Chemistry Lab Materials

Apologia Science courses are written from a Biblical worldview with the homeschool in mind. At the elementary level, courses follow a Charlotte Mason-inspired methodology, with lessons organized around narration, notebooking exercises and hands-on activities or projects. Children at different ages can use these together, learning at their own level. Each course is designed to be teacher-student interactive, so teacher involvement is fairly high at this level. At the junior high and high school levels, science courses are more traditional in nature, with the textbook written to the student. Teacher involvement time at this level is much less than at the elementary level. Textbooks contain student reading, lab instructions, "On Your Own" questions and Study Guide questions. A Solutions Manual provides the answers to these and the test questions. Lab kits are available separately for both the elementary and upper-level science courses which include most of the harder to find items you will need.

Written specifically for use in a homeschool environment, these biblically-centered courses take a lot of pressure off the parent teaching the course. The main component of each course is the textbook. Please note that most textbooks have switched from hardcover to softcover format. The student text includes all the student reading, instructions for labs, "On Your Own" exercises, and fifteen to twenty "Study Guide" questions at the end of each chapter. Unlike many upper-level science texts, we have found these to be extremely readable! The text has a conversational tone, and concepts are explained in an easy-to-understand way. Plenty of helpful diagrams and pictures are included which add interest and break up the text. Answers to the "On Your Own" exercises are also included with discussion at the end of each chapter. The labs are designed to be done easily, and most require only household items to complete; unlike high school courses, like Bob Jones which require investing in some lab equipment and chemicals to complete the labs. Where a microscope or dissecting materials are required, a reasonably-priced complete kit of materials is available, for ease in collecting the items.

The Solution Manual contains test questions for each chapter, answers to the test questions and solutions to the "Study Guide" questions. For some courses, a separate Perforated Tests booklet is available; please note that this is only necessary if you want an extra copy of the test questions.

TheStudent Notebooks are a user-friendly companion that provides space for answering the On Your Own and Study Guide questions as well as for developing Lab Reports. Study helps include graphic organizers and a Module Summary for each module (fill-in-the-blank). Digging Deeper sections provide opportunity for practical applications and writing activities. For the teacher there are grading rubrics for lab reports and suggested answers for some of the graphic organizers. The History of Science module includes a nicely done timeline. Grading rubrics for the lab reports are provided in the Appendix.

MP3 Audio CDs are also available for most courses. The audio files are in MP3 format, and will require an MP3-compatible CD player to use (these can also be run on most computers). Tests, study guides, and answers are not included - this is simply an audio version of the text.

Apologia also offers Video Instruction for Biology, Chemistry, Marine Biology and Advanced Biology. These have transitioned to USB flash drive format. Sherri Seligson, author and scientist, is your host and takes you to interesting locations, incorporating animated diagrams (over 20 hours of instruction) to help students better understand the concepts being taught. The content is more of a summary of the textual information found in each section of the modules than a narration of the text. Students will either see Sherri Seligson on location or in a lab during the speaking portions or they will see animated illustrations and examples. Sherri takes students through each lab and talks about what needs to be done and the results of the experiments.

System requirements for USB drives: USB port (PC or Mac), media player capable of playing mp4 files, and an internet browser. DVD requirements: DVD drive on your computer (PC or MAC) capable of playing mp4 files; these are not compatible with a DVD player.

We now offer SuperSets and Advantage Sets which include multiple items. Advantage Sets include the text, solutions manual (with a copy of the test), notebooking journal, and the MP3 Audiobook CD. SuperSets include everything in the Advantage Set (text, solutions manual with tests, otebooking journal and MP3 CD) plus the Video Instruction USB Flash Drive.

Apologia is a name you have long trusted for quality science curriculum, and this new edition of Exploring Creation with Chemistry makes chemistry approachable and doable in a homeschool setting. Now authored by Kristy Plourde, you will notice a few changes from previous editions.

The chapter order has been changed from the previous editions (1st and 2nd) of the curriculum. There are still 16 modules measurement, units, and the scientific method, atoms and molecules, atomic structure, molecular structure, polyatomic ions and molecular geometry, changes in matter and chemical reactions, describing chemical reactions, stoichiometry, acid-base chemistry, chemistry of solutions, gas phase, energy/heat and temperature, thermodynamics, kinetics, chemical equilibrium, and reduction-oxidation reactions. The front of the book offers a suggestion on how to use the book and the length of time typically spent to complete the course. "On Your Own" questions are found throughout the modules and are to be completed as the student reads the text answers are included at the end of the module. "Review Question" and "Practice Problems" are found at the end of each module to help students recall and apply important concepts presented in that module. The text is generous with examples, illustrations, and photos for clarity of concepts.

Some helpful resources are found at the back of the text glossary, tables/laws/equations, extra practice problems for each module, and a complete list of lab supplies.

Experiments are homeschool-friendly and can be completed using the lab kit (#008778) that is assembled by Natures Workshop and items that are easily accessible. If you want to do more advanced experiments, you can purchase the MicroChem Lab Kit (#020028). These experiments arent printed in the student text, but are mentioned and marked by a flask and test tube symbol along with where that experiment can be found in the MicroChem Manual. The experiments in this 3rd edition are a combination of some new ones and the tried-and-true from the previous editions. If you dont want or need to purchase the lab kit (#008778), the required items to complete experiments are a 1 mass scale (0 to 500 grams), blue and red litmus paper, 1 thermometer (-10 to 110 degrees C). If you have these three items, the text makes suggestions within the experiments for household substitutions of the other items needed.

A special website is available to accompany this course, offering web links and additional information for specific concepts. The web address is printed in the front of the text with instructions for access.

Quarterly tests and one test for each module are included in the test booklet and are perforated for easy removal. The test booklet can be purchased separately or with the solutions manual. The solutions manual includes answers to the review questions, practice problems, extra practice problems and all tests.

The Student Notebook is a handy companion to the course. It provides formatted pages on which to write the answers to the text questions On Your Own, Study Guide Questions, Practice Problems, and Extra Practice Problems. Experiment instructions are in the student notebook along with space for recording observations and data and making notes. There is also space for recording the optional MicroChem experiments. A suggested schedule will keep the student on track to finish the course. This notebook isnt included in the bundle, but is sold separately.

For economy purposes and ease of shopping, a bundle can be purchased that includes the textbook, tests, and solutions manual (CHM3ST). Algebra 1 is a prerequisite to doing this course and is important for solving and understanding chemical equations. If using Exploring Creation with Chemistry in a co-op setting, this new 3rd edition will not work with the older editions. Changes are significant enough that students will all need the same edition.