09:59 – As I’ve mentioned, I want to create one new kit by the end of this year, and at least one more for 2013. My natural tendency is to focus next on the more advanced science courses typically taught in grades 11 and 12: physics, and various advanced/AP-level sciences. But, after considerable thought, I’ve decided to go in the other direction. We have biology and chemistry covered. Those are typically grades 9 and 10. So I decided to focus our efforts for the coming year on grades 7 and 8, to fill out our kit offerings bottom-up.
So we’ll be doing kits for Life Science (typically grade 7 or 8) and Physical Science (typically grade 8 or 9). Life Science is an introduction to biology, and Physical Science is an introduction to chemistry and physics. We’ll probably also do a kit for Earth/Space Science (typically grade 8 or 9). Most homeschoolers will do two of three courses in grades 7 and 8, and some will do all three in grades 7, 8, and 9. The problem with that is that 9th grade is normally the start of high-school level science courses, usually either high-school chemistry or high-school biology. The other problem is that I have to be very careful about the CPSIA. In other words, these kits will be designed and intended for only students who are at least 13 years old. Otherwise, the regulatory burdens would be impossible.