Alternative to Apologia Science for Senior High Students

[mrs. logic]

A member of the homeschooling group I facilitate asked the following questions at our last meeting, "Is there an alternative to the Apologia High School Science curriculum? Is there a "non sectarian" curriculum which teaches the basics of high school science you would recommmend?"
Since we are not home educating at the high school level I thought I would post the question here.
Please feel free to share your curriculum alternatives.
Thank you!
:)

[Amy in TX]

I'm considering Singapore Science for 10th grade biology: http://www.singaporemath.com/Science_Matters_s/128.htm

But I'd love to know of some more secular high science alternatives, too. :)

[StephanieZ]

:lurk5:

[Jodi-FL]

we are using this textbook:

http://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Concepts-Problems-Self-Teaching-Guides/dp/0471121207/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263520329&sr=8-1

along with an experiment book that i had gotten used. we've used apologia for other kids of ours, but for this student we needed something different.

it's tough, and (to me) seems to move fast, but it's getting the job done.

[Thea]

I am using Kolbe's Science (http://www.kolbe.org/science_curriculum/) for high school. Kolbe is a Catholic school, but utilizes secular science books as their spine. The religious instruction uses other resources which you don't have to purchase. They have a schedule (honors and cp) available and tests/answer keys as well. I've been VERY happy with the Biology text and materials that my 10th grader is using.

[goin4thewyn]

http://www.scienceforhighschool.com/biosamples.shtml has always looked interesting as an alternative.

or www.walch.com (http://www.walch.com)
Check out "Top Shelf Biology" and/or Real Life Biology

Walch also has several fun supplements: Science Daily Warm Ups, quiz shows, etc.

[Hoggirl]

I am using Kolbe's Science (http://www.kolbe.org/science_curriculum/) for high school. Kolbe is a Catholic school, but utilizes secular science books as their spine. The religious instruction uses other resources which you don't have to purchase. They have a schedule (honors and cp) available and tests/answer keys as well. I've been VERY happy with the Biology text and materials that my 10th grader is using.

Are you a science oriented person? I just wondered how much support existed for this. I am NOT sciencey at all, and feared we would be totally lost trying this. Obviously, a key is helpful, but I wondered how well concepts were explained. Though wordy, this seems to be a big plus of Apologia to me.

[8FillTheHeart]

Are you a science oriented person? I just wondered how much support existed for this. I am NOT sciencey at all, and feared we would be totally lost trying this. Obviously, a key is helpful, but I wondered how well concepts were explained. Though wordy, this seems to be a big plus of Apologia to me.

My 10th grader is using Kolbe's chemistry course this yr w/o any difficulty (and she is not a "sciency" kid). It has been good choice for her.

For the OP, I do not like Apologia, so some other options that I like are:
Kinetic physics (has both alg 2 based physics and an AP cal based course)
Spectrum chemistry
Campbell biology
Abeka biology (is Christian based but more thorough than Apologia bio)

PA homeschoolers offers AP chemistry and biology online. (I don't know anything about these personally, so I don't know how good they are.)
http://www.aphomeschoolers.com/

[mrs. logic]

Are you a science oriented person? I just wondered how much support existed for this. I am NOT sciencey at all, and feared we would be totally lost trying this. Obviously, a key is helpful, but I wondered how well concepts were explained. Though wordy, this seems to be a big plus of Apologia to me.
Dh and I both have employment backgrounds which are heavily based on science.
The mother who asked the question is not a "sciencey" person.
Thank you to all who have responded so far to my thread!

[Heather in VA]

DIVE science dvds have a syllabus for several different textbooks including BJU and a few different secular texts.

Heather

[Catherine]

For my next high schooler, I'll probably try to do science at home for ninth grade. Tenth through twelthe he'll go to community college. I can't handle lab science at home again! It is just too difficult for me.

I discovered the names of college texts by scanning the online booklists for our community college.

[Thea]

Are you a science oriented person? I just wondered how much support existed for this. I am NOT sciencey at all, and feared we would be totally lost trying this. Obviously, a key is helpful, but I wondered how well concepts were explained. Though wordy, this seems to be a big plus of Apologia to me.

I have a decent grasp on the sciences, but, honestly, my dd hasn't needed me all that much. She used Apologia Physical Science last year and tells me that she likes Prentice Hall better.

She is an average student and the tests are HARD. There is a lot of material to cover and the exam that she took today was 6 pages with a mix of matching/multiple choice/essay type questions.