Science without conscience is the death of the soul.
—François Rabelais
SUBJECT: High-school science (biology, astronomy, chemistry, physics)
TIME REQUIRED: 4 or more hours per week
How does the classical approach to the study of science differ from science taught in schools across the country?
Two distinctive characteristics set rhetoric-stage science apart. First, science studies are rigorous and intellectually demanding, like all classical subjects. The student is encouraged to study science for all four years of high school, passing again through biology, astronomy,1 chemistry, and physics. She’ll study the principles and laws of each science, finishing high school with a sound grasp of foundational scientific ideas. As in all stages of classical education, she will read and write about science as well as perform experiments. And she’ll be encouraged to explore science resources, rather than filling in workbooks and answering comprehension questions.
But rigorous science education can be found in any number of nonclassical curricula. “Classical” science is further distinguished by its demand that the student do science self-consciously—not simply learn about the world, but ask what the implications of each discovery might be. What does this theory say about my existence? What does that principle imply about human beings and their place in the universe? What are the implications for the human race?
As a whole, then, rhetoric-stage science is taught in the context of the student’s broader study of ideas. The student isn’t merely learning abstract principles; she’s seeing how they fit into the Great Conversation she’s having with the great books of the classical curriculum.
AN OVERVIEW OF RHETORIC-STAGE SCIENCE
Rhetoric-stage science study falls into three parts.
HOW TO DO IT
As in the previous two stages, the student will keep her work in a science notebook. Each should have three sections: Principles, Source Readings, and Papers.
We suggest studying science two days each week for two hours per day. Six to eight weeks should be devoted to the reading of source materials; four to six weeks should be given to the writing of the science paper; the rest of the time will be spent in studying the principles of science.
The Study of Principles
For the study of science principles, we suggest following the same general procedure as in the middle grades. The student should read from her science text, write a brief composition summarizing the information, make sketches of any diagrams, and do any experiments and record the results. Compositions should be more detailed than in the logic stage—the ninth grader can write one and a half to two pages about the function of a cell, whereas the fifth grader wrote two or three paragraphs. All of this work should be filed under Principles in the science notebook.
These compositions should draw their information not only from the primary science texts we recommend, but also from other general reference works. We suggest that you keep on hand The Usborne Illustrated Dictionary of Science. Other specific resources may be found in Resources, at the end of this chapter.
Generally, the student should use the first science period of every week to read and make notes applying the techniques learned in The Well-Educated Mind (see Chapter 26).2 She should supplement these notes by looking up in other science books, kept on a nearby shelf, those subjects that interest her or that seem unclear. Make use of the library—stock up on the popular and colorful science books written for young adults. At this time, the student should also sketch any diagrams (cell structure, atomic structure, trajectories) and label them.
In the second period of every week, the student should write a composition of one and a half to two pages, referring to her notes. She should also do experiments, recording the results in the form suggested in Chapter 18. All of this material—the notes along with diagrams, the composition, and the results of experiments—should be filed in the Principles section of the science notebook.
For high-school texts, we like Wiley’s Self-Teaching Guides, a series of clear, well-written books designed for independent college preparation:
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Ninth grade |
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Biology: A Self-Teaching Guide, by Steven D. Garber |
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Tenth grade |
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Astronomy: A Self-Teaching Guide, by Dinah L. Moche |
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Eleventh grade |
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Chemistry: Concepts and Problems—a Self-Teaching Guide, by Clifford C. Houk and Richard Post |
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Twelfth grade |
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Basic Physics: A Self-Teaching Guide, by Karl F. Kuhn (principles-focused), or Saxon Physics Home Study Kit, a more technical and math-focused physics course leading to Advanced Placement credit.3 |
You’ll want to supplement these by picking and choosing from the following experiment guides. For lab equipment, visit Tobin’s Lab at www.tobinslab.com and Carolina Biological Supply at www.carolina.com.
