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Physics Lapbook

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic (by 4 people)   Your rating: 1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic

Ranked #1669 in How-To, #16573 overall

Rated G. (Control what you see)

 

Think physics is only for college geeks? Think again! Physics is a fascinating facet of science that is especially relevant to children -- pushing and pulling, falling and leaping are all components of this science. Even elementary students can benefit from a study of physics. Use this page to help you design your own physics lapbook or unit study.

Flickr Physics 

physics by hashmil

Physics book

Defying Gravity (9) by Christiaan L

Defying gravity

zero gravity by [au ro]

Centripetal force

Seesaw by superflyturner

Seesaw -- First Class Lever

Driven Pulley by Aaron Olaf

Driven pulley

Old School NEON GLOW LAMP. by G0Da

Light bulb

Physics Poll 

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Physics 

You will probably want some books to serve as the foundation of your study. Any of these would be great. Or, if you need a quick answer to something, try Physics 4 Kids, something of an online textbook.

For some excellent free PDF books, try WOWIO. There are some excellent physics related books suitable for children. Look for these titles Great Physicists, Albert Einstein, Energy, Light, and Sound.(You have to have a USA address to get these freebies, though.)

The Usborne Illustrated Dictionary Of Physics (Illustrated Dictionaries)

Amazon Price: $11.04 (as of 07/20/2008)
Used Price: $7.25

Electricity and Magnetism (Usborne Understanding Science)

Amazon Price: $7.95 (as of 07/20/2008)
Used Price: $1.99

Where Does Electricity Come From? (The Clever Calvin)

Amazon Price: (as of 07/20/2008)
Used Price: $2.97

Can You Feel The Force?

Amazon Price: $12.79 (as of 07/20/2008)
Used Price: $6.99

Energy Makes Things Happen (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 2)

Amazon Price: $5.99 (as of 07/20/2008)
Used Price: $2.50

Forces and the Laws of Motion 

Your study of forces should include Gravity and Friction.

Here are some educational Songs to help: Gravity Song and What is Friction?

Visit
BBC Science Worksheets and look to the right for a link to a printable worksheet about forces and friction. (These could be easily adapted to a minibook or to notebooking page.)

Also be sure to check out Energy Kids' Page Resources there are divided by grade level. Look for printables about friction, simple machines, and forces. Many of the PDFs have nice graphics and diagrams that could be used in minibooks.

Sparklebox has a Forces and Movement Vocabulary PDF that would be especially good for younger children. Make them into a memory game, flashcards, a poster, or a minibook.

3 laws of motion



Isaac Newton wrote the three laws of motion.

1. An object in motion will remain in motion and an object at rest will remain at rest UNLESS acted upon by a force
2. Force = mass x acceleration
3. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction

Click on the photo for a Three Laws of Motion window minibook template I created. It will open as a PDF in another window.

Newton's 3 Laws of Motion has simple animated gifs and explanations of these laws that we used in our study.

Forces and Motion Lapbook 

We made this lapbook during our four week study of Forces and Motion. Many of the reproducibles and ideas came from Dinah Zike's Great Science Adventures: The World of Tools and Technology.

Great Science Adventures: The World of Tools and Technology 

Great Science Adventures the World of Tools And Technology

Amazon Price: (as of 07/20/2008)

This book is a great resource for lapbooking physics topics. It covers all of the six simple machines as well as work and friction.

Simple Machines 

gears pulling bucket from wellThe six simple machines are

  • inclined plane

  • wedge

  • screw

  • lever

  • wheel & axle

  • pulley


Dinah Zike's Great Science Adventures The World of Tools and Technology is a great resource here. In 24 lessons you will thoroughly study the six simple machines, making mini-books for each lesson. A great lapbooking tool!
Free Simple Machines Lapbook
Look for the link to Simple Machines for a free PDF lapbooking guide!
EdHeads Lesson Plans
The Simple Machines Web Quest is actually a nice printable graph for identifying types of machines throughout a normal household.
Pasco Partners
A grade 3 unit study about simple machines that incorporates language, science, and math. There are some good ideas here and some nice graphics that may be appropriate for a minibook.

Simple Machines Lapbook Photos 

Light and Sound 

light bulbHere are some most basic concepts about light that you should be sure to include in your physics unit study.

  • Light is energy.

  • It travels in straight path.

  • Reflection is bouncing off.

  • Refraction is passing through and bending.

  • Translucent means light passes through and opaque means light cannot pass through.

  • Luminous objects create light.


1. For quaint educational songs about light, listen to Did You Ever See a Rainbow? and Why is the Sky Blue?

2. Visit Teacher Vision for a GREAT free printable! Assemble a pop-up book that describes the invention of the light bulb. (This is actually a paid site, but they offer a few free samples before requiring you to pay.)

3. Torah Tots has a great light bulb coloring page that would make a great shape book template!

4. And Homeschool Helper offers an entire Light lapbook for free!
lightbulb trifold
5. Visit BBC Science Worksheets and look to the right for a link to a printable worksheet about sound. (This could be easily adapted to a minibook or to notebooking page.)

6. Click on the image to the right for a printable template of the lightbulb shaped trifold pictured. For the same file in A4 format, click here.

7. Visit Pasco Partners for a unit study about sound that incorporates language, science, and math.

8. Here is a great minibook printable about the colors of light using the ROYGBIV mnemonic device. A homeschool mom made this!

Great Science Adventures the World of Light And Sound

Amazon Price: (as of 07/20/2008)

This book was created by Dinah Zike, a well known name in lapbooking circles. 24 lessons take you through a study of light, color, mirrors, lasers, heat, and sound. In each lesson you will make one or more mini-books. The directions and reproducible pages are all included as well as ideas for activities and experiments.

