Outsourcing physics and other physics advice needed

[Janeway]

I love physics and physical science and would happily do it at home. However, I also happen to think it is a very important subject so I would like to make sure it gets done very thoroughly. And I also really like the Hewitt books. And I do not know where to get any sort of lab kits or lesson plans or otherwise.

 

Would I be better off outsourcing or are there lesson plans and kits anywhere that I can order to do this myself? Again, I really enjoy math and physics and am competent at it, so teaching it is not a problem from the point of view of competency in the subject matter. I just have no idea as to how to do a syllabus or come up with labs so I would need help there.

 

I see Derek Owens has Physical Science and Physics. Jetta has physics. And so on.  I am seeing more and more places that have this topic. I would love reviews, good and bad. And suggestions. And anyone can PM me if they prefer. Thanks!

 

Also, above all, I want the kids to LOVE science, physics anyway, by the time they are done.

 

Also, would it be a waste to do Physical Science with the younger one? Should I hold off and do regular physics with him and then add in an astronomy course?

 

I would love suggestions for astronomy too. Thanks!

 

OH..and both kids will do some sort of AP or DE science in senior year.  That is the plan. 

Edited September 4, 2016 by Janeway

[regentrude]

I love physics and physical science and would happily do it at home. However, I also happen to think it is a very important subject so I would like to make sure it gets done very thoroughly. And I also really like the Hewitt books. And I do not know where to get any sort of lab kits or lesson plans or otherwise.

 

Would I be better off outsourcing or are there lesson plans and kits anywhere that I can order to do this myself? Again, I really enjoy math and physics and am competent at it, so teaching it is not a problem from the point of view of competency in the subject matter. I just have no idea as to how to do a syllabus or come up with labs so I would need help there.

 

If you look into the Physics resource thread, you will see that I posted two semesters worth of syllabi with assignments for an algebra/trig based College Physics course that both my children took in 8th/9th grades.

 

If you are competent, I don't see why you can't just get a textbook and do it yourself. There are plenty of online resources to supplement.

Edited September 4, 2016 by regentrude

[Janeway]

If you look into the Physics resource thread, you will see that I posted two semesters worth of syllabi with assignments for an algebra/trig based College Physics course that both my children took in 8th/9th grades.

 

If you are competent, I don't see why you can't just get a textbook and do it yourself. There are plenty of online resources to supplement.

Thank you so much! I will go look for it!!!

[Janeway]

If you look into the Physics resource thread, you will see that I posted two semesters worth of syllabi with assignments for an algebra/trig based College Physics course that both my children took in 8th/9th grades.

 

If you are competent, I don't see why you can't just get a textbook and do it yourself. There are plenty of online resources to supplement.

I cannot find it. I saw one post from you that was blank. There was another post from you too that was not blank but did not have a syllabus. I wonder if your post went blank or something?

[Hilltopmom]

My oldest does DO for math, but is doing Clover Creek with Jetta for physics & is really enjoying it so far. He had a good time working on the first lab (way better than Bio last year, he informed me). The online class set up, expectations, & assignments are very clear & easy to navigate, I think. There's a once per week "live" class meeting too, which is a nice addition. I'm happy we chose it!

[regentrude]

I cannot find it. I saw one post from you that was blank. There was another post from you too that was not blank but did not have a syllabus. I wonder if your post went blank or something?

 

Info with links is right there in post #5 of the physics sticky thread.

 

Name: College Physics: A Strategic Approach by Knight, Jones, and Field

Publisher: Addison Wesley

Where to buy: http://www.amazon.co...sics knight 1st

Level: Algebra-based College Physics

Type: Textbook

Additional Materials: Yes

Student Study Guides (Volumes 1 & 2)

http://www.amazon.co...d_bxgy_b_text_y

http://www.amazon.co...d_bxgy_b_text_z

Teacher Resources: Depends – sometimes you can find teacher's editions used

Thread with links to Regentrude's lesson plans:

http://forums.welltr...t/#entry4061922

And tests:

http://forums.welltr...t/#entry4208643

Lesson Plans: Yes – see above

Secular/Christian: Secular

Program includes labs: No

Lab kit available: No

Math background needed: Algebra 1 + Basic Trig

Edited September 4, 2016 by regentrude

[Janeway]

Thank you!!