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Biology |
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Plant Biology Science Projects, by David R. Hershey |
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Ecosystem Science Fair Projects, by Pam Walker and Elaine Wood |
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Cell and Microbe Science Fair Projects, by Kenneth G. Rainis |
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Genetics and Evolution Science Fair Projects, by Robert G. Gardner |
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Janice VanCleave’s A+ Projects in Biology, by Janice VanCleave |
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Astronomy |
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Planet Earth Science Fair Projects, by Robert Gardner |
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Janice VanCleave’s A+ Projects in Astronomy, by Janice VanCleave |
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Chemistry |
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Chemistry Science Fair Projects, by Robert Gardner |
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Plastics and Polymers Science Fair Projects, by Madeleine P. Goodstein |
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Janice VanCleave’s A+ Projects in Chemistry, by Janice VanCleave |
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Hands-On Chemistry with Real-Life Applications, by Norman Herr and James Cunningham |
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Physics |
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Science Fair Projects About the Properties of Matter, by Robert Gardner |
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Electricity and Magnetism Science Fair Projects, by Robert Gardner |
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Forces and Motion Science Fair Projects, by Robert Gardner |
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Light, Sound, and Waves Science Fair Projects, by Robert Gardner |
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Hands-On Physics Activities with Real-Life Applications, by Norman Herr and James Cunningham |
A word about basic high-school science: This is a difficult subject to do at home unless the parent is knowledgeable and enthusiastic. The Wiley guides will provide a good solid foundation in science principles, but they’re not very exciting. And many of the other texts we looked at assume that the student has access to a full range of high-school lab equipment (this is also true of some of the experiments in the experiment guides listed above, although others are easily done at home).
If you live near a community college or university, consider enrolling your high school student in an introductory college science course. Generally, one semester of college study is considered the equivalent of a year of high-school study; the student can then use the following semester to complete the source reading requirement described later in this chapter. Enrolling your student in a college class allows her to fulfill lab requirements and also gives her the opportunity to learn from someone who is enthusiastic about science—perhaps awakening new interest in her.
We’ve listed other options below that may suit individual family needs.
Alternative Curricula
Gravitas Publications, publisher of Real Science-4-Kids, has followed up their well-done middle-grade courses with the first level of a high-school program: Level 2 Chemistry. Although additional subjects are not yet available, this program provides you with at least one year of planned-out science. Visit the publisher’s website, www.gravitaspublications.com, to view sample lessons.
For Christian Home-School Families
The Apologia Science series, by Jay Wile, is written for home schoolers; it explains concepts clearly, includes experiments designed to be done at home, and comes with companion lab materials and instructional CD-ROMs. The series assumes Christian belief. The courses are also offered online in cooperation with the Potter’s School (www.pottersschool.org). In Susan’s opinion, the weakest book in the series is the introductory text, Exploring Creation with Biology; although the sections dealing with biological functions are well-done, the sections that discuss origins contain rhetorical excesses and do not treat all aspects of the subject. The Apologia science series does not include an astronomy course, but does include advanced texts in biology, chemistry, and physics; students who wish to do a fourth year of science would need to do an additional year in one of these topics, rather than studying astronomy.
For Families with Financial Resources
The Teaching Company offers videotaped courses taught by college professors from all over the country. Their offerings include: a biology course (Understanding the Human Body: An Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology); two physics courses (Einstein’s Relativity and the Quantum Revolution: Modern Physics for Non-Scientists, as well as Particle Physics for Non-Physicists: A Tour of the Microcosmos); an astronomy course, Understanding the Universe: An Introduction to Astronomy; and a chemistry course, Chemistry—High School Level.
Although these courses are designed for nonspecialists, they are targeted for adults (with the exception of the chemistry course) and require a student whose comprehension skills are reasonably mature. The courses are also expensive; the tapes provide a full year’s worth of lectures, but the sticker prices are in the $400 to $600 range. (However, they often go on sale for $100 to $200, so if you can plan ahead and wait for a sale, they may become more affordable.) This is a very good at-home option if circumstances allow. Visit www.theteachingcompany.com for more information.
Source Readings
The student should begin to explore the development of scientific thought by reading three or four original works of science each year. This study promotes critical thought; the student learns to view science not as an unerring oracle, but as a human endeavor, limited by time and culture. Even great scientists suffer from bias and ignorance. The reading of source works each year makes science human.
