does want to go into engineering, so I also want to be sure the bases are covered incase he’s college bound. 

I appreciate your input :).

Heather