I've never taught chemistry. Is Friendly Chemistry difficult to teach?
With this fourth edition, teaching Friendly Chemistry has become easier than ever. The course is divided into 32 lessons. In the teacher's edition, each lesson begins with teaching tips which include a lesson plan (we call it the "game plan") and detailed instructions and explanations for each component of the lesson. The teaching tips are followed by the text portion of the lesson and then by opportunities for students to practice the concepts presented (worksheet-type pages). See samples taken directly from the Teacher Editions on our Sample Lessons tab.
Because we strongly encourage practice in understanding the concepts through a variety of means other than strictly pencil and paper, many card games, board games and active play-type games are included in each lesson. A lesson test concludes each lesson. All worksheets are included in the student editions, eliminating the need for you to make copies. Each practice page and test is accompanied by keys with correct answers. The answer keys are found in Volume 2 of the Teacher's Edition.
To make implementation of the labs, games an activities easier, we’ve created a video to help you prepare for the activity. These videos are found in the Teaching Library tab on our website free-of-charge.
Do you have a flip-through video where I can see inside the textbook?
Yes! On our FAQ page we have a flip-through video of our Teacher Edition, Manipulatives booklet and Annotated Solutions Manual.
In addition to the text books, what supplies will I need to find in order to teach Friendly Chemistry?
Click here to see the list of supplies necessary to conduct the lab activities and play the games found in Friendly Chemistry.
Do you offer an audiobook version of Friendly Chemistry?
Yes, we have an audiobook version available. Find details on our Videos/Audiobook tab.
Can my child teach himself or herself using Friendly Chemistry?
Yes. Most high school students can use the student edition of Friendly Chemistry to teach themselves chemistry, it's that clearly written. Each lesson builds upon the previous lesson with concepts reinforced again and again. A student working alone, however, will need access to the teacher's edition for solutions to worksheets in the student edition as well as for tests. Using the live-action video version along with the text will allow almost any student to complete the course.
Do you offer an annotated solutions manual?
Yes, we offer an optional annotated solutions manual for users of Friendly Chemistry. This 106-page manual allows users to see exactly how we arrived at all of the answers to all worksheet problems and test questions in the course. Click here for ordering information. In addition to the hardcopy solutions manual, we now offer an online video version. All 54 course worksheet problems are answered, step-by-step in this resource available with a family or co-op level license. See our VIDEOS tab for information.
How long does the course take to complete?
The course is divided into 32 lessons which is roughly equivalent to 32 weeks of instruction. Depending upon the age and abilities of your students, you can complete the course in approximately 9 months of instruction. Highly capable or motivated students can obviously finish the course faster.
Can Friendly Chemistry be used with co-op groups of learners?
Yes! Friendly Chemistry is IDEAL for co-op groups of learners! Many, many games and activities are utilized throughtout Friendly Chemistry to allow your students to practice the concepts presented. Playing games together really makes the learning easy and fun and it has been found that retention of the concepts is much greater when the games are used when learning.
Examples of games include: The Stinky-Atom game (players remove shoes and, in relay fashion, build atoms using their teammates' shoes); Atom Smasher (players run from place to place depending upon means of ion formation); the Chemistry Kingdom play; Compound Intensity board game and Compound Football (a rambunctious combination of Rock, Paper, Scissors and football).
Our live-action video series works great with co-op settings, too!
There will only be one student and myself teaching the course. Is there a version of Friendly Chemistry that would work best for our situation?
Yes! We have recently completed a version of Friendly Chemistry tailored to the needs of the one-student teaching situation. We've kept all of the fun activities and hands-on labs, just reduced the number of group games and activities. If this is your situation, choose the Friendly Chemistry Teacher Editions for ONE Student (Volumes 1 and 2.)
What is included in the manipulatives set?
The manipulatives booklet includes the:
* Doo-wop Board which is a unique tool to teach electron orbital arrangements and ionization.
