High School Science Labs

[ResasPieces]

We are starting WG for my DD's freshman year in the fall. Our state only requires one year of science LAB so I am thinking about not doing the lab portion of the science with IP&C. Does anyone have opinions pro/con on this? Is there a certain year you consider the best for including the lab? (I'm thinking Chemistry??)

[LynnH]

First of all I am really surprised your state only requires one year of lab. Ours requires 3. Just as a heads up I would make sure any colleges that your child is looking at don't require more. Even colleges in your state may require more. I know every college my DD looked at required 2-3 of lab sciences. If you do decide to only do 1 year of lab then I guess I would pick Chemistry. I hesitate because in IPC and Chemistry the labs really helped to cement the concepts and give practice with the math in real life situations. It probably is more important in Chemistry though. I would not do Chemistry without the labs.

[StephanieU]

I personally would do the science as listed at least through chemistry. Even if it isn't required, it is helpful in learning the material. Just because something isn't required doesn't mean it isn't useful. Bible isn't required, but it is very helpful!

[ResasPieces]

Thanks Ladies! I obviously had not thought all of it through.

After talking it over with my husband (a PhD Chemist), we are just going to do it. He said, "but the labs are the FUN part!". Plus, I want her to have the math experience and practice doing lab reports and such.

[LynnH]

Your husband is right, my son thinks they are the fun part! My dh actually does them with my son either at night or on the weekends and this has worked out well. He is an Environmental Engineer so he has been able to give him real world applications for many of the labs and he brings an enthusiasm to the labs that I would not . I know they are supposed to be independent but my ds has mild Cerebral Palsy so he has hand tremors that make labs tough so my dh is his lab partner. I figure in ps he would have a lab partner so that is what works for us. Just throwing that out there in case that would work for you also since your dh is a chemist.