Although this book can stand alone as a science curriculum, it also serves well as a lapbooking supplement to another physics study. I have this book and use it as a lapbooking supplement to Noeo Science Physics 1 curriculum.

LIght and Sound Lapbook 

This is the lapbook my daughter made during the few weeks we studied light and sound.

Energy 

Kinetic, Potential, Renewable, Non-renewable

Free energy printables and songs! Check out these options for your lapbook and unit study.
What is Energy? Song
Educational Song for learning about energy!
Kinetic and Potential Energy Song
Another educational song!
Energy Education Resources
This long list of links offers some gems. Especially good are the Renewable Energy Coloring Book, the Classroom Energy Poster Puzzle, and the Texas Solar Energy Coloring Book.
Renewable and Nonrenewable Sources of Energy
The last page of this document is a set of small cards. Turn this into a game for your lapbook. Make two pockets -- one for the renewable energy sources and another for the nonrenewable ones.
Energy Kids' Page
Resources are divided by grade level. Topics include a lot about energy but also friction, simple machines, and forces. Many of the PDFs have nice graphics and diagrams that could be used in minibooks.
Heat and Energy Lapbook
Sorry, no freebies here except great ideas. Kristen, a homeschooling mom, shares photos of her son's lapbook and some resources she used.

Electricity 

solenoid

Concepts to include in your study of electricity:


  • Electrons flowing along a path = electricity

  • Direct current (DC)

  • Alternating current (AC)

  • Conductors allow the flow of electricity

  • Insulators stop the flow of electricity

neon batteryVisit some of these links for free resources about electricity.
Free Electricity Lapbook
Homeschool Helper Online offers several free printable minibooks about electricity.
BBC Science Worksheets
Look to the right for a link to a printable worksheet about circuits.
Electricity Song
Learn the fun way-- sing! This educational song will teach about electricity in a way that's easy to memorize.

Magnetism 





Facts about magnets:

  • Have north and south poles

  • Exert force on metals

Educational Song
It is a Magnet Song
Another fun educational song that makes memorizing fun!
Magnet Coloring Page and Notebooking Page
This coloring page would be nice for younger students, or for a template to make a shape book. click on the next button to reach a notebooking page decorated with magnets.

Physics Experiments 

Of course, your study of physics must incorporate some hands-on experiments! Not only are they fun, but they also teach the principles in a way that is memorable.

For a freebie, try this well made PDF file of physics experiments complete with diagrams and drawings.

Or try these online ideas for light experiments or sound experiments.

The Science Spot has some lesson plans that are actually great projects for experiencing physics first hand.

building levers



Here are some titles from Amazon that offer some physics experiements you can do in your own home.

Physics Experiments for Children

Amazon Price: $4.95 (as of 07/20/2008)
Used Price: $0.01

Awesome Experiments in Electricity & Magnetism (Awesome Experiments in)

Amazon Price: $6.95 (as of 07/20/2008)
Used Price: $3.09

Sound and Light (Young Discoverers: Science Facts and Experiments)

Amazon Price: $7.95 (as of 07/20/2008)
Used Price: $3.52

Physics Play 

Incorporate play into your physics study. Hula hoops, marbles, ring toss games, water wheels, and bowling sets all offer opportunities to study physical principles in action!

Famous Physicists 

Color Me Physics
This PDF coloring book features famous physicists.
Albert Einstein Printables
Wordsearch puzzle, a notebooking page,a coloring page, and more -- all related to this famous scientist.
Online History Exhibits
Several physicists are featured here -- Marie Curie, Einstein, J.J. Thompson (discoverer of the electron). The Einstein PDF is a remarkable 92 page document with many images, a timeline, and lots of text.
Isaac Newton Coloring Page
This cartoon style coloring page from Crayola depicts the traditional story of Newton's being struck in the head with a falling apple. A bit corny, but you certainly want your child to understand this commonly told story.
Edison and Marconi Skits
Create some fun by acting out a skit about the inventor of the lightbulb or the inventor of the radio!

Used Book Bargains 

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eBay

Online Fun with Physics 

Try these online games or simulations to reinforce your lessons.
BBC Physical Processes Games
Changing Sounds, Changing Circuits, Friction, Forces in Action, and more!
Nobel Prize in Physics
Five games -- The Integrated Circuit, Invar & Steel Alloys, Laser, Liquid Crystals, The Transistor.
Simple Machines Interactive Game
Explore simple machines with Ed Head.

Your Comments 



This area is for YOU. If you'd like to comment, just feel free to do so here.

DrRichard

Great lens. I have a background in physics so enjoyed some proper science here for a change!! 5 stars and a favorite.

Posted July 04, 2008

dmmcmah

Nice lens. But what really makes physics interesting these days, is quantum mechanics and relativity, two theories that challenge our notions of reality! You might suggest that your readers check out "The Quantum World: Quantum Physics for Everyone" by Kenneth W. Ford.

Posted June 01, 2008

debbie

We did all three of the Dinah Zike books for physics too. Here are some fun things we added.

My kids loved building with the Knex sets that deal with simple machines and really seeing them work. Check them out. I got mine from Timberdoodle. Here is the link
http://www.timberdoodle.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=127
Knex Levers and Pulleys
Knex Wheels/Axles and Inclined Planes
Knex Gears

For Magnets check out Fizz Bang Science's book 39 Amazing Experiments with the Mega-Magnet (make sure you order it with the magnet)

For Electronics they also enjoyed Electronic Snap Circuit which you can also get from timberdoodle
http://www.timberdoodle.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=37
thanks for the links to save for the next time we do physics.

Posted May 29, 2008

groovyoldlady

I've taught Chemistry and Biology (and enjoyed them both immensely!), but always run from Physics like it was the plague! Thanks for making it look more accessible. :-)

Posted January 21, 2008

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