Science 11-13
From 11-13 (if you haven't done so already under pressure from your budding 8 year old mad scientist) you might like to expand your horizons by investing in a chemistry set (you can get a decent one for about £20 - the ones with spirit burners are most fun), and a basic electronics kit (even cheaper and less messy!).
Regarding the problem with biology textbooks, if you want to prepare for IGCSE level by getting your child used to the UK syllabus one suggestion is to use US a based book for biology but look for UK Key Stage 3 books which separate the three sciences (though, see below for alternative ideas). For example, we have used Longman's Physics 11-14 and Chemistry 11-14. These are aimed at advanced pupils and are good, though not so easy to mark for the parent as the questions tend to be 'stretching' (i.e the answer is not always blindingly obvious from the text). Another such series is 'Chemistry Now! 11-14' and 'Physics Now! 11-14' from Hodder (as ever, editions from the early 2000's are much cheaper but the text is substantially unchanged).
We have used 'Concepts and Challenges: 'Life Sciences', which covers human biology but doesn't go into too much detail re reproduction. Be sure you buy the student edition and not the teacher's edition, as the latter has all the answers filled in. This is quite an easy text and would not be as challenging as the books above. If you like this approach, the series also covers 'Physical Science' (ie physics and chemistry in one). You may have to shop around to find these cheaply but they are usually available.
As before, one possible alternative is to focus, at ages 11- 12, on specific aspects of biology which are not problematic. This gives you a breathing space in which you can continue to study biology if your child is keen on it whilst dealing with the moral aspects at you own pace. For example, Lett's Key ideas: Cells and Lett's Key Ideas: Interdependence are aimed at ages 11-13. Another (American, Christian) alternative which my children have used and enjoyed is Apologia Ministries Exploring Creation with Botany; in this series there is also 'Human Anatomy and physiology' which is detailed in all areas except the reproductive processes. I've never managed to find these books cheaply anywhere, I'm afraid.
I've recently come across these books: Longman Higher Science 1 for GCSE and Longman Higher Science Book 2 by Levesley. Both are available very cheaply and could easily be used as a pre- IGCSE textbooks as they covers basic GCSE level (double award specification) in all three sciences. There are also two Foundation level books which cover the same information in a very slightly simplified way (there is very little difference, perhaps it is mainly in the way the questions are worded: the Higher level questions are more open, the foundation level more guided as one would expect. Just search for the same title above but replace 'Higher' with 'Foundation'). Regarding biology, the section on reproduction does not go into any detail regarding human reproduction, focussing as it does on chromosomes rather than the physical aspects. There are two pages on 'fertility' which focus on fertility treatments and contraceptives. Of course they present fertility treatment and the Pill as perfectly normal and acceptable processes, but they do at least focus on the action of hormones and apart from one small photograph of a variety of contraceptives on a table, there are none of the graphic images found in some books. There are plenty of good Catholic resources which explain the wonders of human fertility in a much broader and more beautiful way. Book 2 of the series introduces evolutionary theory and the evidence for it. You would probably want to discuss what the Church teaches on the subject rather than leave your child to be taught by the textbook!
From 11-13 (if you haven't done so already under pressure from your budding 8 year old mad scientist) you might like to expand your horizons by investing in a chemistry set (you can get a decent one for about £20 - the ones with spirit burners are most fun), and a basic electronics kit (even cheaper and less messy!).
Regarding the problem with biology textbooks, if you want to prepare for IGCSE level by getting your child used to the UK syllabus one suggestion is to use US a based book for biology but look for UK Key Stage 3 books which separate the three sciences (though, see below for alternative ideas). For example, we have used Longman's Physics 11-14 and Chemistry 11-14. These are aimed at advanced pupils and are good, though not so easy to mark for the parent as the questions tend to be 'stretching' (i.e the answer is not always blindingly obvious from the text). Another such series is 'Chemistry Now! 11-14' and 'Physics Now! 11-14' from Hodder (as ever, editions from the early 2000's are much cheaper but the text is substantially unchanged).
We have used 'Concepts and Challenges: 'Life Sciences', which covers human biology but doesn't go into too much detail re reproduction. Be sure you buy the student edition and not the teacher's edition, as the latter has all the answers filled in. This is quite an easy text and would not be as challenging as the books above. If you like this approach, the series also covers 'Physical Science' (ie physics and chemistry in one). You may have to shop around to find these cheaply but they are usually available.
As before, one possible alternative is to focus, at ages 11- 12, on specific aspects of biology which are not problematic. This gives you a breathing space in which you can continue to study biology if your child is keen on it whilst dealing with the moral aspects at you own pace. For example, Lett's Key ideas: Cells and Lett's Key Ideas: Interdependence are aimed at ages 11-13. Another (American, Christian) alternative which my children have used and enjoyed is Apologia Ministries Exploring Creation with Botany; in this series there is also 'Human Anatomy and physiology' which is detailed in all areas except the reproductive processes. I've never managed to find these books cheaply anywhere, I'm afraid.
I've recently come across these books: Longman Higher Science 1 for GCSE and Longman Higher Science Book 2 by Levesley. Both are available very cheaply and could easily be used as a pre- IGCSE textbooks as they covers basic GCSE level (double award specification) in all three sciences. There are also two Foundation level books which cover the same information in a very slightly simplified way (there is very little difference, perhaps it is mainly in the way the questions are worded: the Higher level questions are more open, the foundation level more guided as one would expect. Just search for the same title above but replace 'Higher' with 'Foundation'). Regarding biology, the section on reproduction does not go into any detail regarding human reproduction, focussing as it does on chromosomes rather than the physical aspects. There are two pages on 'fertility' which focus on fertility treatments and contraceptives. Of course they present fertility treatment and the Pill as perfectly normal and acceptable processes, but they do at least focus on the action of hormones and apart from one small photograph of a variety of contraceptives on a table, there are none of the graphic images found in some books. There are plenty of good Catholic resources which explain the wonders of human fertility in a much broader and more beautiful way. Book 2 of the series introduces evolutionary theory and the evidence for it. You would probably want to discuss what the Church teaches on the subject rather than leave your child to be taught by the textbook!