Physical Science: Module 4 & 5

Who'd have thought one could write two long chapters about water?  We just spent 3 weeks discussing the chemical attributes of water, and the hydrologic cycle.   To some extent, this was review of previous work we had done years ago in an Abeka science book.

Module 4:

Electrolysis

PolarityPolar Molecule

Solvent/Solute

Hydrogen bond

Cohesion

Module 5:

Hydrosphere

Hydrologic cycle

Evaporation/Transpiration

Condensation/Precipitation

Distillation

Residence time

Salinity

Firn

Water table/Percolation

Atmospheric Moisture

Adiabatic cooling

Cloud condensation nuclei

After completing an experiment on the stove with salt water, my 12 yo wrote this short summary:

"The salt water source evaporates and changes into water vapor, which through condensation, turns into water droplets.  When the water droplets collect in the bowl, they are fresh water, because when evaporating, the salt stays in the pot.   The salt water source represents the ocean.  Evaporation and condensation is the process by which water from the ocean turns into a cloud.   This shows us that we can change salt water (the ocean) into drinkable water."

Unfortunately,  I had no charged batteries in my camera, so no pics of the scientists at work.  Mom will  have to prepare better for our next lab experiment.

1:18 PM - Oct. 22, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Physical Science: Modules 2 & 3

We're learning about air and the atmosphere.

Wile does a great job explaining the heat index and why we feel so much hotter when the humidity is high.  He also covers flobal warming and the ozone.  I had heard he gave a heavy-handed environmentalist perspective, but I found a very fair presentation on air pollution and how environmentalists present data toward their own ends.  Module 2 terms we studied included:

Humidity

Relative Humidity

Absolute Humidity

PPM - parts per million: how to calculate and convert to %

We conducted a simple experiment to observe the effects of atmospheric pressure in Module 3 (see photos).  My daughter independently set up everything we needed.  This is another thing I like about the Apologia books.  The experiments are simple demonstrations of principles using household items.  Module 3 terms:

Atmosphere

Atmospheric Pressure

Barometer

Homosphere

Heterosphere

Jet Streams

Heat

Temperature

Thermosphere

Exosphere

I'm more of a life science fan, but so far I'm enjoying this curriculum.

1:37 PM - Oct. 1, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Physical Science: Module 1

We just finished Module #1 of Apologia's Physical Science.

6:14 PM - Sep. 15, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Apologia's Physical Science

This course is designed to be the last science course the student takes before high school biology. Thus, it is generally recommend as an 8th grade course. I have an 9th grader and two 8th graders.  

The course discusses such topics as the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, weather, the structure of the earth, environmentalism, the physics of motion, Newton’s Laws, gravity, and astrophysics. The author especially concentrates on the myths generated by the environmentalist movement. There are many hands-on experiments to do, and they all use household chemicals and supplies. Reportedly, it is an excellent course for preparing the student to take a college-prep high school science curriculum.   We love the way the author writes conversationally, directly to the student.

Future posts about what we're learning will be posted in the future

Lab List by Module

Setting Up an Apologia Notebook

6:00 PM - Aug. 3, 2007 - comments {0} - post comment

Apologia General Science

According to Jay Wile, the author,  Exploring Creation with General Science  is designed to be a student’s first systematic introduction to the sciences. Although it can be used for eighth grade (especially if the student has recently left the public schools), it is typically used best in the seventh grade. The course covers such topics as the scientific method, designing experiments, simple machines, archaeology, geology, paleontology, biology, and human anatomy and physiology. Its scope, therefore, is quite wide. There are many hands-on experiments to do, and they all use household items.

Students who do not have a lot of experience taking tests which require them to truly master the course material might have trouble with this course at first. However, the study skills required for this course are absolutely essential for high school and beyond. It is prudent, therefore, for the student to learn these skills now rather than put them off until later.

 Donna Young has created lesson plans, lab sheets and vocabulary guides to correspond with this text.  I have found these resources most helpful in teaching this course to my kids, who are 6th and 7th grade, and had no problems with the content of  Exploring Creation with General Science.

The author includes very detailed instructions for student lab books and a convenient listing of lab supplies needed for each module.  We have not done ALL of the experiments, but the ones we have done are clear and simple.  Here is a photo of a recent experiment we did  this year.  See if you can figure out the science concepts and conclusions based on this demonstration.  We look forward to the next text in this series, Exploring Creation With Physical Science, in the coming year.
 

2:15 PM - May. 13, 2006 - comments {0} - post comment