The following titles are suggestions; you can add to or change this list, depending on the student’s interests and capabilities. The Timetables of History (see Chapter 26) offers a full list of scientific publications by year, from 500 B.C. until the present.
The student should read her selected text and write a summary/evaluation. Each source reading will take a couple of weeks to complete; during this time, source reading replaces the study of science principles (see the schedules at the end of this chapter).
Ninth Grade
Hippocrates, Aphorisms (c. 420 B.C.)
Euclid, Elements of Geometry (380 B.C.)
Aristotle, Physics (c. 380 B.C.)
Tenth Grade
Nicholas Copernicus, On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres (1543)
Johannes Kepler, Harmonies of the World (1619)
Galileo Galilei, Dialogues Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (1632)
Eleventh Grade
Robert Boyle, The Sceptical Chymist (1661)
Isaac Newton, Principia Mathematica (1687)
Antoine Lavoisier, Elements of Chemistry (1790)
Twelfth Grade
Albert Einstein, Relativity: The Special and the General Theory (trans. Robert W. Lawson) (1915)
Stephen Hawking, A Brief History of Time (1988)
Michael J. Behe, Darwin’s Black Box (1998)
The titles suggested above are just that: suggestions. If you prefer, you can choose titles from the fuller “Rhetoric of Science” list below. As in the study of great books, read any titles chosen in chronological order.
Hippocrates, Aphorisms (c. 420 B.C.)
Aristotle, Physics (c. 380 B.C.)
Aristotle, The History of Animals (c. 380 B.C.)
Euclid, Elements of Geometry (380 B.C.)
Theophrasteus, On the History of Plants (abridged) (c. 300 B.C.)
Archimides, On the Sphere and the Cylinder (c. 220 B.C.)
Lucretius, De Rerum Natura (c. 70 B.C.)
Pliny the Elder, Natural History (selections), (c. 60)
Andreas Vesalius, De Humani Corporis Fabrica (1543)
Nicolaus Copernicus, On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres (De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium) (1543)
Johannes Kepler, Harmonies of the World (1619)
Francis Bacon, Novum Organum (1620)
William Harvey, De Motu Cordis (1628)
Galileo Galilei, Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (1632)
Robert Boyle, The Sceptical Chymist (1661)
Isaac Newton, Principia Mathematica (1687)
Antoine Lavoisier, Elements of Chemistry (1790)
Charles Darwin, Origin of the Species (1864)
Gregor Mendel, “Experiments with Plant Hybrids” (1866)
Albert Einstein, Relativity: The Special and General Theories (1915)
Erwin Schrodinger, What Is Life? (1944)
Ernst Nagel and James R. Newman, Godel’s Proof (1958)
Werner Carl Heisenberg, Physics and Philosophy (1962)
Rachel Carson, Silent Spring (1962)
George Gamow, Thirty Years That Shook Physics: The Story of Quantum Physics (1966)
James D. Watson, The Double Helix (1968)
Edward O. Wilson, Sociobiology (1975)
Richard Dawkins, The Selfish Gene (1976)
Stephen J. Gould, Ever Since Darwin (1977)
Douglas R. Hofstadter, Godel, Escher, Bach (1979)
Robert Jastrow, Red Giants and White Dwarfs (1980)
Richard Feynmann, QED: The Strange Theory of Light of Matter (1985)
James Gleick, Chaos: Making a New Science (1987)
Stephen Hawking, A Brief History of Time (1988)
Paul Davies, The New Physics (1989)
Michael Behe, Darwin’s Black Box (1998)
Freeman Dyson, Origins of Life (1999)
Ray Kurzweil, The Singularity Is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology (2005)
The Great Conversation: Writing Papers
Each year, the student should write one paper (four to six pages in ninth grade, five to eight pages in tenth, six to ten in eleventh, eight to twelve pages in twelfth), discussing some scientific discovery or technological innovation. These papers should trace the historical development of the topic, mentioning the ethical issues raised. A ninth-grade paper might begin with the plague and progress through the 1917 influenza epidemic, the discovery of antibiotics, and the development of antibiotic-resistent “superbugs.” The ninth grader should then conclude by answering the following: What overall effect has the use of antibiotics had on the war against disease? What defenses against the superbugs remain? Don’t expect the student to solve these dilemmas; do encourage her to consider them.
