Hunting for science curriculum

[Pam in MA]

Does anyone have good suggestions for a secular science series for high school? We've used Prentice Hall Science Explorer series through middle school and I don't know where to go next!

[Trivium Academy]

The high school board will probably be the most helpful for this. :)

[Lori D.]

Perhaps consider continuing with Prentice Hall. Here's a link to their secondary (high school) science textbooks: http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PSZ14x

[Sue in St Pete]

Perhaps consider continuing with Prentice Hall.
Lori,
Do you have any experience with PH high school science? I remember Angie W in TX being very disappointed with it after being very happy with Science Explorer.

Pam,
I think I've heard good things about Conceptual Physics on the high school board:
http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65214&highlight=conceptual+physics

[Lori D.]

Hi Sue,
I haven't used the Prentice Hall Explorers. We went from Reader's Digest How ... Works and TOPS (all VERY hands on) in 7th/8th gr. to Apologia Biology in 9th and (at least *I*) feel it's DRY, with only a few, very dull experiments (excepting the dissections).

We only got through the first 10 chapters of Apologia last year, and are finishing this year with 10th gr. son and including 9th gr. son -- but I got a used copy of Prentice Hall Biology by Miller & Levine to use next year to do the "micro" portions of Biology (cells, fungi, bacteria, etc.). It's the second textbook (blue/green cover) on the following webpage: http://www.pearsonschool.com/index.cfm?locator=PSZ14x

No way can I make myself go through Apologia again on that section -- and no way our son with learning issues is going to make it through Apologia with all that emphasis on dull vocabulary and few/boring experiments. From what I see of the PH Biology, there are far more photos, text is broken into more manageable "bites", and there are lots of options for experiments (though I'll have to round up the ingredients for them myself). We will still use the chapters on evolution and Mendelian genetics from the Apologia next year.

I am going to also consider looking at PH's Chemistry, and also Rainbow Science's high school Chemistry for both sons, as I just don't know if I can make *myself* go through Apologia for another year...

I know lots of people love Apologia and I'm glad for them, but even with a *lot* of help from me, esp. our younger son is just glazing over -- and he has always really enjoyed science. : ( Don't know if that helps at all... It helped me get that off my chest, I guess! lol! Warmest regards, Lori