Science in High School

[momof2n2]

I've spent a while searching, and I seem to answer one of my questions only to then have new ones!

My son will start 9th grade this fall.
We will be using MTMM.
I live in NYS.

Looking at transcripts that my friends have had for their graduated children, their sciences are listed something like this:
Physical Science 1.0 credit
Biology 1.0 credit
Chemistry 1.0 credit
Physics 1.0 credit

Now - if I beef up MTMM science with Chem 101 DVD (but I won't have a lab now, will I?) - would I call that "Chemistry?"
Then for the WG guide it is called "Integrated Physics with Chemistry" - so what would I call that?
Are we now at:
Chemistry 1.5 credits
Physics 0.5 credits
?

I will say almost everyone I know uses Apologia so one title per year makes it clear cut for them in reporting.

I feel like I am swimming in a soup of credit confusion.

And it is so sad for me to say this because I love the idea of Evolution: The Grand Experiment. But it's not like I can put that on his transcript, can I? I probably need to skip that for him.

[Tidbits of Learning]

OK. Here are my thoughts. For the science in MTMM, I would count as these credits:
Concepts of Chemistry 1/2 credit
Natural Science-The Story of Origins 1/2 credit
(Masterbooks uses Grand Experiment in 12th grade and this is the title they give for the course and credit that they award)

For WG science, I would count these credits (credits found at http://www.pacworks.com/integrated_phys ... mistry.php):
Physical Science or Conceptial Physics 1 Credit
Chemistry 1 Credit

or

Integrated Physics and Chemistry 2 Credits

Then you have WH-
Biology 1 credit

Then if I felt chemistry was well covered over the 2 courses in MTMM and WG, then I would let my student pursue a science that interests them. Technically though, you would have 4 science credits already by that point.

9th grade-MTMM
1/2 credit-Concepts of Chemistry
1/2 credit- Natural Science-The Story of Origins

10th grade-WG
1 credit Conceptial Physics
1 credit Chemistry
(I would personally use this method instead of the 2 credit option for Integrated Physics and Chemistry)

11th grade-WH
1 credit Biology

12th grade-
Your choice of science or take the year off from science. You will have 4 science credits already.

[momof2n2]

Hmm...

I followed your link and can see that the publisher has that text listed as two credits, but I see that Carrie has it listed as one credit on the Hearts for Him Through High School: World Geography page. Does anyone know if she has explained the difference between the two credit-counting formulas?

[StephanieU]

If you read near the bottom of Carrie's first post here, you can see her explanation of giving only 1 credit for the whole course:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=12932

[momof2n2]

That's funny - I just found that, myself.
Was hurrying back over here to answer my own question.

I am still finding the whole thing terribly confusing.

For 8th grade we did Rev to Rev and used the Advanced Version of Exploration Education. After sharing it with homeschool vet. friends they encouraged me to count it as a high school credit. He EASILY spent 3 hours a week on it.

So that accomplishes his Physical Science.

If he does MTMM this year (bought all the stuff) though, I think I am going to have to omit the Evolution Experiment and add in Chem 101 DVD & Ellen McHenry's Carbon Chem. Then that should cover chemistry, right?

But then what do we do?

WG would be the next step for grade 10, but if IPC is just another Physical Science, it doesn't behoove him to do that again.

Can you tell the science piece is stressing me out?

I wish each division of science was grade specific, or that texts were clearly one specific science. Like, why can't IPC just be called Physical Science? It SOUNDS like it is chemistry, or physics.

I'm starting to think my friends have a better system as far as creating transcrips go. The title on the text book is what they type on the transcript.

[StephanieU]

Okay, so you have Physical Science and Chemistry planned now. So, I would think you would want to do biology for sure, and then some of the following the last two years (assuming 4 years of science, which isn't always required): physics, Chem 2, Bio 2, Anatomy and Physiology, Environmental Science, Marine Science, Engineering, etc.
I would think Biology would be the next logical one. Carrie has that planned for WH, and it doesn't look like you would need the guide to do the PACES. Or, you could do Physics or Chemistry 2 and then Biology (when you get to the World History guide).

But, one thing to remember is that although you CAN count things done in 8th grade for credit, it doesn't mean you have to. Having 5 credits of science isn't going to make you child look better than one with 4 probably. So, you could just do the IPC course with WG. You still would have the sciences covered (biology chemistry, and either physical science or physics plus labs). If your child isn't going into a science field, doing the science as written (with the beef-ups to MtMM) is definitely enough.

[momof2n2]

Thank you for your responses, Stephanie.

I don't know what PACES means.

So - you are suggesting that for his 10th grade year, (2015-2016) while we do the World Geography book, we could do the Bio from the NEXT guide (World History)? So work out of two guide books?

Then for his 11th grade year, (2016-2017) we do the World History guide, but do science from the LAST guide book? (I have to think - will it even be written by then? - I don't think so.) But essentially, is this what you are suggesting?

I am in NYS which requires just two credits for science. From our regs: For grades nine through twelve: English (four units); social studies (four units) which includes one unit of American history, one-half unit in participation in government, and one-half unit economics; mathematics (two units); science (two units); art and/or music (one unit); health education (one-half unit); physical education (two units); and three units of electives. The units required herein are cumulative requirements for grades nine through twelve. Most folks here get biology and chemistry for the basics.

So - if my son had physical science, chemistry, and biology, he could be done. Although he would have grades 11 and 12 to do more science if that turns into his thing. (He has no strong bent as yet.)

Our local community college has a dedicated program offering college courses to homeschool students. They offer two classes each semester with homeschool-only students. Or the students are welcome to take other courses with the general public. If he did have his HS science wrapped up early, any "extra" time he had in his days, we would "fill up" with college courses.

