While it’s tempting to take a great elementary curriculum such as the Young Explorer Series and continue it into 7th and 8th grade, it isn’t what is best for most students since middle school is a transitional time for learning how to take notes, study for tests, and record formal lab results in preparation for high school sciences. 

General Science 3rd Edition is written for 7th and 8th grade students and covers all of the general sciences. It’s the perfect review for a young explorer, as well as a wonderful way to introduce new students into the scientific fields even if they haven’t had a formal elementary course.

Moving to General Science 3rd Edition and Physical Science 4th Edition in the 7th and 8th grades allows students more time to complete Apologia's high school science courses. We offer a recommended curriculum path as one possible middle school and high school science course sequence, and our course sequence chart shows the science and math prerequisites for each 7th-12th science course.

Ultimately it up to the parents to decide whether to begin middle school science courses in 7th or 8th grade, depending on a student's readiness. Physical Science 4th Edition can be used in 8th grade for middle school or is rigorous enough to be used for high school credit in 9th grade.