JRmommy Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 My son wants to study physics this year. I've considered buying a curriculum for it, but none of the curricula I've researched seems to be the fit I'm wanting. Has anyone done anything like this with just using a few books as the spine and some supplies? If it makes any difference, my degree is in Mechanical Engineering and physics was a favorite of mine. So, I'm not afraid to tackle this on my own. I'm just looking for the best resources. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikslo Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 What have you researched and ruled out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAgain Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 I would get The Way Things Work book. IIRC, Coursera has a course that goes along with it you can probably utilize, too. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momto6inIN Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 We enjoyed the Physics Discovery kit from Thames & Kosmos this past year when DD was in 6th grade. They have several other physics kits available too. I would think that something like that combined with a good spine would be worthwhile. We like World of Science from MFW as a good physical science spine. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRmommy Posted July 17, 2016 Author Share Posted July 17, 2016 What have you researched and ruled out? Ruled out - RSO Physics, Apologia Chem & Phys, Christian Kids Explore Considering - NOEO, Elemental Science (Both of these seem the best I've come across. I like NOEO better but the Young Scientists Club kits don't have the best reviews.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRmommy Posted July 17, 2016 Author Share Posted July 17, 2016 I would get The Way Things Work book. IIRC, Coursera has a course that goes along with it you can probably utilize, too. This is definitely the direction I'm considering. I have The New Way Things Work book and started looking over it. Maybe along with some K'Nex kits, this might be a winner! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HomeAgain Posted July 17, 2016 Share Posted July 17, 2016 We did Noeo Physics II. The YSC kits are terrible. They're demonstration-only kits, not labs, and they tell you exactly what you will see in the directions. My kid was disappointed. We ended up ditching the kits and doing Thames & Kosmos kits instead, supplemented with Lakeshore Learning tubs. It was more expensive by a long shot, but better for both of our sanity. You might consider Mystery Science. Oh, and another great supplement would be the Science Of Imagineering videos. They're helpful to see applied physics. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRmommy Posted July 17, 2016 Author Share Posted July 17, 2016 We enjoyed the Physics Discovery kit from Thames & Kosmos this past year when DD was in 6th grade. They have several other physics kits available too. I would think that something like that combined with a good spine would be worthwhile. We like World of Science from MFW as a good physical science spine. Thanks for the reminder about the T & K kits. I'm sure they would go great with a spine. I'll have to check into World of Science. Thank you! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 I'm with you and we've tried diy this year but it hasn't worked that well. Good quality kids physics books that go beyond the very basics seem few and far between. One thing we had fun with though it's not in depth conceptually is "roller coaster physics" where you build a cardboard marble run then explore various physics principles with it. I think part of the problem is you really need higher level math ability beyond basics and my science lover is still struggling with grade level math. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janeway Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 Did you look at Exploration Education? I am curious about that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy Posted July 18, 2016 Share Posted July 18, 2016 My husband, a physics teacher, really likes Paul Hewitt's Conceptual Physics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swainsonshawk Posted July 19, 2016 Share Posted July 19, 2016 We're using AIMS this year. It's focused toward public schools, but it's got great hands-on projects. I'm collecting materials right now. I chose the simple machines (grades 3-5) book for my 2, 4, and 6th graders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikslo Posted July 19, 2016 Share Posted July 19, 2016 (edited) Did you look at Exploration Education? I am curious about that one. That's the one I got for my 4th grader for this upcoming year. That's why I was curious about what was ruled out. :) Edited July 19, 2016 by ikslo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikslo Posted July 19, 2016 Share Posted July 19, 2016 My husband, a physics teacher, really likes Paul Hewitt's Conceptual Physics. Is it so For 5th grade? I thought that was a high school text. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikslo Posted July 19, 2016 Share Posted July 19, 2016 We're using AIMS this year. It's focused toward public schools, but it's got great hands-on projects. I'm collecting materials right now. I chose the simple machines (grades 3-5) book for my 2, 4, and 6th graders. Oh, that looks fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwdiaz Posted July 20, 2016 Share Posted July 20, 2016 Did you look at the physics thread of BFSU vols 1 and 2 for organizing your path. You can get 5$ pdf downloads of both volumes and just do the C thread stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TX Pilgrim Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 Novare science and math has a teacher book that covers basic physics concepts. Basically you would educate yourself and then include it in whatever you do with your children. He taught high school for 15 years and had 36 graduate hours in physics and realized elementary teachers had no idea what should be covered at an earlier age. Thus this text for teachers and parents to get them up to speed. http://novarescienceandmath.com/catalog/set-v1/ Hope you find something that fits. Missy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luuknam Posted July 21, 2016 Share Posted July 21, 2016 I haven't read it yet, but Life of Fred has Pre-Algebra 0 with Physics (formerly called Elementary Physics). So, depending on where your kid is at with math, that may be worth looking into. http://ztwistbooks.com/node/35 http://ztwistbooks.com/sites/default/files/product/books/sampletext/EP_Sample.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen. Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 Engineering is Elementary has lots of free projects on their site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa in the UP of MI Posted July 22, 2016 Share Posted July 22, 2016 My 5th grader loves the Secrets of the Universe series by Paul Fleisher. Liquids and Gases: Principles of Fluid Mechanics Objects in Motion: Principles of Classical Mechanics Matter and Energy: Principles of Matter and Thermodynamics Waves: Principles of Light, Electricity, and Magnetism Relativity and Quantum Mechanics: Principles of Modern Physics We just borrow the books from the library. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TKDmom Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 Is it so For 5th grade? I thought that was a high school text. If you can find an inexpensive copy, it might be worth it to check it out. If you hate it, send me a pm and I'll buy it off you. ;) I used Conceptual Chemistry this year to teach 9th graders. It's a college text for non-majors, but it was very basic. It seemed basic, even for a high school course. I'll be using it with my 7th grader this year. Even if you can't hand it off to your ds to read, you could use it as a spine for discussion and projects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TKDmom Posted July 23, 2016 Share Posted July 23, 2016 Oh, and here are free video that go with Conceptual Physics. http://conceptualacademy.com/textbook/conceptual-physics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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