Looking for your recs for chemistry curriculum

[Kalah]

Hey all,

I posted over on the curriculum board but didn't get a lot of responses so I thought I'd try here.

I'm looking for chemistry curriculum for my 5th grader. We've already finished RS4K Level 1 and weren't thrilled with it. I've done heaps of experiments with Janice VanCleeve's book and liked that. I'm looking for something a little more challenging for my math and science kid.

For a background, he's 10 and completing Singapore Math 6b this month. He absorbs and retains information relatively quickly.

Any thoughts? I'm really stuck and need help before I just sneak out on science next year. I was an English major, after all. :lol:

Thanks!

[Sasharowan]

My 8th grader did McHenry's Elements and Carbon Chemistry this year. He was able to do it in about 1-2 hours a week, finishing a chapter a week.

[Crimson Wife]

We really liked Ellen McHenry's The Elements last semester and are enjoying Carbon Chemistry this one. Be aware that we've come across a handful of "Intelligent Design" references in the latter. So if you feel very strongly about that issue, you probably would want to skip Carbon Chemistry.

The program I'm leaning towards for the next time through the cycle is Conceptual Chemistry by John Suchocki.

[EKS]

Be aware that we've come across a handful of "Intelligent Design" references in the latter.

Interesting. Thank you for mentioning this.

[Kalah]

Be aware that we've come across a handful of "Intelligent Design" references in the latter.

Thank you for mentioning this. It would be an issue for us.

I'll definitely look into it though. Is ID mentioned in passing? Is it something you think I could omit? We've done this in the past with a few different curricula and have found success with it. I teach ID but as a world view, other perspective-not as our household's belief, just to clarify.

Thank you for your insight. If anyone else has any other choices, I'll be checking back tomorrow!

[nmoira]

We really liked Ellen McHenry's The Elements last semester and are enjoying Carbon Chemistry this one. Be aware that we've come across a handful of "Intelligent Design" references in the latter. So if you feel very strongly about that issue, you probably would want to skip Carbon Chemistry.I saw one problematic comment (asking if information can come from nowhere), though in a place that would be easily ignored and phrased in a way that I can say, "Of course not, it comes from..." However it was jarring in that it seemed entirely out of place with respect to what was being discussed.

What are the others?

[Crimson Wife]

In chapter #2, the author speculates that "a world-wide flood would certainly have provided the right conditions for the formation of crude oil." She does not specifically reference the story of Noah but that's the implication.

In chapter #9, when discussing the importance of fat in the human body, the author writes: "The reason a woman looks feminine is because of a slightly thicker layer of fat under the skin in just the right places. The Designer of the body had aesthetics in mind, too, not just function."

Finally, in chapter #10, when discussing DNA, the author writes: "Could random mutations have produced this amazing complex system? Have you ever seen complex information like a computer program come from nowhere? This is what we call a 'rhetorical question'. It isn't really asking for an answer because the answer is obvious. We know that information can't come out of nowhere."

I did not see any references to "Intelligent Design" in The Elements.

I'm a Christian (though not a YEC or OEC) so I don't really have that much of a problem with these statements. I do believe that God created the universe and that His hand guided evolution rather than it being totally random. But I know this is a "hot button" issue so I wanted to give a "heads-up" about these references.

[Kalah]

Thank you so much for listing those quotes! That's a lot of work for you and I appreciate the extra mile. I'll have to consider whether these statements would stop me from using this curriculum. So far, it's my #1 pick. I completely understand that I am a minority in the homeschooling world and adjust accordingly.
On an intellectual level, I find the quotes interesting. I don't think I've seen such open opinions in text books before and don't really see why these points would be relavent in a science text, but that's just me.

[Crimson Wife]

That's a lot of work for you and I appreciate the extra mile.

It was a lot of work when I originally typed it up last week as part of my local support group's curriculum fair. We were asked by the organizer to do a written summary of comments we had about the curriculum and I felt those were important "heads-up" about this particular program.

It took me about a minute to cut & paste onto this forum (I didn't bother changing the font) ;)

[EKS]

In chapter #2, the author speculates that "a world-wide flood would certainly have provided the right conditions for the formation of crude oil." She does not specifically reference the story of Noah but that's the implication.

In chapter #9, when discussing the importance of fat in the human body, the author writes: "The reason a woman looks feminine is because of a slightly thicker layer of fat under the skin in just the right places. The Designer of the body had aesthetics in mind, too, not just function."

Finally, in chapter #10, when discussing DNA, the author writes: "Could random mutations have produced this amazing complex system? Have you ever seen complex information like a computer program come from nowhere? This is what we call a 'rhetorical question'. It isn't really asking for an answer because the answer is obvious. We know that information can't come out of nowhere."

I did not see any references to "Intelligent Design" in The Elements.

I'm a Christian (though not a YEC or OEC) so I don't really have that much of a problem with these statements. I do believe that God created the universe and that His hand guided evolution rather than it being totally random. But I know this is a "hot button" issue so I wanted to give a "heads-up" about these references.

Thank you so much for these examples! My son is loving McHenry's The Elements right now and I probably would have gone ahead and gotten the sequel if I didn't know about these references. These would be an issue for us.

[nmoira]

In chapter #2, the author speculates that "a world-wide flood would certainly have provided the right conditions for the formation of crude oil." She does not specifically reference the story of Noah but that's the implication.

[snip]Thanks for the quotes. When I was previewing the material, I was searching specifically for evolution related quotes. "Mutation" hit, but I certainly didn't look for "flood." :glare:

Based on The Elements, and The Brain, I'd been defending her curriculum as neutral (I'm not concerned whether or not she believes in evolution, because these are discrete units and not a comprehensive science program). I wouldn't have redacted the information systems quote, but IMHO neither it not the others have any place in a science curriculum. If I still choose to use Carbon Chemistry, I'll be going over it with a fine tooth comb.

[bella_gitana]

Oh my! Thanks so much for posting these.

In chapter #2, the author speculates that "a world-wide flood would certainly have provided the right conditions for the formation of crude oil." She does not specifically reference the story of Noah but that's the implication.

In chapter #9, when discussing the importance of fat in the human body, the author writes: "The reason a woman looks feminine is because of a slightly thicker layer of fat under the skin in just the right places. The Designer of the body had aesthetics in mind, too, not just function."

Finally, in chapter #10, when discussing DNA, the author writes: "Could random mutations have produced this amazing complex system? Have you ever seen complex information like a computer program come from nowhere? This is what we call a 'rhetorical question'. It isn't really asking for an answer because the answer is obvious. We know that information can't come out of nowhere."

I did not see any references to "Intelligent Design" in The Elements.

I'm a Christian (though not a YEC or OEC) so I don't really have that much of a problem with these statements. I do believe that God created the universe and that His hand guided evolution rather than it being totally random. But I know this is a "hot button" issue so I wanted to give a "heads-up" about these references.