In The End of Education, Neil Postman suggests that any student who has truly studied science and technology will consider certain questions, including:
These questions will serve as thought starters for the student as she studies science and considers paper topics. Postman further proposes the following two possibilities for a hypothetical final exam. They would serve equally well as topics for the eleventh-and twelfth-grade papers:
Part I: Choose one pre-twentieth century technology—for example, the alphabet, the printing press, the telegraph, the factory—and indicate what were the main intellectual, social, political, and economic advantages of the technology, and why. Then indicate what were the main intellectual, social, political, and economic disadvantages of the technology, and why.
Part II: Indicate, first, what you believe are or will be the main advantages of computer technology, and why; second, indicate what are or will be the main disadvantages of computer technology, and why.5
This paper should be written in the spring of each year (see the discussion of the research paper in Chapter 26 for specific guidelines). Allow four to six weeks for this paper.
OUTSIDE HELP
Correspondence Options
The student who wants to pursue a standard high-school science course can elect to use a correspondence course instead of studying science independently. The University of Nebraska offers standard and advanced high-school science courses by correspondence in biology, chemistry, and physics; chemistry may be taken with or without lab. The University of Oklahoma offers high-school biology, chemistry, and physics, as well as a college course in astronomy. Keystone National High School offers both regular and AP high-school science courses with lab components, both by traditional correspondence and through online tutorials. Visit www.keystonehighschool.com for the catalog of available courses. We’ve provided a full list of correspondence-school resources in Chapter 43. These courses will be textbook-and question-and-answer-focused rather than centered on reading and writing, and the student may or may not be able to manage source readings and the spring science paper while using them.
However, if you’d feel more comfortable with a structured correspondence course or if the student flounders without a textbook-type approach, investigate the correspondence option. Call the schools listed in Chapter 43, and look through their catalogs for courses in biology, astronomy, chemistry, and physics. Teachers are available for consultation. Levels of involvement can vary from materials only to complete grading and transcript service.
Online Resources
Whether you use correspondence courses or not, make use of online science resources. Cornell University sponsors a math and science website with links to dozens of fantastic science sites, including Human Anatomy Online; Chickscope (an online MRI of a developing chick in an egg); Cornell’s Lab of Ornithology; Interactive Frog Dissection (sponsored by the University of Virginia, this site allows you to dissect a virtual frog—you can reach them at http://frog.edschool.virginia.edu); DNA molecular modeling; microscopy of living cells; the latest pictures from the Mars Global Surveyor, the Galileo probe, and the Pathfinder mission; online planetariums; an online tour of the Fermilab high-energy physics laboratory; virtual chemistry textbooks and experiment sites; and more. Go to www.tc.cornell.edu/Services/ Education/Gateways/ Math_and_Science.
SAMPLE SCHEDULES
We suggest you schedule two weeks per source reading and four to six weeks for the writing of each science paper. The remaining weeks should be devoted to the study of science principles. This means that ninth, eleventh, and twelfth graders will spend six weeks on source readings; tenth graders will spend eight weeks. Allot four to six weeks for the writing of the spring science paper. In a thirty-six-week school year, you’ll be left with twenty-two to twenty-six weeks to study the science text. Don’t attempt to cover the entire text. Decide with your student how many pages she can reasonable cover each week, and try to hold to this schedule.
