Chemistry...not sure what to do?? need options

[Holly IN]

Background:

DS is taking Biology 2 through Wonderfully made book by Apologia. He took Biology 1 last year as an 8th grade. He will be starting Algebra soon. The Apologia text was ok. I am not thrilled with them but it served its purpose for Biology from a Christian perspective. I also used the Teaching Co. dvds for the Biology 2 stuff to get the "other" side vewpoint.

Now I am looking ahead for this fall. Chemistry!! I am NOT thrilled with using Apologia for this. I already bought the Teaching Co. DVDs for Chemistry to use as a supplement to whatever we used. I am looking into CC for this as well. Right now I am choking at the price of Chemistry class at IUPUI. So I am looking into either Marion college or another CC college in the area to see if they are cheaper.

Most homeschool co-ops use Apologia for Chemistry. I know I can do Chemistry at home as it was my favorite subject in high school. I made A's in that class. However my issue is the labs. I really do not feel that Apologia labwork is sufficient for high school lab. The book I know is up to par even though I am not thrilled with using it as it is way too complicated for me. (too wordy!!)

I am considering other options so are there any other books out there that is sufficient and easier to peruse than Apologia? If you have something that you love for Chemistry would you mind posting it and tell me why you liked it? Did you student like it?

If you used Apologia how did you handle the labs being so simple? Did you feel it was sufficient for a high school lab?

Lastly, ds is not going into the science field so it really doesn't matter doesn't?? Then again he may change his mind once he gets into college??

Thanks!!

Holly

[EKS]

Take a look at the LabPaq website. We are using their chemistry (CK-101) kit now and it is very complete.

I wouldn't base my decision on the level of rigor of any course in high school based on what field I think that my student will or will not go into later in life. When I was in high school I was what my father (a scientist) calls a "humanities type" but after much mucking about and changing of majors, I eventually ended up majoring in biochemistry and subsequently working as a scientist for ten years.

[In The Great White North]

Ds used Apologia and we only did the first few labs before we decided they were a waste of time.

With dd, we are using a different book and doing labs from the Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments. They are a lot more fun and feel like "real" chemistry.

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76733&highlight=napalm

[Holly IN]

Kai

I am looking at the site right now. It looks like this is just the kit. What book did you use with it?

Thanks!!

Holly

[Holly IN]

Ds used Apologia and we only did the first few labs before we decided they were a waste of time.

With dd, we are using a different book and doing labs from the Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments. They are a lot more fun and feel like "real" chemistry.

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=76733&highlight=napalm

In using this book, did you have to hunt down supplies or were they easy to find? Or did you buy a kit like Kai did?

Thanks! I am getting really excited here!!!!! Both you and Kai have made me excited. I am happy that there are options out there!


Holly

[CynthiaOK]

Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments

I recommend this, too. In addition, I've been able to pull off experiments on pertinent topics off the internet. Usually they were AP high school level courses or CC courses. I haven't used any *single* lab source. I taught the O Level Singapore Chemistry course last year in co-op and we did use some of the experiments from the lab book. I also purchased real lab equipment (beakers, graduates, etc) and that really makes a difference in how the kids feel about the lab. You can buy used lab equipment quite inexpensively on ebay if you watch it for a month or two.

Chemistry can be so fun and exciting. I wish the homeschool text publishers would recognize that and produce something homeschool friendly but at a higher level (esp. for the labs) than those currently available.

[CynthiaOK]

The author gives a list of places where one can purchase all the necessary equipment. I've never had problems finding appropriate chemicals. Some of the materials are available in forms you might not recognize (i.e., stump remover available at the local hardware store is potassium nitrate) and he gives that information also.

[Holly IN]

I am so glad I asked this question. Thank you!! Keep the advice coming if there any more.

I will look into the book and the equipment. :)

Thank you so much!!

[EKS]

Kai

What book did you use with it?


Holly

I'm using it with Conceptual Chemistry which I'm combining with the Teaching Company lectures to get the quantitative part. My son is young, though, and this approach is on the light side.

[Holly IN]

Ok

I looked at the amazon link for the Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Exp. It says it is only a lab manual no lecture. So what text would I use with this or is this a stand alone?

Thanks!

Holly

[Julie in MN]

Some more ideas -

- The Spectrum from Beginnings Publishing is a Chemistry program that includes all the lab materials

- Experiences in Chemistry is a lab program.

- HomeScienceTools has an order form showing all the lab materials they recommend for most programs (Experiences in Chemistry, Apologia, etc). They also show other materials you might want to add, and they allow you to take things off the list if you already have them (check to see if it's really a savings compared to the package).


Julie

[Janice in NJ]

It looks like they are adding a lot of extra on-line info to go with the book. I've also included a link to all-in-one kits depending on which level of labs you want to do.

http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1445085#poststop

Peace,
Janice

Enjoy your little people
Enjoy your journey

[Holly IN]

Wow! Thanks Janice!! If I do all the labs, can I claim as Honors Chemistry?

