Apologia vs Sonlight Science

[@180twilliamson]

You absolutely light up talking about Sonlight. That makes my HS mommy heart happy for you. I love it when both parent and student love learning together. Thank you for the video

[@ashleyyoung8515]

You can get the apologia science experiment kits from home science tools

[@TheHappyHomeschooler]

Yes! I discovered that later on, and I'll do a revised video in the future showing the experiment kits. :)

[@onecaffeinatedmom]

I am so glad you did this comparison! I literally started researching something to use as a foundation for science and came across Apologia, but it didn't seem like a good fit. You definitely have me interested in Sonlight now.

[@TheHappyHomeschooler]

So glad I could help - Apologia works great for many, just not my fave 😉

[@callienn]

Apologia also offers supply kits for the science experiments. :)

[@TheHappyHomeschooler]

Yes! I learned that later and I may update my video to include Apologia's kit. :)

[@racheleldred8346]

Thank you for this review!! So helpful! I was wondering about Apologia and I’m so glad you shared this. Sonlight definitely seems more my style. ❤️

[@TheHappyHomeschooler]

Awesome, so glad you found it helpful!

[@Michelle-xk9gl]

You can buy science kits for Apologia.

[@TheHappyHomeschooler]

Thank you for letting me know! No one introduced them so I didn’t realize. I appreciate the info. 😄

[@claudiafeigt1812]

We absolutely love the kits for Apologia. We have done Sonlight and they include the kits built in to the price. However, we found the Apologia kits that we bought to be just as amazing but we just purchased separately through Rainbow Resources.

[@TheHappyHomeschooler]

@@claudiafeigt1812 Good to know! If we do co-op (and therefore Apologia) again I'll be sure to order the kits!

[@claudiafeigt1812]

I had no idea until I started digging too and I absolutely was impressed with how organized the kits for Apologia was. Cannot rave enough about the kits. ❤️ Buuut, we absolutely love love love Sonlight’s HBLA (On our 3rd year) and know that in the HS years they also offer Apologia science so like you mentioned it’s ultimately personal choice. I just find it so amazing how many great choices we have. Can’t go wrong and your video is so helpful so thanks!

[@jerritegtmryer5581]

I loved apologia anatomy and physiology. They have a science kit you can purchase...which I did. It definitely made it easier. I taught it last year and it worked great and the kids enjoyed it. I taught it as group subject for 5 children ...grades 3rd thru 6th. The year before that I taught zoology using the Sassafras adventures. We enjoyed that as well. I enjoy switching it up with different teaching styles and was thinking about using sonlight.

[@TheHappyHomeschooler]

Thanks for sharing!! Yes.... I'm actually going back to Apologia this year haha! My next video is all about why I'm switching. ;)

[@KS-cl8br]

What grade would you recommend anatomy and physiology for as optimal grade for someone with one child?

[@mariscadenby4300]

I was looking at sonlight science F with my 13 year old, but I think it may be better for younger. Are the middle school levels very hands off for the parents? It looks like sonlight uses apologia for high school. I wonder how different it is.

[@TheHappyHomeschooler]

I feel like Sonlight science is generally hands-on for all grades. Whenever I’ve tried to back off things fall apart science wise. Next year we hit highschool and we try to Apologia again then since Sonlight uses it. I think F for 5th grade would be great, but again, probably hands-on for (at least) the experiments.

[@TheChan7]

This was totally helpful. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheHappyHomeschooler]

Glad it was helpful!

[@SevenInAll]

My youngest sister is doing that exact textbook from Apologia right now. When my second sister did that course a few years ago, she had so much fun making a giant amusement park based on the digestive system (one of the suggested projects) Full disclosure, we don't do many science experiments at all...we are more of the "read about the science experiment" or "watch the science experiment" type. haha!

[@TheHappyHomeschooler]

Oh awesome. Is your younger sister enjoying it? I've skipped so many experiences, but they are so loved that now I try to incorporate them in as much as possible. :) Watching them on KZbin is great too though! haha.

[@SquirrellyMom]

Thank you!! Yes, not a ton out there on science and on sunlight especially!

[@TheHappyHomeschooler]

I'm absolutely hoping to put more science out here in the future!

[@evawojcik2962]

I choose Sonlight and this video helped confirm that decision. How did you find a co-op to do Science experiments with? I do not enjoy projects and experiments so I was hoping to find more people in my area to do this with. Every co-op Im finding is paid classes that would be hundreds of dollars per month for my 3 kids or CC, which we aren't interested in.

[@TheHappyHomeschooler]

I got lucky and found it through another homeschooler who I met at my daughter’s ballet class. My co-op was free and just asked for donations if you were willing.

[@elyzaiusan5077]

Great review! I was considering Apologia but after this review I now know it's not for us! I think we would love Sonlight more.

[@TheHappyHomeschooler]

Awesome, glad I could help!

[@karendavis4793]

I had bought a kit for Apologia Zoology 2 and it was about $70 if I remember so if you buy the kit, it adds up. We lasted one lesson. He/we found the textbook style boring. We are using the TGTB unit studies and loving it but we are going to try Sonlight's new Science C this coming fall.

[@TheHappyHomeschooler]

So exciting! Yes, I found Apologia boring on it's own as well. We'd only do it again if it was a group thing. Oh fun, science C was fun -- lots of interesting animals facts for sure. :)

[@gabecox]

This year we did the Good and the Beautiful science, and we like how easy it is to follow, but it is geared toward one topic at a time, and I think we like doing multiple or different science experiments and things as well.

[@TheHappyHomeschooler]

We haven't tried that one yet, but it's definitely something I'd like to check out to compare. :)

[@lauren-taylorjones1516]

Question! My son is a bit of struggling reader/writer, but LOVES anything science. Would you feel there are opportunities for writing about what they learned a couple times of week? Thank you!

[@TheHappyHomeschooler]

I think if you want to incorporate more writing that Apologia would be a better fit. There’s opportunities to write in both, but Apologia has more guided writing, practices cursive and definitely encourages a journalistic approach. I hope that helps!

[@lauren-taylorjones1516]

@@TheHappyHomeschooler thanks!

[@karynnekrasowski3525]

As someone who has done sonlight science k this year, we weren't impressed. I was doing it with a 2nd and kindergarten aged and they dreaded it. The most interesting book has been the DK find out book. The questions require zero outside of the box thinking. They're so dry and in my pinion require too much writing for a kindergarten age, so I end up letting him dictate his answers. The kit is great but honestly, we were more impressed with our Amazon science experiments kit! I feel like they reeeeeally struggle to find an experiment each week and some are a stretch.

[@TheHappyHomeschooler]

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! I think that is one of the biggest complaints I've heard about Sonlight. I personally have been happy with their curriculum and boxes, but you certainly aren't alone. And YES, Amazon definitely has some great, fun resources. Hobby Lobby as well. :)

[@kdwerner]

Thank you so much!!

[@Michelle-xk9gl]

I prefer Sonlight, love all the books.

[@TheHappyHomeschooler]

#same

[@1msmarissab]

You completely light up talking about sonlight your voice even got happy 😂 it looks better