[momof2n2]

I should also say, in showing the material for Evolution: The Grand Experiment to my husband he is leaning toward doing that with my boys as a weekly devotion. We do home Sunday School and it looks like this would be a wonderful resource for them to do together. ♥

[LynnH]

I have a few thoughts. First is a science major in consideration for your ds? If it is then I don't think just adding the chemistry 101 DVD's will make the MTMM science a solid enough Chemistry course. If he isn't headed to a science major then you would be fine doing it the way you have planned. As far as the Advanced Exploration Education as your Physical Science you could count that as your Physical Science credit, since the publisher says you can. I will say that I am reading the Physical Science course(IPC) in the World Geography guide and it goes in much more depth than the science in MTMM or Rev to Rev. The labs are also a big step up with lots of calculations. They actually are very similar to the labs that my dd did in Apologia Physics, just not with the advanced math. It really is a very strong Physical Science course. What I think I would do given your requirements and what would require the least amount of tweaking is :1) This year do the science in MTMM with the Chemistry 101 DVD's and call it Intro to Chemistry or Chemistry. 2)10th grade do the science in WG guide and call it Physical Science and just not count the 8th grade science for high school 3) Do the Biology in WH guide. Then if he wants to do a 4th year science he could pick whatever he wanted to do.

As far as the Evolution study if you can find any way to fit that in I would. It was my son's favorite science we have ever done. It really sparked an interest in learning more and he is now reading more books we bought at the Creation Museum. I think in today's world the material it covers is vital for our dc to get exposure to.

[momof2n2]

Thanks, Lynn. You list it out nicely.

I can't say whether or not a science major is something he will end up being. When I was 14 I wanted to be a police officer. When I was 18 I started college as a communications major. I graduated as a nurse.

I just want to satisfy the state as painlessly as possible. I am sure we will go the community college route for all our children from a live-at-home and pay-as-little-cash-as-possible route for their first two years.

I do agree we want to keep the Evolution/Creation piece in our lives. Whether it "counts" as anything or not. It looks so rich. My husband is a huge AiG reader and we already share so much with our kids. He's excited about this curriculum piece.

[STBK]

We are also in NYS and I am going to also be doing MMM with my 14yo 9th grader in the fall. He is interested in engineering. This year he did two sciences. He did the Advanced Exploration and Chemistry I (using Spectrum Chemistry.) He was also doing Algebra I concurrently. He did not have any issues with the math in the Chemistry. I got the Spectrum recommendation from a post here from a number of years ago. (I did read that Carrie no longer plans to use it--but I was happy with it.) That would be another option for you--actually do a high school chemistry class. I found the Spectrum Chemistry really easy to use-- I used it with a 8th, 10th, and 11th grader.

We will be doing Biology from (WH) guide this year, along with the health (WH) and the evolution (MMM) as a (0.5 credit science elective) BUT skipping chem in MMM. I will always be off on the science portion of the guides and will always be working from 2 guides.

For 10th grade we will use an advanced chem or physics I program and then 11th we will do the other. For 12th, he will either take college physics or Anatomy and Physiology.

In the end we will have
Physical Science 1.0 credit (8th grade)
Chemistry 1.0 credit (8th grade)
Biology 1.0 credit (9th grade)
Physics 1.0 credit
Advanced Chem 1.0 credit
+ either Advanced Bio or college physics
Evolution (or what ever I decide to name it) 0.5 credit

Our local community college has a dedicated program offering college courses to homeschool students. They offer two classes each semester with homeschool-only students. Or the students are welcome to take other courses with the general public. If he did have his HS science wrapped up early, any "extra" time he had in his days, we would "fill up" with college courses.

I think that it is cool your CC does this-- homeschoolers take courses but none are dedicated to homeschoolers only.....

[momof2n2]

We are also in NYS and I am going to also be doing MMM with my 14yo 9th grader in the fall. He is interested in engineering. This year he did two sciences. He did the Advanced Exploration and Chemistry I (using Spectrum Chemistry.) He was also doing Algebra I concurrently. He did not have any issues with the math in the Chemistry. I got the Spectrum recommendation from a post here from a number of years ago. (I did read that Carrie no longer plans to use it--but I was happy with it.) That would be another option for you--actually do a high school chemistry class. I found the Spectrum Chemistry really easy to use-- I used it with a 8th, 10th, and 11th grader.

We will be doing Biology from (WH) guide this year, along with the health (WH) and the evolution (MMM) as a (0.5 credit science elective) BUT skipping chem in MMM. I will always be off on the science portion of the guides and will always be working from 2 guides.

For 10th grade we will use an advanced chem or physics I program and then 11th we will do the other. For 12th, he will either take college physics or Anatomy and Physiology.

In the end we will have
Physical Science 1.0 credit (8th grade)
Chemistry 1.0 credit (8th grade)
Biology 1.0 credit (9th grade)
Physics 1.0 credit
Advanced Chem 1.0 credit
+ either Advanced Bio or college physics
Evolution (or what ever I decide to name it) 0.5 credit

Our local community college has a dedicated program offering college courses to homeschool students. They offer two classes each semester with homeschool-only students. Or the students are welcome to take other courses with the general public. If he did have his HS science wrapped up early, any "extra" time he had in his days, we would "fill up" with college courses.

I think that it is cool your CC does this-- homeschoolers take courses but none are dedicated to homeschoolers only.....

Thank you for your help.

We are in the Finger Lakes area and it seems that the community colleges work hard for homeschoolers' attention. It is a blessing.

I'm still not sure how this is going to work out.
Another HOD mom PM'd me that Chem 101 DVD's OWN curriculum would be a great possibility. I am looking into that. It may be we continue with HOD without the science piece fitting in for DS1.