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Ninth grade |
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Weeks 1–6 |
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Biology: A Self-Teaching Guide |
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Weeks 7–8 |
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Hippocrates, medical treatises |
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Weeks 9–15 |
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Biology: A Self-Teaching Guide |
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Weeks 16–17 |
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Euclid, Elements |
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Weeks 18–24 |
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Biology: A Self-Teaching Guide |
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Weeks 25–26 |
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Aristotle, Physics |
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Weeks 27–32 |
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Biology: A Self-Teaching Guide |
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Weeks 33–36 |
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Paper on life-science topic |
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Tenth grade |
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Weeks 1–7 |
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Astronomy: A Self-Teaching Guide |
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Weeks 8–10 |
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Copernicus, On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres |
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Weeks 11–14 |
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Astronomy: A Self-Teaching Guide |
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Weeks 15–16 |
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Kepler, Epitome of Copernican Astronomy and Harmonies of the World (first half) |
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Weeks 17–19 |
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Astronomy: A Self-Teaching Guide |
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Weeks 20–21 |
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Kepler, Epitome…(second half) |
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Weeks 22–26 |
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Weeks 27–28 |
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Galileo, Dialogues Concerning Two New Sciences |
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Weeks 29–32 |
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Astronomy: A Self-Teaching Guide |
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Weeks 33–36 |
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Paper on astronomy topic |
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Eleventh grade |
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Weeks 1–6 |
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Chemistry: Concepts and Problems—a Self-Teaching Guide |
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Weeks 7–8 |
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Boyle, The Sceptical Chemist |
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Weeks 9–15 |
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Chemistry: Concepts and Problems—a Self-Teaching Guide |
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Weeks 16–17 |
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Newton, Principia |
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Weeks 18–24 |
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Chemistry: Concepts and Problems—a Self-Teaching Guide |
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Weeks 25–26 |
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Lavoisier, Elements of Chemistry |
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Weeks 27–32 |
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Chemistry: Concepts and Problems—a Self-Teaching Guide |
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Weeks 33–36 |
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Paper on technology topic |
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Twelfth grade |
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Weeks 1–6 |
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Basic Physics: A Self-Teaching Guide |
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Weeks 7–8 |
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Einstein, Relativity: The Special and the General Theory |
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Weeks 9–15 |
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Basic Physics: A Self-Teaching Guide |
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Weeks 16–17 |
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Hawking, A Brief History of Time |
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Weeks 18–24 |
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Basic Physics: A Self-Teaching Guide |
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Weeks 25–26 |
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Behe, Darwin’s Black Box |
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Weeks 27–32 |
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Basic Physics: A Self-Teaching Guide |
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Weeks 33–36 |
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Paper on technology topic |
RESOURCES
For publisher and catalog addresses, telephone numbers, and other information, see Sources (Appendix 4). Most books can be obtained from any bookstore or library; where we know of a mail-order option, we have provided it. Reference materials for the entire four years of the rhetoric stage are listed first. Resources for each year are listed next, with each list divided into basic texts and optional supplementary materials. You can still use some of the resources listed in Chapter 18, particularly the experiment kits and the CD-ROMs.
Reference Materials for All Four Years
Adler, Mortimer, and Charles Van Doren. How to Read a Book. New York: Touchstone, 1972.
$16.00. Order from any bookstore. Chapter 17 gives specific guidance about how to read scientific nonfiction.
Bauer, Susan Wise. The Well-Educated Mind: A Guide to the Classical Education You Never Had. New York: W. W. Norton, 2003.
$27.95. Order from any bookstore. Recommended in Chapter 26 of this book for developing reading skills in nonfiction and fiction.
Brock Magiscope. Maitland, Fla.: Brock Optical, Inc.
$119.00 and up. Order from Brock. A selection of good-quality microscopes can be viewed at www.magiscope.com.
Eyewitness Encyclopedia of Science CD-ROM. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 1997.
$29.99. Order from any bookstore. The current version is 2.0; check for any update. This CD-ROM encyclopedia contains articles in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and life sciences, as well as many definitions, animations, video illustrations, magnified and cutaway views, and much more.
Stockley, Corinne, et al. The Usborne Illustrated Dictionary of Science. Tulsa, Okla.: Usborne Publishing, 2007.
$29.99. Detailed facts in physics, chemistry, and biology.
Science Equipment
For an overwhelmingly complete (over 1,200 print pages) catalog of high-quality school science supplies, visit the Carolina Biological Supply Company website at www.carolina.com. Although much of what Carolina sells is packaged in large quantities, it carries some materials that are unavailable elsewhere.
You can also buy a wonderful selection of lab materials and science supplies from Science Stuff. Visit their website at www.sciencestuff.com.