Holly

[Holly IN]

Janice

Another question in re: to post link....

The makershed.... In order to do all the labs in the book I will have to get two kits?? (First year kit and the supplemental kit)??

Thanks!

Holly

[Holly IN]

bumping for Janice

[In The Great White North]

I don't think you can call it Honors Chemistry without more math, or in the case of Apologia, without the second book. He will definitely need the algebra for chemistry, and if he is doing algebra concurrently, you may have to teach him some math when it appears in the chemistry text before he gets to it in the algebra text.

To do the second Apologia chemistry book (or any AP chemistry book), he really needs algebra II (at least natural logs)

ETA - I bought the lab equipment and chemicals individually from Home Science Tools

[Holly IN]

I am not wanting to use the Apologia book at all. The info I was getting the honors Chemistry was from Janice's lab link where it stated the supplemental kit was for the book that Janice is talking about and is considered AP labwork.

Holly

[In The Great White North]

Yes, he has a chart in the front that lists all the recommended AP labs and correlates them to the experiments in the book. He also shows which are for "regular" chemistry.

FWIW, I don't think there's enough explanation in the Illustrated Guide to understand why you are doing what you are doing without a chemistry textbook to refer to. The author recommends Brown, LeMay, et al.'s Chemistry: The Central Science, which is an AP/college chem text but I think you could easily use a high school text for most of it too.

[Holly IN]

Yes, he has a chart in the front that lists all the recommended AP labs and correlates them to the experiments in the book. He also shows which are for "regular" chemistry.

FWIW, I don't think there's enough explanation in the Illustrated Guide to understand why you are doing what you are doing without a chemistry textbook to refer to. The author recommends Brown, LeMay, et al.'s Chemistry: The Central Science, which is an AP/college chem text but I think you could easily use a high school text for most of it too.

Thank you for this info. I was wondering if the Illustrated Guide had a text to go with the labs. Thanks!!!

Holly

[Heather in VA]

DIVE cds are good as well and provide labs (you can buy a kit to go with) and you can use a multitude of accompanying text choices.

Heather

[Mrs Mungo]

subscribing for future reference

[Janice in NJ]

Holly,

I hope that all of your initial questions were answered. As was mentioned, the book doesn't have all of actual chemistry instruction. We are still using textbooks for that.

IMO opinion though, it stands out from the chem-lab pack because it does include quite a bit of information to go with each of the labs. I have been astounded to look at SO many chemistry "labs" that never include a formula. Or the math. Or _____. I just can't comprehend how a child is ever going to get "under the hood and tinker" with this stuff if so much information is intentionally with-held for no good reason. It doesn't confuse. It enlightens. If you're going to demonstrated a single-replacement reaction, GIVE THE KID THE FORMULA so she can cross-reference all of those seemingly useless tables in her book. Will the replacement work or not? MAKE a hypothesis. Test it. Make another one. "Oh. So that's what that table is for." And this from the kid who has read it and can "answer" all of the textbook questions.... but who obviously hasn't picked up the clue-phone yet. "Oh. So that's what they mean."

We're learning to read. and all that.

The book is not "the" answer to chemistry lab for homeschoolers. These labs require a lot of expensive equipment. They take a ton of time. And some of them are quite dangerous. But the book has been our answer. Big Time!

My older son spent a whole year doing chemistry last year. He did all of those "micro" labs that were referenced with the course. He did well in the course and can answer the test questions. He received an A in the class. But I know that he doesn't "get" chemistry. His 11th grade schedule is jam-packed. I really want to let him try some of these labs. No time. Maybe this summer. It would make college chem a breeze if he worked through these before he sat in all of those 101/102 lectures. Once you do it, you have it forever. :001_smile:

Let me know if you have any other questions, Holly. I didn't mean to blow you off. Busy weekend.

Peace,
Janice

Enjoy your little people
Enjoy your journey

[Holly IN]

Thanks Janice....

:001_smile: I figured you had a busy weekend. No problem at all. Just wanted to get all of my ducks in a row and think this semester. :001_smile:

Holly

[Julie of KY]

I also use the Illustrated Guide for Home Chemisty Labs for labwork. I love it, but it's not for the faint of heart. The author tells you where/how to obtain the chemicals and glassware. It is expensive, but it makes it "real" chemistry lab. To finish all the labs would take over 100 hours of lab time plus setup, discussion questions, time looking for "extra" items for labs, etc.
This lab book can be used alongside any chemistry text.

[newlifemom]

I also use the Illustrated Guide for Home Chemisty Labs for labwork. I love it, but it's not for the faint of heart. The author tells you where/how to obtain the chemicals and glassware. It is expensive, but it makes it "real" chemistry lab. To finish all the labs would take over 100 hours of lab time plus setup, discussion questions, time looking for "extra" items for labs, etc.
This lab book can be used alongside any chemistry text.

Bumping for a question.

When you say it is expensive, how expensive is it? Thanks