Full Description
"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 individual needs."
—Kerry Williams, Professor, Wayne State College
Boost student interest and understanding in the physical sciences!
Teaching physical science in the elementary and middle grades can be challenging for busy teachers faced with growing science demands and limited classroom resources. Robert Prigo provides fun and engaging activities using safe, available materials that educators can easily incorporate into lesson plans. Extensive examples, sample inquiry questions, and ideas for initiating units are readily available for teachers to pick and choose from to meet student needs.
The result of more than two decades of professional development work with hundreds of teachers and administrators, Making Physics Fun addresses five specific areas of physical science: motion and force, fluids and buoyancy, waves and sound, light and electromagnetic waves, and electricity and magnetism. Dozens of activities demonstrating physics in action help students of all ages relate physics principles to their everyday experiences.
Using easy-to-understand language, this practitioner-friendly resource helps teachers:
Address the "big ideas" in K-8 science education
Promote student understanding with ready-to-use learning experiences
Use hands-on activities to help students make larger, real-world connections
Assemble classroom learning centers to facilitate deeper understanding of basic physics principles
With conceptual summaries to support teachers' proficiency and understanding of the content, this guidebook is ideal for bringing physics to life for students in the classroom and in their lives!
Contents
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
