I recently mentioned, in my 10th Grade Plans for 2022-2023 article, that my son would be using a chemistry curriculum written by Dr. Jay Wile, called Discovering Design with Chemistry curriculum, for his 10th grade chemistry class. The curriculum is published by Berean Builders.
Discovering Design with Chemistry Curriculum
He really enjoyed the Biology course he did last year, which was also written by Dr. Wile. As it turned out, my son likes Dr. Wile’s style of writing, so using a homeschool chemistry curriculum written by Dr. Wile was a natural choice.
From the publisher,
Discovering Design with Chemistry is a high school chemistry course designed for students who have completed Algebra 1. This independent-study, college-preparatory course covers fundamental aspects of chemistry such as the classification of matter, atomic structure, spectroscopy, chemical bonding, molecular geometry, physical change, chemical change, stoichiometry, solutions, ideal gases, acid/base chemistry, reduction/oxidation reactions, thermochemistry, thermodynamics, kinetics, and chemical equilibrium. Weaving together concepts and their mathematical applications, the course teaches students how to think as a chemist so they can analyze the major changes that occur in matter.
The course contains 46 separate experiments that illustrate various concepts being explored. Many are quantitative in nature, including measuring the wavelength of microwaves, determining the number of water molecules in a hydrated compound, calculating percent yield, measuring the concentration of a hydrogen peroxide solution, determining the concentration of acetic acid in vinegar, measuring the specific heat of a metal, and determining the change in enthalpy for a chemical reaction. Others are qualitative, such as performing flame tests, examining the interference of light waves, comparing metals to nonmetals, exploring Boyle’s Law, doing litmus tests, and electroplating.
Throughout the course, the student is shown how chemistry reveals the amazing design that exists all around us. From the details of atomic structure to the makeup of the very air that we breathe, chemistry shows us the marvelous handiwork of God.
https://bereanbuilders.com/ecomm/product/discovering-design-with-chemistry/
Our homeschool co-op started mid-August, and he had assignments that needed to be completed and turned in on the first day of class. He’s using the Discovering Design with Chemistry Student Workbook as he completes his reading assignments at home.
Most of his labs are done in the co-op setting, in a group, which he prefers over doing labs at home on his own.
As the saying goes, many hands make the work light. So, he is thoroughly enjoying the ability to work in groups in the chemistry lab. I think this is great prep for having to work with lab partners in college. Plus, I don’t have to worry about him blowing up my kitchen. At least with homeschool chemistry lab experiments. LOL
We did take time to browse the homeschool chemistry kits from Homeschool Science Tools, but so far, what labs we have done at home we were able to complete with things I had on hand, so I haven’t had to buy any chemistry supplies yet.
His co-op teacher is doing me a huge solid by grading all of his Discovering Design with Chemistry Tests, which is just beyond amazing. What’s more, she convinced him that he had to show his work, which has been an ongoing conversation with this brilliant child of mine. <– that is gold. Pure gold! Whoop!
While he has, and has used. the Discovering Design with Chemistry Audio Book, which is a USB flash drive that contains .mp3 files of the book, he leans more toward reading the book himself because he reads faster than the audiobook. He’s a bit of a speed reader. Sometimes, he reads so quickly, he misses important things, so it’s nice to have the audio book for when he needs it.
We do have the added bonus that his co-op teachers husband works in the chemistry field, and he’s visited class and also held study zooms to help the kids out. <- score!
When I asked him how he likes this curriculum and his class, he said, “It’s quite a bit of work, in comparison to some of my other classes, but I’m learning a lot and having fun with it, and I like the textbook.” Um, not sure you can get higher praise than a 14yo saying he “likes the textbook.” LOL
Dr. Wily does indicate, on the site, that if all of the course material in the homeschool chemistry textbook is covered and if all the tests are completed as closed book, this class could be considered Homeschol Honors Chemistry. Because of his age, we’ve chosen to not use this curriculum as an Honors level class.
The only thing I, as the parent, would change about this entire curriculum is that the solutions to the review questions, the tests, and the test solutions are all sandwiched in one softcover book, in chapter order. Which means, one side of the page may be review solutions and the other side of the page part of a chapter test. This means I can’t just tear the tests out of the book to hand to him. I also can’t just hand him the book, because it has all the answers in it. I do understand the rationale for having everything in one place. That said, if everything has to be in one book, I’d rather all the tests be at the front, or back, of the book and be perforated so that they can be removed and handed to my kid. I’d also be willing to pay $5 for a pdf test booklet, just to not have to deal with copying and printing so my son can have the tests without the answer key. I would think that parents with multiple kids using the curriculum would also like a separate test booklet option. I hope by the time my DD has to take chemistry, this will be an option.
Overall, we are very pleased with this curriculum, and I hope that my DD will want to use it when it’s her turn for chemistry in a few years.
***Special thanks to his chemistry lab teacher, Cassie, for allowing me to use some photos she’s taken in the chemistry lab class for this article.***