* Element Flashcards
* Doo-wop Mania card game
* Compound Intensity cards to accompany Compound Intensity Board Game found in the Friendly Chemistry teacher's edition
* Ion Flashcards which are multisized cards which not only teach ion symbol and charge, but also how compounds form. To see more or order the manipulative set, click here.
Are there tests and worksheets included in Friendly Chemistry?
Yes, with each lesson there are 1-3 worksheets which allow students to practice the concepts presented in the lesson. A lesson test for each lesson can be found in the teacher's edition of Friendly Chemistry. Keys with correct answers can be found in volume 2 the teacher's edition.
An annotated solutions manual is now available for those desiring a more complete explanation of how each problem is solved. Click here for details regarding this optional manual.
What if I already own a student textbook and just want the worksheet and lab pages? Can I get those without purchasing another student textbook?
Yes! A new student workbook is now available for Friendly Chemistry which includes all of the worksheets, practice pages and lab report pages found in the student textbook. Note, like the student textbook, there are no tests found in the student workbook. Click here to view details regarding the student workbook
What are the student pre-requisites for using Friendly Chemistry?
We generally recommend that a student have or be acquiring basic algebra skills as they take the Friendly Chemistry course. Capable junior high-aged students can do quite well and complete the course with little problem.
How much math is there in Friendly Chemistry?
In Friendly Chemistry, our focus is on the chemistry concepts. But, as expected, there is math that comes into play in order for the concepts to become useful for us as consumers of goods produced by chemists, whether they be food chemists or shoe chemists or pharmacists, etc.
To be successful with Friendly Chemistry, a student needs to have basic arithmetic skills (addition, subtraction, multiplication and division), understand positive and negative numbers, be able to work with percentages and then be able to set up proportions or related fractions and solve for one unknown in these fractions (cross-multiplying and solving for x).
Some of the problems in Friendly Chemistry involve several steps to arrive at the solution, but the math never gets more difficult. We work hard to make the math intuitive and not where a child is following some sort of script or recipe while not understanding the reason why the math process they are using makes sense.
Does Friendly Chemistry meet my state's standards for a high school chemistry course?
Friendly Chemistry meets the standards for a high school chemistry course set by state education entities in most states. We recommend comparing our list of topics covered to the requirements of your state. Contact us directly if you need additional information for your particular state or situation.
Can you provide me with a list of lab supplies for the course?
Sure, click here to see the list of lab supplies.
Do you offer any discounts when ordering Friendly Chemistry?
Yes, we do offer discounts for families who have an active military parent or guardian or are active in the missionary field. Contact us by email for details on placing an order with a discount: friendlychemistryinfo@gmail.com
How many copies of Friendly Chemistry do I need to order for my family or coop group?
Please see our order page for recommended curriculum components for various teaching situations. If you have questions, please contact us by email or phone.
I have younger members of my family who may accompany our older children as they take Friendly Chemistry. Do you recommend this?
Yes! It is amazing how younger children will pick up and retain many of the concepts presented early in the course. As more math concepts are utilized later in the course, they may find it too challenging to continue, but by all means, we suggest younger siblings learn (and play!) along with their older brothers and sisters who are taking Friendly Chemistry.
What kind of support can I expect from the authors as I teach Friendly Chemistry?
We are available by email to provide with you support as you study or teach Friendly Chemistry. It is our goal to answer all email requests within 24 hours of receipt. Find contact information here.
Can you ship Friendly Chemistry overseas?
It’s likely we will be able to ship Friendly Chemistry to your location. All books are produced and shipped by amazon. Rainbow Resource Center and Timberdoodle Company also carry all of the Friendly Sciences titles.
Do you offer science subjects other than chemistry for home schooling families?
Yes, we offer Friendly Physical Science, Friendly Biology and Friendly (Vet) Anatomy. Find details here.
Have a question that we didn't address? Please contact us by email or phone or use the handy form below to get your answers to your questions!