Making Physics Fun

Key Concepts, Classroom Activities, and Everyday Examples, Grades K-8
Robert Prigo - Middlebury College, Vermont
Making Physics Fun
April 2007 | 240 pages | Corwin
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ISBN: 9781452293479
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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

References and Resources

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

References and Resources

SAGE Publishing Logo

Making Physics Fun

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


April 2007 | 240 pages | Corwin

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Hardcover 27/02/2023 9781412926621 $79.95
Paperback 27/02/2023 9781412926638 $40.95
Lifetime 27/02/2023 9781452293479 $37.00

"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!


Table Of 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

Recent Product Reviews:

"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
"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
"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

Recommendations