Our base text is probably going to be Chemistry: The Central Science.  I also ordered a copy of Zumdahl's chemistry so the kids could kind of pick which text they were more comfortable with.  I figured it would be an easy choice, but of course two said Central and one said Zumdahl.  Right now we're going to read and take notes from Central, just read Zumdahl, and listen to the mp3 of Wile's Exploring Creation with Chemistry.

As far as videos go, right now I'm having the kids take notes from the Thinkwell course and as we get into the Teaching Company course we will just work the sample problems within the lectures.  We're just gong to watch The World of Chemistry videos.  There are also a plethora of websites that quiz the different topics of chemistry and as we use those I will post and review those that work well for us.

Here is what Unit One looks like:

  

Chemistry, Zumdahl 5th Edition

1. Chemical Foundations

1.1 Chemistry: An Overview

1.2 The Scientific Method

1.3 Units of Measurement

1.4 Uncertainty in Measurement

1.5 Significant Figures and Calculations

1.6 Dimensional Analysis

1.7 Temperature

1.8 Density

1.9 Classification of Matter

Thinkwell Chemistry

1.1. An Introduction to Chemistry and the Scientific Method

1.1.1. An Introduction to Chemistry

1.1.2. The Scientific Method

1.2. Properties of Matter

1.2.1. States of Matter

1.2.2. A Word About Laboratory Safety

1.2.3. CIA Demonstration: Differences in Density Due to Temperature

1.2.4. Properties of Matter

1.3. Scientific Measurement

1.3.1. The Measurement of Matter

1.3.2. Precision and Accuracy

1.3.3. CIA Demonstration: Precision and Accuracy with Glassware

1.3.4. Significant Figures

1.3.5. Dimensional Analysis

1.4. Mathematics of Chemistry

1.4.1. Scientific (Exponential) Notation

1.4.2. Common Mathematical Functions

Chemistry: The Central Science

Chapter 1: Introduction: Matter and Measurement

1.1: The Study of Chemistry

1: Visualizing Concepts

1.2: Classifications of Matter (7)

1.3: Properties of Matter (2)

1.4: Units of Measurement (12)

1.5: Uncertainty of Measurement (4)

1.6: Dimensional Analysis (7)

1: Additional Exercises (8)

Exploring Creation with Chemistry

MODULE #1: Measurement and Units

Experiment 1.1-2: Air Has Mass/Takes up space

Units of Measurement

The Metric System

Manipulating Units

Converting Between Units

Converting Between Unit Systems

More Complex Unit Conversions

Derived Units

Making Measurements

Accuracy, Precision, and Significant Figures

Scientific Notation

Using Significant Figures in Mathematical Problems

Experiment 1.3: Comparing Conversions to Measurements

Density

Experiment 1.4: The Density of Liquid

MODULE #4: Classifying Matter and Its Changes

Classifying Matter

Ex. 4.1: Separating a Mixture of Sand and Salt

Classifying Changes That Occur in Matter

Ex. 4.2: Dist. Between Chemical and Physical Change

Phase Changes

Experiment 4.3: Condensing Steam in an Enclosed Vessel

The Kinetic Theory of Matter

Experiment 4.4: The Kinetic Theory of Matter

Phase Changes in Water

Chemical Reactions and Chemical Equations

Determining Whether or Not a Chemical Equation is Bal.

Balancing Chemical Equations

The World of Chemistry-Annenburg

1. The World of Chemistry

3. Measurement: The Foundation of Chemistry

http://www.sciencegeek.net/APchemistry/APtaters/directory.shtml

http://www.sciencegeek.net/APchemistry/APtaters/sigfigs.htm

http://www.sciencegeek.net/Activities/scientificnotation.html

This is actually made using Excel, so if you want to see what I do you would need to open Excel and then copy and paste each "grid" next to each other.  So column 1 would be Zumdahl, column 2 would be Thinkwell, column 3 would be Central Science and so on.  The World of chemistry and websites I want the kids to look at hang out at the bottom of the worksheet.

We went hiking along the Chattahoochee River a couple of weeks ago and came upon a huge patch of blackberry bushes just loaded with berries.  I happened to have a gallon sized ziplock bag and so we spent a few minutes grabbing a bunch.  Here is the result:

I used my Cuisinart Bread Machine to make this jam and it was soooo easy: just wash the berries throw them in with a couple of cups of sugar and a packet of pectin and some lemon juice.  An hour and a half later the machine beeps at me and I poured the jam into a hot jar and voila!  Now I just need to eat it in four weeks.  I don't think that will be a problem.

Oh, the cucumbers are actually from my garden--I think they wanted to sneak into this picture.

Last night, the coolest thing I have ever seen happened.  My two boys were sitting on the floor playing in the office, while I was figuring some math.  Noah said, "uh, Mama?"  I said, "just a second, Noah"  The next thing I knew, he was up screaming, crying, and running out the door of the office and into the living room.  Before I could do anything else, he was back in the office still screaming like before and headed straight for his little brother, grabbed his overall straps, and was pulling him across the floor.  As soon as he moved the baby, there it was.........................A scorpion!  Tail curled up, ready to attack! 

I grab Malachi, who Noah left setting in the door, and head for the living room.  Remember this is all happening within seconds.  Noah runs around the living room, still yelling, jumps up on the couch, past his little sister and behind his daddy, looking for protection.  I tell Will that there is a scorpion and he is so caught up with the little ball of 4 year old behind him and trying to figure out what is wrong with his son that never acts this way, that he didn't hear me.  I tell him again and he goes to make his execution (Maybe it's just a guy thing, but he likes to cut their tails off with scissors.) as I try to calm down a green faced, wide eyed little hero. 

I told Noah how proud I was of him and that his actions proved that he is becoming a young man because men do things to protect others even when things are scary and dangerous. 

Will took the kill to its final resting place (the toilet) and we all gathered round.  Noah hovered over the toilet and little Anna stuck her chubby hand up and said, "get back, Noah!  He sting You!"  Will leaned over to make the flush as our children watched that scorpion get the biggest swirly he'd ever had!  I start explaining to Will exactly what had happened and how proud I was of our son.

I'm not sure if it was an adrenaline rush, God given first born instinct, or that our son has an amazing capability to think straight that Noah came back to get his brother in situations where most people couldn't think at all.  It's not that scorpions are so bad......I hate them, and they have a nasty sting! ( I've been stung on the forearm.)....but knowing that Noah is able and capable of protecting his siblings even when things are chaotic, dangerous, and scary.  To a 4 year old, this situation was a big deal.  If he hadn't come back for Malachi, he would have gotten stung, and probably me too.  What a brave little hero!

Well, it's exciting for me.  If you don't have teens who are doing chemistry this year, this might just be one big yawn, but hey, as I said, it's exciting to me.  I've started a new blog right here at homeschoolblogger!  Check it out if you're inclined...

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/chemblogblob/