Elijah and I decided we should ramp up the science in 7th and 8th grades in order to prepare him for high school science. For 8th grade Elijah chose to focus his science study on chemistry.
This was not exactly what I would consider a delight-directed study, but he was definitely interested in chemistry as his friend's dad is a professor of this subject at a local university. He watched the Chemistry 101 DVDs and read through Exploring the World of Chemistry by John Tiner. These two resources were a great starting point for him, but I wanted to add some living books and some reference books to his study. Reading is Elijah's strength, and he retains more information when it is presented through a living book. Living books make the learning real and relevant.
We added one reference books and four living books to his study:
The Elements by Theodore Gray
This reference book is perfect for visual learners as it includes "an eye-opening, original collection of gorgeous, never-before-seen photographic representations of the 118 elements in the periodic table."
The Mystery of the Periodic Table by Benjamin D. Wiker
"Leads the reader on a delightful and absorbing journey through the ages, on the trail of the elements of the Periodic Table as we know them today. He introduces the young reader to people like Von Helmont, Boyle, Stahl, Priestly, Cavendish, Lavoisier, and many others, all incredibly diverse in personality and approach, who have laid the groundwork for a search that is still unfolding to this day."
Robert Boyle: Trailblazer of Science by John Tiner
Robert Boyle is known as the "Father of Modern Chemistry." This book chronicles his life and faith as the most important scientist of his day.
Who Was Marie Curie? by Megan Stine
"Born in Warsaw, Poland, on November 7, 1867, Marie Curie was forbidden to attend the male-only University of Warsaw, so she enrolled at the Sorbonne in Paris to study physics and mathematics. There she met a professor named Pierre Curie, and the two soon married, forming one of the most famous scientific partnerships in history. Together they discovered two elements and won a Nobel Prize in 1903."
The Wonder Book of Chemistry by Jean Henri Fabre
"Starting with a mixture of iron filings and sulphur, Uncle Paul awakens in his young nephews an eagerness to learn more about the properties of the elements. Through a series of carefully-devised experiments and conversations about the experiments, he leads the boys to an understanding of some of the basic principles of chemistry."
(All quotes are taken from reviews from Amazon.)
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