[Sunshine State Sue]

We used Derek Owens for physics in 9th grade.  I'll post my review below.

 

A little background on our middle school science studies:  We used a combination of Science Explorer, Exploration Education, and TOPS attempting to create a balance of textbook reading and hands-on experiments.

 

For 9^th grade, we used Derek Owen’s Physics class for distance learners.  The website is www.derekowens.com.  The cost of the class was $58/mo with a $15 registration fee.

 

Pros:

• Even before payment, sample lectures and syllabus are available on the website.  The syllabus provides clear assignments and deadlines for the entire year.
• User-friendly and well-organized website.
• Able to access the entire year’s course with first payment.
• Videos provide instruction with an electronic blackboard, Derek’s voice is very pleasant, and some of his graphics are amusing.
• Student Workbooks are filled in as student watches the lecture, keeping them engaged.
• Homework, labs, and tests are emailed/faxed in and graded by someone other than mom.
• Homework, labs, and tests are returned to student and parent generally within 24hrs along with cumulative grade report.
• Only one lab item, an equilateral triangular prism, had to be ordered.  The rest of the lab supplies were on hand or easy to find locally.  10 labs total.
• Instructor generally answered questions via email within 24 hours.
• The course is based on Giancolli’s Physics text (usually used for AP Physics B), but adapted to be more accessible for those who want to study physics at a high school level (ie, not AP level).
• Regular and Honors options available.  The student is allowed to try out the Honors option for a month or longer, and switch to the Regular option if desired.  Ds took the Honors option and it was challenging for him.  With 20/20 hindsight, it might have been better to stick with the Regular option for 9^th grade.
• Monthly payments (as opposed to payment in full in spring for fall start).  We were able to pay for August through November, take December off, and January through May.

• Nearly secular.  Section 10.5.3 (The End of the Universe) makes it not 100% secular.

 

Cons:

• Solutions to the practice problems and tests are available to the student on the website.  I would prefer that they were available to the parent, but not the student.
• Test review would be helpful.  Test review was provided for the 2 semester exams.  I re-used (or pre-used) these problems for the chapter tests.

 

Overall, I found Derek Owens pleasant to work with, professional, and accommodating.  For example, with the first payment, we were able to access the entire year’s course including the tests.  Having the tests easily accessible made me uncomfortable.  When I approached the subject with Mr Owens, he offered to make them unavailable for my student.  Occasionally, Mr Owens would send a video with the solution to a particularly challenging homework problem (after homework had been submitted and graded).  At times, my son was given the “opportunity†to re-submit homework and re-take (alternate version) tests.  I highly recommend Derek Owens high school Physics course.

[Mike in SA]

If you look into the Physics resource thread, you will see that I posted two semesters worth of syllabi with assignments for an algebra/trig based College Physics course that both my children took in 8th/9th grades.

 

If you are competent, I don't see why you can't just get a textbook and do it yourself. There are plenty of online resources to supplement.

 

Agree.  We used Conceptual Physics for 6th, and then Sears-Zemansky-Young with DS14 (during the last 4 months of 7th, and first 8 months of 8th).  It worked out very well.  The key is a solid math foundation.  He was taking precalculus simultaneously.

 

For younger DS - clearly not a typical case - we used Conceptual for two years, and are doing Derek Owens this year, and it has been perfect for him.  We'll take a gap to let him complete precalculus & vector space geometry, and then use MIT OCW's materials on a slow, deep cycle for two years while he studies calculus.  I get that this is unusually accelerated, but the point is about the sequence, not the age.

[stephinsocal]

Have you seen www.conceptualacademy.com? They have lessons, videos, etc. to go with Hewitt.

[daijobu]

Astronomy:  In Quest of the Universe was recommended on this board, and I'm reading it for fun and it's really interesting.  

[MarkT]

Agree.  We used Conceptual Physics for 6th, and then Sears-Zemansky-Young with DS14 (during the last 4 months of 7th, and first 8 months of 8th).  It worked out very well.  The key is a solid math foundation.  He was taking precalculus simultaneously.

 

Anything special about Sears-Zemansky-Young? or did you just happen to have it on hand

 

College Physics or University Physics edition?