What should my 10th grader do for science if he did Physical Science in 8th and Biology in 9th?
I am planning to start my oldest son with Heart of Dakota (HOD) this coming year, which will be his 10th grade year. (My youngest started HOD last year using Beyond.) We will be using the World Geography guide, but I am going to have to come up with a science alternative for him. I would love to use the Integrated Chemistry and Physics, but he already completed Physical Science in 8th grade and did Biology this past year. He really needs to move on to Chemistry, but he is behind in math. We are still working our way through Algebra I. Do you have a suggestion for a high school level chemistry curriculum that is light on the math? He does love science and has a great understanding of scientific topics. It is just the higher level math that he struggles with due to his dyslexia. Thanks!
Sincerely,
“Ms. Please Help My 10th Grade Son with His Science Path”
Dear “Ms. Please Help My 10th Grade Son with His Science Path,”
Since your son is going into 10th grade and has technically only had Biology thus far as part of his formal high school years, I would encourage you to do the Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC) that is scheduled in the World Geography guide. It contains 6 chapters of Chemistry related topics and 6 chapters of Physics related topics. It provides a wonderful foundation in both chemistry and physics and has a full-blown lab scheduled with it.
With your son just being in Algebra I now, I wouldn’t recommend jumping ahead to a regular Chemistry course. Full-blown chemistry courses are usually done when students are juniors, both due to the level of math needed and due to the higher level thinking needed for the more difficult coursework. IPC will give your son a terrific foundation to build upon when he takes chemistry as a junior.
So, I would lean toward having your son’s science sequence for high school look like this:
9th Biology (which he’s already done)
10th IPC
11th Chemistry
12th Astronomy/Geology/Paleontology or Physics (or another advanced course specific to his future plans)
Blessings,
Carrie