Biology (Ninth Grade)
Basic Texts
Aristotle. Physics. Ed. Robin Waterfield and David Bostock. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999.
$12.95. Order through a bookstore or online bookseller, or check your library.
Euclid. Thirteen Books of Euclid’s Elements, Vol. 1. Ed. Thomas L. Heath. 2d ed. New York: Dover, 1989.
$14.95. Order through a bookstore or online bookseller, or check your library.
Garber, Steven D. Biology: A Self-Teaching Guide. 2d ed. New York: Wiley, 2002.
$19.95. Order through a bookstore or online bookseller.
Gardner, Robert. Genetics and Evolution Science Fair Projects. Berkeley Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 2005.
$26.60. Order from any bookstore.
Hershey, David R. Plant Biology Science Projects. Hoboken, N.J.: Jossey-Bass, 1995.
$16.95. Order from any bookstore.
Hippocrates. Hippocrates: Places in Man, General Nature of Glands, Fleshes, Use of Liquids, Ulcers, Fistulas, Haemorrhoids, Vol. 8. Trans. Paul Potter. Loeb Classical Library, no. 482. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1995.
$24.00. Order through a bookstore or online bookseller, or check your library.
Rainis, Kenneth G. Cell and Microbe Science Fair Projects. Berkeley Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 2005.
$26.60. Order from any bookstore.
VanCleave, Janice. Janice VanCleave’s A+ Projects in Biology. Hoboken, N.J.: Jossey-Bass, 1993.
$12.95. Order from any bookstore.
Walker, Pam, and Elaine Wood. Ecosystem Science Fair Projects. Berkeley Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 2005.
$26.60. Order from any bookstore.
Supplementary Resources
A.D.A.M.: The Inside Story, Complete. Atlanta, Ga.: A.D.A.M. Software.
$87.95. Order from A.D.A.M. Software. This is an award-winning interactive CD-ROM that guides you through the human body.
Burnie, David. Eyewitness: Life. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 1999.
$15.99. A good basic reference work for biology; covers everything from cell structure to classification.
Eyewitness Books. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2000.
$15.99 each. Designed by Dorling Kindersley, these are museums in a book—photos, reference text, definitions, all beautifully done.
Burnie, David, and Peter Chadwick. Bird.
———. Tree.
Parker, Steve, and Philip Dowell. Pond and River.
———. Skeleton.
Whalley, Paul, et al. Butterfly and Moth.
Kapit, Wynn, and Lawrence M. Elson. Anatomy Coloring Book. 3d ed. Paramus, N.J.: Pearson Education, 2001.
$21.80. Order from Rainbow Resource Center. Even more detailed than the Gray’s Anatomy coloring book (see below). Covers, in 400 pages, all major body systems. Revised to include information on AIDS.
Pollock, Steve. Eyewitness: Ecology. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2005.
$15.99. This is a particularly good guide for students trying to come up with paper topics. Examines cause and effect in the natural world.
Stark, Fred. Start Exploring Gray’s Anatomy: A Fact-Filled Coloring Book. Philadelphia, Pa.: Running Press, 2001.
$8.95. Order from Greenleaf Press. Detailed drawings to color, with descriptions from the classic anatomy text.
Astronomy (Tenth Grade)
Basic Texts
Copernicus, Nicholas. On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres. Trans. Charles G. Wallis. New York: Prometheus, 1995.
$14.95. Order through a bookstore or online bookseller.
Galilei, Galileo. Dialogues Concerning Two New Sciences. Trans. Alfonso De Salvio and Henry Crew. New York: Prometheus, 1991.
$12.95. Order through a bookstore or online bookseller.
Gardner, Robert. Planet Earth Science Fair Projects. Berkeley Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 2005.
$26.60. Order from any bookstore. Includes astronomy projects.
Kepler, Johannes. Epitome of Copernican Astronomy and Harmonies of the World. Trans. Charles Glenn Wallis. New York: Prometheus, 1995.
$13.00. Order through a bookstore or online bookseller.
Moche, Dinah L. Astronomy: A Self-Teaching Guide. New York: Wiley, 2004.
