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Making Physics Fun
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Making Physics Fun
Key Concepts, Classroom Activities, and Everyday Examples, Grades K-8



July 2007 | 240 pages | Corwin
Packed with loads of ready to use learning experiences, this resource helps teachers connect thinking with hands-on physics activities.

Showing teachers how to teach with safe, easy-to-access materials, this book also provides conceptual summaries to support the teacher's own understanding of the topic.

Suitable for science teacher in primary schools, the activities can be used with the whole-class or with smaller groups, and the book is also useful as a professional development resource.

 
Preface
 
1. Motion and Force
Inertia and Newton's First Law of Motion

 
Concepts

 
Activities

 
Everyday Examples

 
Fundamental Forces and Newton's Third Law of Motion

 
Concepts

 
Activities

 
Everyday Examples

 
Net Force, Acceleration and Newton's Second Law of Motion

 
Concepts

 
Activities

 
Everyday Examples

 
Motion Circus

 
Sample Investigation Questions

 
 
2. Fluids and Buoyancy
Gases and Liquids as Fluids

 
Pressure in a Gas and Atmospheric Pressure

 
Concepts

 
Activities

 
Everyday Examples

 
Liquid Pressure

 
Concepts

 
Activities

 
Everyday Examples

 
Archimedes' Principle: Sinking and Floating

 
Concepts

 
Activities

 
Everyday Examples

 
Fluids in Motion: Bernoulli's Principle

 
Concepts

 
Activities

 
Everyday Examples

 
Fluids and Buoyancy Circus

 
A Bernoulli Circus

 
Sample Investigable Questions

 
 
3. Waves and Sound
Waves and Waves Motion

 
Concepts

 
Types of Waves and Waves Speed

 
Periodic Waves: Wavelength, Frequency, and Amplitude

 
Wave Reflection and Transmission

 
Superposition Principle

 
Activities

 
Everyday Examples

 
Sound Waves

 
Concepts

 
Activities

 
Everyday Examples

 
Waves and Sound Circus

 
Sample Investigable Questions

 
 
4. Light and Electromagnetic Waves
Waves and/or Particles

 
Sources of Light

 
Concepts

 
Activities

 
Everyday Examples

 
Light and Matter

 
Concepts

 
Activities

 
Everyday Examples

 
Light Travels in a Straight Line

 
Concepts

 
Activities

 
Everyday Examples

 
Reflection

 
Concepts

 
Activities

 
Everyday Examples

 
Refractions

 
Concepts

 
Activities

 
Everyday Examples

 
Total Internal Reflection

 
Concepts

 
Activities

 
Everyday Examples

 
Dispersion and Color

 
Concepts

 
Activities

 
Everyday Examples

 
Diffraction and Interference

 
Concepts

 
Activities

 
Everyday Eaxamples

 
Light Circus

 
Sample Investigative Questions

 
 
5. Electricity and Magnetism
Electric Charge and the Electric Force and Field

 
Concepts

 
Activities

 
Everyday Examples

 
Electric Current and the Magnetic Force and Field

 
Concepts

 
Activities

 
Magnets Interacting with Magnets and Magnetic Materials

 
Magnets Interacting with Current Carrying Wires

 
Current Carrying Wires Interacting with Current Carrying Wires

 
Everyday Examples

 
Magnets Interacting with Magnets and Magnetic Materials

 
Magnets Interacting with Current Carrying Wires

 
Electromagnetic Induction

 
Concepts

 
Activities

 
Everyday Examples

 
Electric and Magnetic Circus

 
Sample Investigative Questions

 
 
References and Resources

"The activities and examples include many that have withstood the test of time for successful science instruction and that enable teachers to link science to the lives of students."

Elizabeth Hammerman, Science Educator and Consultant

"A substantial contribution to the field of science education and an easy way for busy teachers to make science more meaningful, exciting, and connected for students. An important mix of both content and activities that teachers can use to meet their individual needs."

Kerry Williams, Professor
Wayne State College

"The information is fantastic and the activities are intriguing. Using this book to teach physical science will have children cheering whenever the teacher announces that it's time for science."

Peggy Rogers, First-Grade Teacher
Burton Elementary School, Rexburg, ID

"The straightforward explanations, along with real-life examples, appeal to teachers who are using the information to supplement a required curriculum. This book would be a very convenient resource for preparing lesson plans from district-required text."

Theresa Knaebel, Middle School Science Teacher
Pittsburgh Public Schools, PA

"Provides a fine gathering of exercises in physics for kids in Grades K–8. From experiments demonstrating waves and sound to fluids, forces, and light, these are fun examples to build and test."

California Bookwatch, June 2008
Midwest Book Review

For instructors

Please contact your Academic Consultant to check inspection copy availability for your course.

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