We have been using Apologia as our main Science curriculum for around 8 years now. I consider it to be the cream of the crop for homeschooling Science. I put together a video to show you how we use the curriculum from Elementary age all the way through High School. You can see that video here:
Now, I know some of you are not video people, so let me also walk you through our curriculum and how we use it in words and photos.
Apologia Elementary Science
Once my children have finished their Phonics program and have spent about a year reading consistently and progressively, I add the Apologia Elementary Science books into their school day.
When we first started with these books, I read them aloud to the kids, but since they are written to the child, I decided to make them a part of my children’s transition to more independence in their school work by making sure they were ready for that level of reading and then letting them read on their own.
I start by giving them my expectations of how much they should read in a setting, but eventually let them go at their own pace. The sections are short (as shown in the photo below), so you can easily choose an amount of reading that is in line with how much your child can handle.
There are sections with quick “experiments” called Try This! and at the end of each section are notebooking activities, bigger experiments and a review. There are NO TESTS. I love this about Apologia! Science at this age is all about exploration and learning to love the world God has created. Tests are not needed.
All of the Elementary Science books are extremely well written and give an amazing foundation that will have your children blurting out little scientific factoids you didn’t even know!
*A quick word on Notebooking with Apologia –> Apologia sells notebooking journals that are complete and ready to be filled out. We have chosen not to do these because I am so haphazard about our notebooking. Also, because I have my children do the reading independently, I did not want to add anything else to their day. HOWEVER, notebooking is an excellent way to retain information and I still recommend the notebooking journal if you feel up to it. And by the way, if you ever have a chance to go to one of Jeannie Fulbright’s sessions on Notebooking at a homeschool conference, do it! You will learn so much!
Apologia Junior High Science
In Jr. High, we hit a new transition…TESTS! While some homeschooling parents choose not to administer the tests in General Science and Physical Science, I see these as opportunities to ease your child into the world of test taking.
Each “Module” of the curriculum has a Study Guide at the end for your child to answer. This Study Guide gives them a good basis for taking the test. I have my children check their own study guides using the key in the accompanying booklet.
Be aware -the Study Guide IS NOT a word for word copy of the test. Your student will have to translate what they have learned in the Module and Study Guide into a practical application for the test. Some children find this difficult and will need a little extra encouragement. In the end, it is best not to spoon-feed children information so they gain the ability to logically apply what they learn to a wide variety of situations.
Apologia High School Science
There is no reason to fear High School Science because Apologia makes it easy! My children work through their Science books at a good pace. They come to me when they are ready for a test. They take the test and turn it back in to me to grade at my convenience. The textbooks are engaging and relevant and still written to the child in a way that makes the information easy to digest.
How We Choose What Science to Teach
Prior to High School, you can give your children any of the Apologia texts in any order. All of them create a solid foundation in Science. Once in High School, you have 3 options for choosing curriculum:
- Use state graduation requirements as your guideline.
- Use college entrance requirements as your guideline.
- Use your child’s interests as your guideline.
We use a mix of these to determine what path to take. My 15 year old sophomore will be taking Biology with the Lab, then Chemistry, then Advanced Biology.
*A word about Labs –> Most states require a lab science. I prefer this to be Biology because I am a firm believer in dissecting things. We buy a dissection and slide kit from another source to supplement the text. If our kids get stuck on what to do, we use YouTube videos to help them along. For chemistry, we use YouTube to find the corresponding experiments so the children can see what the experiment would look like. Be aware, if you have an older edition of one of the texts, the labs may not line up and you will have to tweak a bit.
I hope this helps you see how Apologia Science can be a wonderful addition to YOUR homeschool!
Kela says
Thank you for this! It’s our Science of choice (we’ve tried another curric. that we like a lot too!).
What I’ve been dealing with is when I read aloud to my younger children and do the experiments, the older ones always sit in and want that to count as their science too!! haha!!
After that, I’ve always had an internal battle of how much more to push them with additional science lessons!
Amy says
They might have a point. 😉 lol
Julie Bahr says
Can’t wait to see more about your 2016-2017 curriculum! I’ll definitely look more into the Apologia Science for next years Science.
Rhonda Kelly says
Do you have Apologia exploring creation with chemistry 2nd edition?
Amy says
No, I’m pretty sure it is the 3rd edition.
Tara Vos says
Thanks for the review. So encouraging to know that it can be done both independently and successfully! (I also liked the insight on how each of your students have learned according to their natural bend.)
Just a note: they have audio C.D.s available now of the textbooks. This can allow independent learning to happen for the dyslexic or struggling reader! That can be a lifesaver for the mom whose time is consumed with intense phonics lessons.
