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pumpkinmom
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| Posted: May 07 2015 at 10:48pm | IP Logged
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I'm struggling with getting a science planned for my 9th grader. I've read through the thread about high school science without a text numerous times. I've gone back and forth on many ideas, books, and subjects.
What I know:
* Ds has disliked everything we have done for science pretty much the last few years. Because of this I'm not sure if he has a good science foundation. We have skipped around a lot trying to find books/topics that he will read.
* He says he prefers living books and no text books.
* Only thing I found that he has liked was Seton Science 7 which he has been reading since January (I actually said he could stop reading it since school is almost done and he asked to continue).
* He has given me a random list of subjects that he likes, all physical science topics (they are all out of the Seton Science 7 book though).
* I love biology, natural history, nature study. I'm so tired of teaching/reading physical science topics. (I really don't want to do it again next year!!)
Here are a couple random thoughts I have. I'm thinking maybe biology, but worried he isn't ready. If not biology, I do have two books on my list that are topics he has asked for and I think he would enjoy (The Practical Geologist and Instant Physics, I wouldn't mind the geology book but dh is in charge of the physics one). What else could we add to this and how do we label it on the transcript?
Honestly at this point anything is a possibility and will be considered. 
Any suggestions? Or prayers would be nice. I was able to finalize history plan after spending my day in prayer on Sunday. 
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Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
Tending the Pumpkin Patch
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CrunchyMom
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| Posted: May 07 2015 at 11:21pm | IP Logged
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It isn't cheap, but I really like the look of Rainbow Science. It is intended as a middle school program, but since your worry is that he doesn't have a good foundation for high school science, this give a good, broad overview. Granted, I'm not sure how it would work since it is meant to be a ninth grade program, but it might be worth a look.
Another overview option would be to try Secrets of the Universe by Paul Fleisher. Mater Amabilis has plans for using it alongside other science books. Also a two year curriculum, but you wouldn't have to do all the books with it and take it in one.
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Lindsay
Five Boys(6/04) (6/06) (9/08)(3/11),(7/13), and 1 girl (5/16)
My Symphony
[URL=http://mysymphonygarden.blogspot.com/]Lost in the Cosmos[/UR
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guitarnan
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| Posted: May 07 2015 at 11:32pm | IP Logged
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Geology (or Earth Science - geology, astronomy, oceanography, etc.) would be a good fit for most 9th graders. Physics is better for juniors/seniors because of the math involved. It's hard to work with physics equations if you haven't at least started Algebra II.
Both of my children did Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics - in that order - in high school. Although we didn't use too many living books (my children actually like having textbooks), we did do labs, museum trips, field trips, etc. in order to make science as accessible as possible. We have a long track record of failed astronomy observations because our part of the world is prone to cloudy nights. 
Given the information you've shared, if I were you, I would be leaning toward geology, perhaps with some other Earth Science topics thrown in. (Astronomy = plenty of living books because of all the biographies of astronomers, astronauts, etc.) It might not be your favorite topic, but if it inspires your son to become more interested in science in general, that's a huge step.
He will need to do a year of biology at some point - most states require it and colleges look for it - but it does not have to be in grade 9.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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pumpkinmom
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| Posted: May 08 2015 at 9:40am | IP Logged
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guitarnan wrote:
| Geology (or Earth Science - geology, astronomy, oceanography, etc.) would be a good fit for most 9th graders. Physics is better for juniors/seniors because of the math involved. It's hard to work with physics equations if you haven't at least started Algebra II. |
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At our local public school, 9th graders take physical science which to me looks to be a general science course with no life science. I've looked at several text and they are all different besides all having a basic physic introduction. Some have a little to mostly earth science too. I find the difference strange.
I certainly see Earth science as something he would enjoy and we haven't done much in that area since early elementary. The weird thing is our state graduation requirements doesn't consider earth science a credit in high school unless it is taught at a "high school level". Which was one of the craziest things I read in the graduation handbook (unfortunately there were more though). Wouldn't all classes taught in high school be high school level? Anyway, since I read that I hadn't considered earth science as a good choice. But, after seeing samples of different physical science text I have no problem with labeling earth science as physical science on the transcript.
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Cassie
Homeschooling my little patch of Ds-14 and Ds-10
Tending the Pumpkin Patch
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Kathryn
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| Posted: May 12 2015 at 6:34pm | IP Logged
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To piggy back on here if I may...does anyone do labs with their high schoolers? And if so, how?
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Kathryn in TX
(dd 16, ds 15, dd 8, dd 5)
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mom3aut1not
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| Posted: May 13 2015 at 2:52pm | IP Logged
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One of my former hs students did much of her work for high school at the local community college. Noncredit courses there are usually the same as a high school course and lab work is often included. My oldest did online classes through Clonlara and a patched together program I made myself from various inadequate materials, trying to generally cover for one thing with another.
I did do chemistry labs with my third child (who could not and cannot handle community college courses despite being very bright) with a microchem lab set from Home Training Tools. I used a chemistry book I got from Singapore Math on sale along with a dvd course from The Great Courses (which she loved). Not the cheapest way to go, but it was one of the best choices in high school science I made with my older kids. I was really unhappy with the materials then available.
I have used several products from Home Training Tools over the years with great success. The last one I used was a blood-typing kit for our Topics in Life Science class (not a college prep class) for my autistic high schooler.
I If I had to do college prep-type biology again, I would just bite the bullet and buy the TGC biology class and add materials from Home Training Tools. Since I did something different with each of the older kids, the cost would have been about the same. My son can't do college prep anything, so it's a moot issue now.
Just my $.02...
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Deborah
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mom3aut1not
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| Posted: May 13 2015 at 2:56pm | IP Logged
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Did it show that I hurried through that last post?
My oldest did online classes through Clonlara and a patched together program I made myself from various inadequate materials, trying to generally cover for one thing with another.
should be
My oldest did a patched together program I made myself from various inadequate materials one year trying to generally cover for one thing with another as well as online courses through Clonlara a couple of other years.
Thinking back we also did a couple of MODG courses as well -- Earth Science and something else.
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Deborah
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4Real Forums : High School Years and Beyond
Topic: 9th grade science
