Physical Science Recommendations

[mamato4girls]

Tell me your favorites, and not so favorites, please. I have seen the Apologia PS book, and was not thrilled with it. May have just been because I am more a biology person. :)

[MyThreeSons]

Tell me your favorites, and not so favorites, please. I have seen the Apologia PS book, and was not thrilled with it. May have just been because I am more a biology person. :)


Well, I'm a Physics person, and I really don't care for the Apologia Physical Science text. I think it spends way too much time talking about weather, atmosphere, etc. and not nearly enough time on the fun stuff. I had forgotten how much my oldest ds struggled with it and signed up middle ds for a co-op class which used it.

I won't even attempt to use Apologia's PS with my youngest ds. I like what I see from the Table of Contents of BJUP's Physical Science text. I hope to get my hands on a copy to check out.

[Michelle in GA]

We used the BJU DVD course and really enjoyed it! Mr. Harmon teaches the course and he is wonderful. Highly recommended!

[Kareni]

My husband teaches out of Hewitt's Conceptual Physical Science. (This is the same Hewitt who is frequently mentioned regarding his Conceptual Physics book.) My teen took this class (along with a group of other students) in 9th grade.

Regards,
Kareni

[Ashkraw]

We use the Apologia.. General Science and Physical Science. She loves it. However, she is a science lover.

[debbiec]

Having taught with Apologia only in a tutorial program, (and doing a lot of supplementing) it depends on what you want. I personally really like the Bob Jones, it's more "standard" as far as scope. Apologia covers different subjects, though some topics are intergrated in the weather sections as well. Bob Jones is more stright forward but requires more parent support it seems, from the resources they offer. Apologia, for the price, does all the teaching mostly for you (no Teacher's Edition). Many say that the Apolgia coveres less, but goes deeper on the "less."

So, I guess it's a preference and it depends on your goals for that child. I use the Apologia I teach because it was chosen by the board, the kids can work very independently throughout the week with it. However, I have had several students who made the transition to public school for 9th, and were not able to pass the state End of Course exam for credit, based on the state requirements. If they had been using Bob Jones, it would not have been a problem. I also have tutored several kids for Physical Science over the summer in the Chemistry areas not covered by Apologia, just to pass the state exam for public school transitions. Due to this fact, I am beginning to teach an Intro to Chemistry class at our co-op for 7th graders (one semster) so give them that one semester of chem they don't get with Apologia for Physical Science. That way, they come in with that under their belt. But, effective this fall for incoming 9th graders, PS in our state is no longer can be counted for a high school science, and most umbrellas are keeping the state standards. So, this issue will mostly be mute now in TN :)

If you have no plans to attend public school, it really will be a personal preference for you. I personally like the more traditional scope of Bob Jones, but without some support, it will require more from the parent in some cases, depending on your own strengths. Like most choices, it's not only the strenghts/weaknesses of the child you have to base decisions like this on, but your own as well, unless of course, you participate with a class.

Just my two cents. Apologia is fine, especially for the non science kid (for PS). Most of the science teachers I know who have used Apologia for PS and Boilogy, consider it kind of easy science and not up to most programs.

All, that to add, I'm using Apologia with my own high schooler and doing a LOT of supplementing due to the easiness of the use of the text.

[mamato4girls]

Thank you, I had planned on skipping PS and doing Biology, but I just found out last night our state has changed their requirements, for public school- and I want to cover my bases just in case- and are requiring physical science for 8th or 9th high school credit. I also heard the student will do better in bio and chem having had phys sc first.
I have heard good things about the BJU and Abeka.

[mcconnellboys]

I just bought CPO sciences this year and really like the look of them. I still won't use them as my complete program, but I think they make a good part of a program.

[mamato4girls]

I just bought CPO sciences this year and really like the look of them. I still won't use them as my complete program, but I think they make a good part of a program.
What is CPO? :confused:

[Orthodox6]

One son used BJUP, which was "dry as dust". In time for next son, we discovered
http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PSZ16f&PMDBSUBCATEGORYID=&PMDBSITEID=2781&PMDBSUBSOLUTIONID=&PMDBSOLUTIONID=6724&PMDBSUBJECTAREAID=&PMDBCATEGORYID=814&PMDbProgramId=22950

I don't know if we even would consider anything else after using this textbook !
Website support access has increased to $30 for a one-year subscription, but still is very well worth even that price.

[Momto2Ns]

One son used BJUP, which was "dry as dust". In time for next son, we discovered
http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PSZ16f&PMDBSUBCATEGORYID=&PMDBSITEID=2781&PMDBSUBSOLUTIONID=&PMDBSOLUTIONID=6724&PMDBSUBJECTAREAID=&PMDBCATEGORYID=814&PMDbProgramId=22950

I don't know if we even would consider anything else after using this textbook !
Website support access has increased to $30 for a one-year subscription, but still is very well worth even that price.

So does this book include labs? I am using BJU sciences but would like to switch at the high school level to something secular. I have considered this one for Physical Science. What I like about BJU is that everything is put together so clearly for me as the teacher. I have a science degree, I feel comfortable teaching science, but I do need good materials that are interesting and keep me doing fun things.

[Orthodox6]

http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PSZ16f&PMDBSUBCATEGORYID=&PMDBSITEID=2781&PMDBSUBSOLUTIONID=&PMDBSOLUTIONID=6724&PMDBSUBJECTAREAID=&PMDBCATEGORYID=814&PMDbProgramID=22950

You can fill out a "pop up" form to learn pricing for a homeschool teacher.

The various program components are listed on that web page. (labs, yes)

I often caught my husband reading this book "for fun". He wished that he would have had so good book in 9th grade !

[mcconnellboys]

Here's one link:

http://dev.cpo.com/home/Default.aspx?alias=dev.cpo.com/home/2

[bclerkin]

We like Apologia Sciences, especially for non-science minds.

[Starr]

We used Hewitt's Conceptual Physics for 9th grade. I believe the college one. My dd, not a science lover, did very well and enjoyed it more than she anticipated.

[Kathy in MD]

What is CPO? :confused:

It's CPO Science, http://cpo.com. CPO specializes in the physical sciences. I've used two of their 3 middle school texts and love them. They teach the basics before jumping into more complex issues, and tie other sciences into the one being studied. Their definitions and graphics are clear and easy to understand. For middle school, they don't overwhelm the student with excessive info. They determine what is needed and focus on that. However the last few chapters may seem stuck on as they're trying to meet CA requirements. But it's still well done.

I have't seen the high school texts yet.