Amy says
Great idea!
Danielle says
Do you mind sharing what dissection and slide kit you use with Biology?
Amy says
This last time I ordered from Rainbow Resource, but it was packaged in a way that got my other books in the order wet. I had forgotten who I went with the first time, but now that I’ve looked again, I’m pretty sure I went with this company – http://www.hometrainingtools.com/biology-dissection-kit It came in a nice box and worked very well.
S.T. says
Thank you for this post! i would like to see more of your 2016-2017 choices, as well. I’m normally not a big fan of the videos, but I found this one really helpful. Perhaps, because my kids are all in bed. 😉 Thank you!
Amy says
I’m planning on doing more of these…just need to get my ducks in a row! lol
Julie says
Dear Amy~
Our now 15 year old daughter took Biology her 9th grade year but did not do any labs because she didn’t like labs particularly. For 10th grade, she chose Earth Science, which was her favorite type of Science. Both of these science courses were through AOP. She is considering Marine Biology this year, but through Apologia, for the first time. We live in MO so there is no specific requirements as far as labs or Chemistry/Physics. Do you think it is okay to forgo such types of science and/or labs if your student desires something that interests them more?
Thank you so much if you hvae one minute to reply!
Amazed how you do it all and can encourage others so 🙂 God Bless you!
Julie B. in MO
Amy says
Hi Julie! I think that is perfectly fine. I like to have my kids do at least one lab and Biology is the easiest for an in-home setting in my opinion, but if it isn’t required, then I don’t see a need to do it if you feel like your daughter is getting what she needs from a different scientific discipline.
Julie says
Thank you for the encouragement Amy. i hope you are well today and enjoying this beautiful weather. It is in the 70’s here!
Amy says
Thank you so much for this review! I am struggling with science in our homeschool and we had started the Apologia with notebooking, but were also ‘halfhazard’ about it! Maybe we should just ditch the notebooking and just do activities that peak our interest. How do you organize the activities that you do do? Do you just use a Science notebook?
Also, what sort of weekly daily time investment do you think that this takes? I so appreciate your help!
Also, I am praying for you and your pregnancy. I am almost 6 weeks pregnant with baby number 6 and am on your website scouring the pages for the morning sickness info I remember seeing out here awhile ago!
Amy says
I assign sections of the elementary books, so it takes as long as it takes to read it. I let the kids choose which activities they do, and usually they choose the hands on type things. I really don’t do a lot of preparing for science as I’ve found the kids are capable of handling the assignments on their own. 🙂
Chandra says
I am planning ahead for my daughter, and she is now in 7 grade. She is doing the general science. She took a lot of time off in the fall cause I was on bed rest and needed her to help the family. She won’t finish before 8 grade. How important do you think it is they do this and physical science before high school? Can she skip the physical science and get what she needs when she does chemistry in high school?
Amy says
My 16 year old skipped it and has done fine.
Iria Doescher says
I just purchased apologia high school chemistry. I am wondering if I can use any of the curricula for my two elementary aged kids and soon to be 7th graders, one of which already struggles in math. I am wondering if I can use Exploring Creation with Chemistry/ Physics before moving into general science for 7th grade. I don’t want to cause additional anxiety for him.
Amy says
I use the Elementary series all the way until they start General Science (whatever age that may be). The books are meaty, but well done. I think it would be a good (and gentle) introduction to Science.
Stefanie keieth says
Hi there! I love Apologia too- we chose it because of its Creation/God-based presentation of science 🙂 May I ask two questions that came to mind while watching your video?
1. Do you do any type of science learning or activities before your children are able to read independently?
2. If you start with these when they are reading well, do they do the three zoology books, botany, astronomy, and the anatomy & physiology all before junior high? How do you fit it all in?
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us newer homeschooling mama’s – it helps so much!
Blessings,
Stefanie Keith
Amy says
We do all nature-based science prior to reading the Apologia books. I try to fit in as many of the Elementary books as I can before General Science, but if I’m not going to make it, I try to tailor it to their interests and only do those books.
Megan says
Hi,
I have a question after reading your post. I have a 7th and a 9th grader. I am not sure if I should combine them or have them do separate programs. It just seems easier to combine them.
Amy says
By that age, I have them doing their own separate books, but you definitely could combine them. They would have to share a book, and that’s where I have issues – it just doesn’t run as smoothly as I like. However, if you have a good way to do this, then by all means, combine away!
Jeannie Fulbright says
Thanks for sharing your experience with my elementary science books. I love how you are using them as part of their language arts practice with reading. Such a great idea.