Our Apologia 1st Edition Lesson Plans

I finally laid out my 8th graders Physical Science plans. I planned on making a bound journal similar to what they offer now for the 2nd edition but it didn't work out. Our objective for the journal isn't busy work, instead we want it to teach her how to take notes and learn study skills.

So, instead I've decided to get a binder and divide it into the 16 modules of the book. Under each module she will place the assignments for that section.

Front of Binder
Student Notes
Lesson Plans

16 Module Divider Covers Notes on the reading
Vocabulary
On Your Own Questions
Experiments/Lab Reports
Study Guides
Completed Exams

Back of Binder
review of:
Scientific Method
How to fill out lab reports
How to take Notes from text/videos
blank paper
blank lab reports

Each module will hopefully take 2 weeks to complete. She will begin each reading with an applicable video, read the assigned section, complete the experiments, complete vocabulary and OYOs as she comes to them, and as a wrap up before the exams, she will watch the lesson videos included with the Red Wagon Tutorials. (Mr. Rosenoff includes the links within his pdfs that you can download for FREE at RED WAGON TUTORIALS.) She will then complete the study guide and take the exam. We are planning for up to an hour per day, 4 days a week. If she needs more time she can use the 5th day.

Here's the binder cover and our plans. I haven't made the divider pages yet but when I do, I will add those as well.

 

We do like notebooking pages but I'm not sure if we are going to use them for notes or not. Here are a couple of science note taking links that I've found. I did invest in a TpT note taking module and plan to use it at the beginning of the school year.

Sprouting Tadpoles. She includes outline pages for note taking, research pages and lab forms.

Glencoe has a physical science notebooking journal that I might use pieces of as a graphic organizer.

The Yahoo! Group "Apologia Jr/Sr High Science" still has files up with schedules and resources for all the sciences.

FREE Apologia Resources

It's amazing what you can find on the internet for free. I've been on a mission these past few weeks trying to find free resources for daughters 8th grade science this year.

One huge factor that really pushed us over the edge for Apologia was the fact that they offer 40% off for military. They do have specific requirements but thus far have been terribly slow in responding to emails. I've yet to hear back from them so, I started looking for a cheaper alternative. I heard from the yesterday! (8 days later) They emailed us explaining we have to phone our order in and give the discount code they provided. Since I found all the great resources I tell you about below, I think I will stick to the plan I've made.

After looking around and reading a ton of blogs I decided we would be okay with 1st editions. I bought both, Apologia's Exploring Creation with General Science AND Physical Science,  both 1st editions for less than $10, shipping included on ebay. I don't know if I need the solutions book yet, but I can find those for less than $4 each if I do.

I'm so thankful for all the homeschooling moms and science teachers that have blazed this trail for me and I thank God for helping me find these resources:

YouTube Playlist:
Apologia General Science

Notebooks/Manuals/Lesson Plans
Red Wagon Tutorials- Amazing resource! Steve Rosenoff was an Apologia teacher. He no longer teaches and stopped selling his videos. BUT he has so generously uploaded his student and parent ebooks for public use. These are geared toward the 2nd edition. He has included his own tests and answer keys too. I'm on the hunt for his dvds/flash drives. These have been long out of print but they received such high reviews I'd like to find them.

Science Resources by Debbie Nafzgers is chock full of resources. She was a teacher too and has uploaded her lessons as well. She includes lesson plans and resources, along with study guides and extra worksheets as needed. If you find a broken link try the wayback machine from the internet archive!

Video Resources
Sahm I Am -Marty's blog is a gold mine! She has her schedule listed, videos and notes about her lessons. She also links to her other blog she created specifically for her kids.. Homeschoolers Resources. I will likely use her outline for our own. 


This list is a work in progress and will eventually get moved to a "science" tab at the top of the blog! 

Middle School Transitions

Since our 7th grade daughter thinks she wants to pursue a science based career we decided to be more intentional with her studies and get her off to the best start possible. 

These past four years, science has been more of a general science. I felt like we were all over the place until I sat down and made a table of everything we've covered these past 4 years.

We've covered a broad range of topics using Sabbath Mood Homeschool's curriculum, several topics in "special studies" and even Earth science during geography.

I wanted to make sure we covered what was typically covered in a curriculum and looked through the table of contents of several texts. I think we've done a pretty good job covering general science but feel like we need to be a bit more "specific" in a few areas. We will cover these gaps with a few living books this summer.

GENERAL SCIENCE
Scientific Method
   Inquiry
   Limitations
   Science/Christianity
   Analyze & Interpret
      Experiments/Variables
      Series of Experiments
      Not obvious variables
      Interpreting Results

To address our shortcomings in "Scientific Method" I ordered a book written by Stephen Kramer, "How to Think Like a Scientist." It was listed on Guest Hollow as one of the books their son enjoyed. I will have to post a review later.








SCIENCE/APPLIED SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGY
Simple Machines
  lever, wheel & axle, pulley, inclines, planes, wedge, screw

We will include this in our studies of Physical Science. I will find an online lesson for her to review.

ARCHAEOLOGY/GEOLOGY/PALEONTOLOGY
Fossil Record
Life
  Classifying: Kingdoms
  DNA, Energy, Adaptation, Reproduction, Human Body Systems

As far as the last part (Fossil Record/Paleontology) I haven't decided yet. I was thinking of using some books from Master's Books or even using the actual section from the Apologia General Science textbook to fill in.

We were looking at the Apologia books for a couple of reasons.

1. Christian World View
2. Encourage Independent Learning
3. Teach Note Taking
4. Comprehensive
5. Tried and True

Depending on the load of work we would still want to add living books alongside the course. Treat the textbook as the spine and add biographies or special studies to spice it up a bit.

So our plan (so far) is:
7th: General Science (almost finished)
8th: Physical Science
9th: Biology
10th Chemistry
11th: Physics
12th: Biology 2 or Chemistry 2

That of course could change at any given time.....