Apologia Chemistry for High School Science

When it comes to science, this homeschool mama is completely out of her element. Science is not a subject I enjoy nor one that I am a natural at. My kids, however, don’t care, and all have a love for science that far exceeds my abilities. Thankfully, companies like Apologia have the tools, resources, and expertise our family needs to create a robust science program that engages and nurtures my children – even at the high school level! This year we are taking on high school science in our homeschool with Apologia Chemistry.

Keep reading to find out how you can win one of two Apologia high school science sets!

Why Apologia Is A Family Favorite In Our Homeschool

We have been an Apologia science family for years. One summer while perusing a yard sale I happened upon their middle school level Physics book and grabbed it. The textbook and a few other items I grabbed were just $4! I had never heard of the company but I knew that for that price, it was worth grabbing. We hadn’t yet found on a great science program, so I was open to anything.

I brought that first book home and showed my then-6th grader and he was hooked! He has always had a love for science and this book had him digging in even though we were technically on vacation.

And that was all it took. A simple purchase at a yard sale and our homeschool family fell in love with Apologia.

Why We Love Apologia

I’m going to try and keep this brief because I know you want to know all about the high school Chemistry course. But I can’t write an Apologia review without first sharing why our family truly loves the Apologia science program at any level:

• Christian Worldview: In our family, faith is a big part of our home and homeschool. The Apologia science program teaches from a Biblical standpoint, follows Creation, and references the Bible throughout the text.
• Open-and-Go: A common term in the homeschool world, Apologia curriculum is as easy as open the textbook at go. We simply start on page one and follow along. Review items, vocabulary terms, and when to pause for experiments are all contained in the textbook.
• The Notebooks: These journals are the perfect companion product and one we get with each and every textbook. The Junior Notebooking Journals, Notebooking Journals, and Student Notebooks allow my children to record what they are learning and track their progress. Each Notebook also has a suggested schedule in the front which helps us to plan for our school year.
• Independent Learning: As science is not my strong suit, I absolutely love that Apologia writes the text to the student. Does this mean my children understand everything the first time around? No, it does not. But it does mean that Apologia knows their readers and their audience and creates a program that is geared towards teaching the student. As a homeschool parent, this is my preferred approach for curriculum.
• Elementary through High School: Apologia offers quality resources and materials for students in k-12, meaning we can use the same program throughout their entire education.
• Support For Multiple Learning Styles: Knowing that children learn in a variety of ways, Apologia offers materials for audio, visual, and hands-on learners. Social learners can also get assistance with the Apologia Online Academy.

Starting Out With Apologia Chemistry

When the Apologia Chemistry set first arrived I had to keep my son away. The same young man who first met Apologia as a yard sale find was slated to take Chemistry this upcoming year and he couldn’t wait to dive in.

Normally we simply purchase the textbook, student notebook, and the solutions. However, Apologia supplied us with the Superset for this review. The Superset contains the textbook, the student notebook, the audiobook, the video instruction thumb drive, and the test booklet with solutions manual.

The textbook itself is hardy. At 650 pages, this softcover book contains 16 modules (similar to chapters), a glossary, 3 appendixes, reference information, and an index.

The student notebook is spiral bound (thank you!) and nearly as long as the textbook. It contains a grading rubric, space for recording grades, a suggested 34-week schedule, tips for taking notes and recording information, and module by module space for taking notes, answering questions, preparing for reviews, and recording experiments.

The video instruction thumb drive was brand new to us, but quite exciting. With more than 20 hours of instruction included, it enhances the program and aids students as they progress through the material.

The MP3-CD is an audio recording of the textbook. This is perfect for students who prefer to learn by listening, students who want to review what they have already read, or even those busy days when you find yourself in the vehicle and on the go more than at home.

And the test booklet and solutions are exactly what they sound like – tests and answer key. The Apologia Chemistry program supplies tests for each module along with 4 quarterly review tests. And the solutions book contains the answers for every review question and test throughout the program – super helpful for this non-scientific homeschool mom!

Using The Apologia Chemistry Superset

In our homeschool, the middle school years are a time to transition to independent learning – especially in science! I want my children to succeed, but I cannot hold their hands every step of the way.

This is, of course, one of the reasons we love Apologia so much in our homeschool! The textbooks don’t read like a dull and drab, boring textbook. They are written to the student in an almost conversational tone that allows the students to grasp the materials they are being taught. Vocabulary words are clearly marked and defined throughout the text, things to think about are also littered through the pages. On your own questions are placed through out the modules and offer a natural pause for retention before moving forward.

All of this means that Apologia Chemistry is perfect for busy homeschools! The program is designed to be used by the student independently but also ensures they are learning the material presented.

We do tend to follow the suggested schedule in the student notebooks, however, the experiments do throw us the occasional curve (read: I don’t always remember to get the supplies needed). But, because Apologia Chemistry allows your student to earn a science with lab credit, we do our best to get the experiments completed by the end of the module.

Apologia Chemistry From The Student’s Perspective

My son is a man of few words, unless he is really interested in what he is talking about.

Science is one of those things he can go on and on about for days.

As for Apologia Chemistry, he was pleased with the familiar format of the program. The student notebook helped to keep him organized and know exactly what to work on each day.

Module 1 started with the basics of both matter and mass. As my son is fully aware of these concepts, none of this was new information for him. However, for some students this will be helpful.

We did not get to work on experiment 1.1 (remember, I’m bad with supplies!) but we did work on experiment 1.2. This experiment is all about showing that air takes up space.

From there, the module contained quite a bit of math as chemistry often does. As my son pointed out, module 1 in most Apologia science books is about creating a base to start from. A review of the basics to ensure students have a solid foundation in necessary concepts. While this module was relatively easy for him, he did note that by scanning upcoming mods, the course will pick up.

An Overview of Apologia Chemistry

Over the course of the 16 modules contained in the Apologia Chemistry textbook your student will learn:

1. Measurement, Unite, & The Scientific Method
2. Atoms & Molecules
3. Atomic Structure
4. Molecular Structure
5. Polyatomic Ions & Molecular Geometry
6. Changes In Matter & Chemical Reaction
7. Describing Chemical Reactions
8. Stiochiometry
9. Acid-Base Chemistry
10. The Chemistry of Solutions
11. The Gas Phase
12. Energy, Heat, & Temperature
13. Thermodynamics
14. Kinetics
15. Chemical Equilibrium
16. Reduction-Oxidation Reactions

There are also 32 experiments contained within the modules to help reinforce learning and allow your child to log credit for science with a lab.

Looking Forward To Another Great Year With Apologia science for our homeschool

With my oldest son ready to tackle chemistry, and our Apologia Chemistry superset, I feel confident that we have what we need to succeed this year. Apologia has proven to our family over the years that we are in good hands with their science curriculum and Apologia Chemistry is no different.

If you are still looking for science for your homeschool, head on over right now and check out all that Apologia has to offer. Whether you are teaching younger grades, middle grades, or high school, Apologia has the science curricula and resources you need to nurture your homeschool and encourage your children – even if science isn’t your favorite subject either! 😉

You Can Enter To Win!

Apologia is currently giving away two high school level courses and you could win one of them! Simply fill out the form below to enter.