High School Chemistry

[Juli]

Hi all!

I am wondering if there is any ideas out there to beef up the Science Add-On package in the MtM to make it High School Chemistry credit worthy? I am guessing this is possible as the High School guides are a fairly new thing, and there have been some, like myself, who have used the younger guides with High School students.

I am trying to economize, but mainly trying to simplify our home school. This school year has just been too hectic for my family, and I am very interested in streamlining things as well as doing things together as we can. I have a daughter that will be in the 8th grade and in MtM and a daughter in WH guide (Jr) next year (she will be finishing Saxon Algebra 1 and Apologia Biology this school year). I also have two much younger students in their own guides, who are needing more of my attention (two of the biggest reasons I am needing to streamline things )

*My HS level daughter is not going to be a science major in college.

Thank you in advance to any who are able to help who may have blazed this trail before me.

[StephanieU]

This post may help.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=10600#p77140

[waterandclay]

In the above post I noticed that it is recommended to drop the Evolution study and to add Carbon Chemistry and the Chemistry 101 DVDs. I kind of don't want to miss the Evolution study, but I would still like to make this HS credit worthy. I already purchased Carbon Chemistry and the DVDs. I'm wondering if it would also work to instead use Carbon Chemistry in the place of Atoms in the Family. Curious

[LynnH]

I think the suggestion to drop the Evolution study comes from it not really being that Chemistry related. I would consider it more Biology related. As far as dropping Atoms in the Family and adding Carbon Chemistry. The only issue I see with this is that Atoms in the Family is definitely the hardest book in the science schedule. It is an adult reading level so if you are going for high school credit then it does add that "meat" to it. Since it is more the living book approach to science though you don't get as much specific technical information about chemistry from reading it as you get insight into the process and what the scientist involved in creating the atomic bomb went through as well as more general technical information. If your dc has any thoughts of doing a medical or stem career then I think you would need to do something that is more math based than even the beefed up MTMM science would be. A true High School Chemistry course such as the one scheduled in the AH1 guide is very math intensive.

[Juli]

Thank you to all who have responded. After looking at the link for the beefed up Chemistry, it looks to me High School credit worthy, and I think we will go that route. I graduated from college with a Bachelors of Science without HS chemistry, and did just fine in college chemistry (I did have a strong math foundation). I really was looking for something a bit more living book style for my daughter for high school, so I think the Carbon Chem/Chem 101 + living books looks like a great option for my family. I don't want to skip the Evolution study, either, so we will try to work that in as well!

Thanks again!

[my3sons]

You've come to a wonderful conclusion here, and I think you will find yourself enjoying your year so much! One thought - Evolution: The Grand Experiment is planned to be completed in MTMM from Units 26-35. Days 1-3 always utilize the Evolution: The Grand Experiment resources, and Day 4 always utilizes the Genetics & DNA kit, which pairs nicely with each unit's science theme. I think it would be very doable to completed this in the summer, as it encompasses 10 weeks of 4 day a week plans. Then, during the school year, you'd have more time to complete Ellen McHenry's Carbon Chemistry. Just an idea! Enjoy MTMM!

In Christ,
Julie

[Juli]

Thank you Julie! That is a good thought! That will make it much less stressful!

Juli