$19.95. Order through a bookstore or online bookseller.
VanCleave, Janice. Janice VanCleave’s A+ Projects in Astronomy. Hoboken, N.J.: Jossey-Bass, 2001.
$12.95. Order from any bookstore.
Supplementary Resources
Lippincott, Kristen. Eyewitness: Astronomy. New York: Dorling Kindersley, 2008.
$15.99. Order from Dorling Kindersley. Reviews the history of astronomy along with recent discoveries.
Luminous Star Finder. Skokie, Ill.: Rand McNally.
$5.00. Order from Science Stuff. This big wheel turns to the appropriate month, day, and time. Has glow-in-the-dark stars.
Ridpath, Ian, and Wil Tirion. Stars and Planets: Princeton Field Guides. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 2001.
$19.95. Order from any bookstore. Photos, diagrams, and lots of information.
Chemistry (Eleventh Grade)
Basic Texts
Boyle, Robert. The Sceptical Chymist. New York: Dover, 2003.
$14.95. Order from any bookstore or online bookseller.
Gardner, Robert. Chemistry Science Fair Projects. Berkeley Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 2004.
$26.60. Order from any bookstore.
Goodstein, Madeleine P. Plastics and Polymers Science Fair Projects. Berkeley Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 2004.
$26.60. Order from any bookstore.
Herr, Norman, and James Cunningham. Hands-On Chemistry Activities with Real Life Applications. New York: Jossey-Bass, 1999.
$32.95. Order from any bookstore.
Houk, Clifford C., and Richard Post. Chemistry: Concepts and Problems—A Self-Teaching Guide. 2d ed. New York: Wiley, 1996.
$19.95. Order from any bookstore or online bookseller.
Lavoisier, Antoine. Elements of Chemistry. New York: Dover, 1984.
$19.95. Order from any bookstore or online bookseller.
Newton, Isaac. Principia. Trans. Andrew Motte. New York: Prometheus, 1995.
$17.00. Order from any bookstore or online bookseller.
VanCleave, Janice. Janice VanCleave’s A+ Projects in Chemistry. Hoboken, N.J.: Jossey-Bass, 1993.
$12.95. Order from any bookstore.
Supplementary Resources
CHEM C3000 Chemistry Kit. Portsmouth, R.I.: Thames & Kosmos.
$239.95. Order from Thames & Kosmos; the company makes two lower-priced sets as well, but this one contains all necessary high-school materials.
ElementO.
$34.95. Order from Rainbow Resource Center. In this Monopoly-type game, players collect elements and pay each other with proton and neutron certificates. Keep track with the Periodic Table of Elements in the middle of the board. A great way to memorize the basic properties of chemistry.
Knapp, Brian. ChemLab series. Danbury, Conn.: Grolier Educational Corporation, 1997.
This is an excellent twelve-volume series covering all the major areas of chemistry with illustrations, experiments, and definitions. You should be able to find these at your local library.
Volume 1: Gases, Liquids, and Solids.
Volume 2: Elements, Compounds, and Mixtures.
Volume 3: The Periodic Table.
Volume 4: Metals.
Volume 5: Acids, Bases, and Salts.
Volume 6: Heat and Combustion.
Volume 7: Oxidation and Reduction.
Volume 8: Air and Water Chemistry.
Volume 9: Carbon Chemistry.
Volume 10: Energy and Chemical Change.
Volume 11: Preparations.
Volume 12: Tests.
Periodic Table of Elements Chartlet.
$1.99. Order from Rainbow Resource Center. A 17 × 22-inch reference chart of the table of elements.
Trombley, Linda, and Thomas G. Cohn. Mastering the Periodic Table: Exercises on the Elements. Portland, Me.: J. Weston Walch, 2002.
$22.99. Order from J. Weston Walch or from Rainbow Resource Center.
Physics (Twelfth Grade)
Basic Texts
Behe, Michael. Darwin’s Black Box. New York: Touchstone, 2006.
$15.00. Order through any bookstore or online bookseller.
Cunningham, James, and Norman Herr. Hands-On Physics Activities with Real-Life Applications: Easy-to-Use Labs and Demonstrations for Grades 8–12. New York: Jossey-Bass, 1994.
