Everything You Need to Know About Apologia Physical Science (3rd Ed.)

Inside: An honest review of Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Physical Science, 3rd Ed. for middle school homeschool science. This post contains affiliate links.

I was compensated for my time reviewing this product in exchange for an honest review.

When you have a child passionate about science, you need a homeschool science curriculum capable of stoking that desire to learn. We have long used Apologia Science in our homeschool. In fact, it was their curriculum on Flying Creatures that first ignited my daughter’s love of birds. Both she and I were excited to review Apologia’s new Exploring Creation with Physical Science Advantage Set (3rd edition) for Middle School.

An Overview of Apologia Physical Science (3rd Ed.) for Homeschool Middle School

Apologia is a Christian Science curriculum. This means their textbooks reflect a Creationist viewpoint and God is mentioned throughout.

Their Physical Science homeschool curriculum is divided into 15 Modules:

• Science–The Basics
• Chemistry Properties and States of Matter
• Chemistry–Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table
• Chemistry–Chemical Bonds
• Chemistry–Reactions and Energy
• Physics–Motion
• Physics–Forces
• Physics–Energy
• Physics–Waves and Sound
• Physics–Light
• Physics–Electricity and Magnetism
• Earth Science–Our Earth
• Earth Science–Our Atmosphere and Beyond
• Chemistry and Physics in the Life Sciences
• Physical Science Research

The Advantage Set contains the Textbook, Notebook, Test Booklet, and Solutions and Tests Answer Key.

The course is set up to be done four days a week, spending about 45 minutes to an hour each day. Most modules can be completed in 2-2.5 weeks. The course is designed to be completed in 34 weeks. There is some flexibility, so you could easily adjust it to fit your schedule.

Foster Independent Learning with Apologia Physical Science

By Middle School, students should be well on their way to being independent learners. Apologia’s Physical Science homeschool curriculum is designed so the student can learn independently.

The text is easy to read and is broken up with vivid pictures, figures, and tables that complement the subject matter. Vocabulary is set apart in bright blue and special sections are written in an olive green font.

Overall, the look of the text is very appealing and engaging.

Throughout the modules, there are On Your Own sections containing questions for the student to answer to help them learn and apply the information.

Even the experiments are designed so the student can do them on their own. There are also sections titled You Do Science, which is not part of the lab, but the student can choose to do.

I love curriculum that fosters independent learning and not just because it makes it easier for me. Although, it does. I love it because teaching children to be responsible for their own learning and teaching them how to learn on their own is necessary for them to be successful later in life. It is a valuable skill necessary far beyond one science class.

The independent learning was also a plus for my daughter, who likes to be able to work at her own pace and not wait for me to move forward. With this module, she can do science to her heart’s content.

Teach Notetaking & Study Skills with the Apologia Physical Science Notebook

While the Notebook is not necessary to use with the text, I find it to be a valuable addition. The Notebook contains a syllabus with assignments for students to check off (part of that independent learning) and a place to record grades.

Utilizing the Notebook aids in keeping students engaged. There is a place to answer all of the On Your Own sections found in the book which I’ve found keeps my daughter from just glossing over them.

The back of the Notebook also contains a section to do the lab experiments. The layout of the experiment’s sections is beneficial in helping the student organize their findings and learn how to write a lab report when older.

Using the Notebook, students develop the habit of Notetaking, reinforce what they have read through writing, and have a place to reference what they have learned.

A study guide for each module is also included in the Notebook to aid students in preparing for the tests.

My daughter likes filling in the Notebook because it helps her pick out the important information. She also likes the organization and that she doesn’t have to rewrite everything. Charts and graphs are already included, so she isn’t having to remake them from the text.

From Hardcover to Softcover

With the third edition of Physical Science, Apologia switched from a hardcover textbook to a softcover textbook. In the short time we had it, the bottom corner of the text has already started to curl up. For longevity, this doesn’t bode well.

Like most homeschoolers with multiple children, I tend to reuse the curriculum. I don’t foresee the softcover holding up as well as the hardcover textbook.

Apologia Physical Science 2nd Ed. vs. 3rd Ed.

I am not a scientist, although I am an educated individual. I rely on companies I can trust to produce quality content for my children, especially on subjects I am not an expert on. Science is one of these subjects.

If you have used Apologia for a while you may have noticed this newest edition was not updated by Dr. Wile, although based on his original works.

Just prior to receiving this review, I came across his review of this same edition and it left me feeling very uneasy about using the newest text. I wanted to address it in case you were having similar concerns.

My husband and I looked through all of his unfavorable reasons with the newest textbook on hand.

For the most part, objections fell into two camps:

1. It was different than how he would have done it.
2. It was the difference between Dincher saying the sky is blue and Wile saying the sky is actually an absence of color. Both are correct, although one is more technical.

Overall, we determined we are still comfortable having our daughter work through this curriculum independently.

Final Thoughts on Apologia Physical Science, 3rd Ed. Homeschool Science

My daughter is excited to be working through Apologia’s Physical Science this year. She is looking forward to getting to the “exciting” parts of the text.

I am confident Apologia Physical Science will continue to stoke her passion for science and foster independent learning.

If you are looking for a quality homeschool science curriculum for your middle school student, then I recommend Apologia’s Exploring Creation with Physical Science.

To obtain your own copy of Exploring Creation with Physical Science 3rd Ed., visit Apologia today.