Laura Corin Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 I used RS4K with Calvin and I wasn't happy with the physics part - it seemed dry and quite a few experiments didn't work at all (after I'd bothered to buy and drag the equipment home to China). Kits would be fine, or a text so long as it's engaging..... The experiments have to have a good chance of working and be well integrated into the theory that is being taught. Thanks Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea in TN Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 Rainbow science?? It is for middle school but if you took it slow I think it would work. It comes with a kit and the experiements actually work! Singapore Science would be another sugestion. But for Lab you may have to go outside the program as some of the equipment for the praticals are hard to find. Or What about Physics Workshop??? That looks fun. It is costly though. But having all the stuff in one kit would be cool. Kinex Physics kits - I think timberdoodle sells them. At this age we did a lot of fun stuff. Like the kits. Some were duds but these above were pretty good. Science with Toys also looks good. I just bought it for my 1st grader. But my 6th grader enjoys the experiements as well. Usborne Encyclopedia of Science is pretty engaging with explanations of physics concepts. Or the Usborn Childrens encyclopedia.. I know the childrens encyclopedia has a few experiements using hosehold items. HTH, Chelsea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paisley Hedgehog Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 nm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted February 17, 2008 Author Share Posted February 17, 2008 Thanks for the idea - I'm leaning towards a kit, because 'household supplies' are often unavailable here and I know that if they are not easy, the experiments just won't get done. Thanks anyway Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trivium Academy Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 and it's an option even though it might not fit what you're looking for.... Terrific Science's Teaching Physical Science through Children's Literature http://www.terrificscience.com/sciencestore/product.php?pid=4 Integrate science and language arts while emphasizing the process skills common to both areas. Inspired by favorite stories 20 complete lessons Connects science and language arts Reproducible pages National Science Education Standards Easy-to-understand explanations 244 pages Grades K–4 I have also considered Noeo Science and Bite-size Physics. I'm pretty sure we're going to use Terrific Science though. Terrific Science meets National Science Education Standards but I found it very interesting because of the use of children's books. Another book, Teaching Physics with Toys http://www.terrificscience.com/sciencestore/product.php?pid=79 The completely revised Teaching Physics with TOYS, EASYGuide™ Edition with bonus CD-ROM provides new activities in collaboration with K’NEX® Education, along with many new features to guide and support science inquiry in your classroom. Students use common toys to explore inertia, kinetic energy, laws of motion, and many more physics principles. 22 hands-on investigations for grades 3-9 336 pages Step-by-step teaching notes and accompanying CD-ROM with reproducible and customizable student pages Student guides for experiment planning and graphing K’NEX pieces are used to build levers and pulley systems, balances, crank fans, tops, cars, and more. (K’NEX sets and pieces are available separately.) Grades 3–9 If you follow the links, you can see inside the books. Hope you find something Laura! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Atl Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 Here are a few ideas... Cool site but maybe more high school level, still with a look. http://www.physlink.com/Education/Youth.cfm I have heard great things about this bk, want it myself. Maybe Amazon UK has it too? http://www.amazon.com/Flying-Circus-Physics-Jearl-Walker/dp/0471762733/ref=pd_sim_b_img_1 I know a number of folks who like Neo and find it pretty much secular. http://www.noeoscience.com/physI.html My oldest did this one and loved it, Science in a nutshell. http://www.delta-education.com/siangallery.aspx?subjectID=8&subID=5&menuID=68 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted February 17, 2008 Author Share Posted February 17, 2008 Thank you - I really like the look of teaching Physics through toys with the K'nex kit. It's not cheap, but I like the exploration aspect of it. I might do it with both boys, actually. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted February 17, 2008 Author Share Posted February 17, 2008 Thanks - I'm looking at the Physics With Toys idea. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura Corin Posted February 17, 2008 Author Share Posted February 17, 2008 Thanks - I'll look into those. Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt_Uhura Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 Have you checked out what LEGO education.com/store/?global=usa has to offer? If you look on the left side there is a homeschool link. The website is horrible to navigate. I'd suggest having them send you a catalogue. The topics are similar to K'nex - simple machines (pully's, ramps, gears, etc), motion, how does wheel size affect speed, gears affect torque etc. They have kits to study bridges and structures and you make a device to measure the force applied to a structure to see how stable it is etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WABeth Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 I like the look of bite-size physics for 4th grade. You can see samples of the hard copy at Lulu. I haven't purchased it yet but the samples look good. The first go around I used Hands-On Science and supplemented with lots of library books. Next time I would like something more complete. Let us know what you choose, I will have to make this decision again in a few years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan in SC Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 Check out the Delta Education science kits. I think you could put a couple together to get what you wanted. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAR120C Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 I like the look of bite-size physics for 4th grade. You can see samples of the hard copy at Lulu. I haven't purchased it yet but the samples look good. The first go around I used Hands-On Science and supplemented with lots of library books. Next time I would like something more complete. Let us know what you choose, I will have to make this decision again in a few years. We've used Bite-Size Physics and really like it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenC Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 We used a couple of the Delta nutshell kits, a KNEX bridges kit, Snap Circuits, and (I think) a kit from Stratton (or something like that) on light and optics. It was a fun science year. Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tami Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 the Adventures in Science kits from Rainbow Resources. I really like them. I have used "Color and Light" and "How Things Work," and they would tie in the your physics plans. The kits are around $10, and challenging. I see they also have a "Magnetism" kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KAR120C Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 Various things I've used: Bite-size Physics (caveat: I've not been doing the teaching on this one because DS is in a group using it, but from a parent's perspective it has looked truly excellent, appears to be very easy to teach, and the experiments have all used very "normal" stuff - legos, paper, string, toy cars, balloons) Snap Circuits for electronics, and I've heard excellent things about Quick Study Labs to beef up the "theory" end of it. A friend of mine uses it, but I've not myself (yet!) She says it's hard. :) Elementary Engineering with Legos -- pretty good, but I like using it in a group if you can because there are challenges that make good competitions for kids that find that inspring. Simple Machines with K'Nex -- fairly straightforward, but just simple machines, nothing else, and even though it says middle school I think it would be pretty light for that level... I taught it as a co-op class for 8-10 year olds and it fit pretty well. I think that's everything... We use Singapore for a spine and I do like what it does with physics, but no one year is all physics, so that isn't quite what you're asking for.... Hope this helps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen in CO Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 I have this bookmarked as something to examine more when we are ready for physics. http://www.explorationeducation.com/index.htm The kinex education is also at the top of my physics short list. I was planning to try one of the smaller kits like levers or pulleys before buying the whole big set. My ds loved kinex and my girls are enjoying his old sets so I think adding the educational parts would be great. They also have special pieces now so that you can add legos to the kinex that will expand their usefulness after the physics class is done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Book Crazy Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 Have you seen the Physics Workshop? Physics Workshop Also the Physics Solar Workshop Physics Solar Workshop Hope these help Sarah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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