$32.95. Order from any bookstore.
Einstein, Albert. Relativity: The Special and the General Theory. Trans. Robert W. Lawson. New York: Dover, 2005.
$6.99. Order through any bookstore or online bookseller.
Gardner, Robert. Electricity and Magnetism Science Fair Projects. Berkely Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 2004.
$26.60. Order from any bookstore.
———. Forces and Motion Science Fair Projects. Berkeley Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 2004.
$26.60. Order from any bookstore.
———. Light, Sound, and Waves Science Fair Projects. Berkeley Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 2004.
$26.60. Order from any bookstore.
———. Science Fair Projects About the Properties of Matter. Berkeley Heights, N.J.: Enslow, 2004.
$26.60. Order from any bookstore.
Hawking, Stephen. A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes. 10th anniversary ed. New York: Bantam, 1998.
$18.00. Order through any bookstore or online bookseller.
Kuhn, Karl F. Basic Physics: A Self-Teaching Guide. 2d ed. New York: Wiley, 1996.
$19.95. Order through any bookstore or online bookseller.
Supplementary Resources
Adams, Richard C., et al. Energy Projects for Young Scientists, rev. ed. New York: Franklin Watts, 2003.
$9.95. Order from any bookstore. Experiments in power.
Physics Projects Kits. Riverside, N.Y.: Educational Designs.
$10.00 each. Order from Rainbow Resource Center. Each kit is complete with all materials.
Crystal Radio.
A working crystal radio.
Electric Bell.
Build a bell-buzzer-telegraph.
Electric Motor.
Electro-Magnetix.
Electromagnetic motor to build.
Alternative Science Courses
Real Science-4-Kids, by Rebecca Keller. Albuquerque, N.Mex.: Gravitas Publications, Inc.
Order from Gravitas Publications.
Level 2 Chemistry
Student Text. $72.95
Student Workbook. $21.95
Teacher’s Manual. $26.95.
Student/Teacher Bundle (contains all of the above). $121.85.
The Teaching Company.
Order these courses from the Teaching Company. Check the site regularly for sales, which lower prices by as much as 70 percent. Prices include tapes plus transcript book.
Chemistry—High School Level.
$254.95. Taught by Frank Cardulla, Niles North High School (Chicago).
Einstein’s Relativity and the Quantum Revolution: Modern Physics for Non-Scientists, 2d Edition.
$254.95. Taught by Richard Wolfson, Middlebury College.
Particle Physics for Non-Physicists: A Tour of the Microcosmos.
$254.95. Taught by Steven Pollock, University of Colorado.
Understanding the Human Body: An Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology.
$519.95. Taught by Dr. Anthony Goodman, Cornell.
Understanding the Universe: An Introduction to Astronomy
$799.95. Taught by Alex Filippenko, UC-Berkeley.
Wile, Jay. Apologia Science. Anderson, Ind.: Apologia Educational Ministries.
Order from Tobin’s Lab, Rainbow Resource Center, or directly from Apologia. Visit apologia.com to view more ordering options and supplies.
Exploring Creation with Biology.
$85.00 for two-volume set: text and solution manual.
Multimedia CD-ROM. $15.00.
Full course CD. $65.00.
Dissection Lab Supplies. $36.00.
Biology Lab Supplies. $85.00.
Biology Lab Supplies w/Microscope. $260.00.
Exploring Creation with Chemistry
$79.00 for two-volume set: text and solution manual.
Multimedia CD-ROM. $15.00.
Full course CD. $ 65.00.
Chemistry Lab Supplies. $55.00.
Exploring Creation with Physics.
$75.00 for two-volume set: text and solution manual.
Advanced Biology: The Human Body: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
$85.00 for two-volume set: text and solution manual
Advanced Biology Dissection Specimens. $32.00.
Full course CD. $65.00.
Human Body Slide Set. $56.00.
Advanced Chemistry in Creation.
$75.00 for two-volume set: text and solution manual.
Advanced Chemistry Lab Set. $45.00.
Advanced Physics in Creation.
$75.00 for two-volume set: text and solution manual.