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Tina P.
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| Posted: July 10 2008 at 11:04pm | IP Logged
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This started out as a response to Books' "dumb questions" (which, btw, there aren't any) post, but then I realized that it was way too tangential.
I was always happy learning about (and not realizing it) outdoorsy, natural sciences. We had an "Up North" in the middle of Wisconsin. I grew up raising laying chickens, a duck (was a pair until a weasel tackled the male), pigeons, a goat, rabbits, and all numbers of little creatures and flying birds and fish (sounds like creation itself, doesn't it?  ), so natural science was a breeze for me. And we *currently* have a rabbit, some guinea pigs, a couple of dogs and cats, some fish, and we're looking at acquiring layers. Nothing reproduces so that we can say we "raise" them ... yet.
It was when I hit Chemistry that I took a slide. I plummeted in Physics. How do we prepare our kids for *that*? MacBeth, some of the kits and books you recommend are far beyond ME, much less my children. I've got science books (Apologia Elementary and Real Science 4 Kids waiting in my Rainbow Resources wishlist that I'm wondering whether I need to buy after having read Books' thread. Keep in mind that this year money is a bit tighter than last due to house fix-ups and renovations (still in progress  ).
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MacBeth
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Probably at the beach...
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| Posted: July 11 2008 at 11:08am | IP Logged
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So you're looking for ways to make chem and physics more hands on and accessible (living)?
Did you try Faraday's books: The Chemical History of a Candle (chem) and Forces of Matter (physics)? Both are a series of lectures geared towards children. Physics can be done in a very hands-on way, though I will admit that chem is harder, especially with new regulations on shipping of chemicals. Eyewitness books and The Way Things Work are also helpful introductions...
Running out to the beach...more later.
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LLMom
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| Posted: July 11 2008 at 12:35pm | IP Logged
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Tina,
I found The Elements . It is for 4th -8th graders and it uses things from your kitchen for the experiments. She aslo has lots of hands-on games that go with it. Even if you don't use her program, the games are free to download and would go well with any living book on chemistry or other text. Rainbow resource also has a very good review of it in their catalog and maybe online.
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Tina P.
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| Posted: July 16 2008 at 10:35am | IP Logged
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MacBeth wrote:
So you're looking for ways to make chem and physics more hands on and accessible (living)?
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Yes.
MacBeth wrote:
| Did you try Faraday's books: The Chemical History of a Candle (chem) and Forces of Matter (physics)? Both are a series of lectures geared towards children. Physics can be done in a very hands-on way, though I will admit that chem is harder, especially with new regulations on shipping of chemicals. Eyewitness books and The Way Things Work are also helpful introductions... |
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Ummm...no. I'm going to have to look those up.
MacBeth wrote:
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Eagerly (but patiently) waiting!
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Mary G
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| Posted: July 16 2008 at 10:57am | IP Logged
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My then 16 yos hated Physics -- he was in "real school" for the first semester of 11th grade and his teacher was tough (she had been a college professor and expected GREAT things from the kids). When we brought him home for various reasons, I wanted him to love physics, so I got him a few different books that aimed at his interests:
Physics of Football
The Physics of Sports
The Science of Soccer
and
Sports Science Projects
Joe loved physics after reading (or rather, devouring) those books. He understood the sports better and could see why physics is important!
I'm sure there are other books that may apply science concepts to things your own kids like ....
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MaryG
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MacBeth
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| Posted: July 16 2008 at 11:52pm | IP Logged
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Ah, Mary beat me to it...those books are great, and fun, especially for guys. Sports, in general, are great for physics. Also, (a sport of sorts...) billiards, rocketry, circuits (build your own, or Snap Circuits), and kites.
Chem, chem, chem...A few quick thoughts: Here's a fun link for chem from the CCM list: Periodic Table of Videos.
How about books like
Bright Earth for students who like art, but need chemistry? A Student who likes mysteries might read Dorothy Sayers' Strong Poison.
I have a shower curtain of the Periodic Table in the kids' bathroom. 
More later, if I can get the sand and salt out of my brain.
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MacBeth in NY
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Tina P.
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| Posted: July 17 2008 at 11:34am | IP Logged
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Hmmm...Why does this not surprise me?
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Tina P.
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| Posted: July 17 2008 at 11:47am | IP Logged
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By the way, I looked up The Physics of Skiing since it's a winter pasttime here. Ouch! That one's expensive. Is it from the same series? I ask because it seems that it's strictly for adults (upper division under-grads through profs) and it doesn't reference the others like they reference each other.
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Erin
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| Posted: July 18 2008 at 12:05am | IP Logged
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Tina
I have only just started introducing formal science to my 9th and 7th graders and they are really enjoying it. We are using John Hudson Tiner's books Exploring the World of Physics and Exploring the World of Chemistry they are written in a living book style with questions at the conclusion of each chapter.
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Erin
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4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: How to make Chemistry/Physics living?
