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TRC Bibliography: Elementary School Physics Resources

The following collection of resources for students and teachers was used for the Phriendly Physics Program. Items that contain more than one of the subjects covered are found under General Reference Materials at the end of this bibliography.

All of the resource materials are available for use in the Teacher Resource Center.

 

Circuits and Pathways: An Elementary INSIGHTS Hands-On Inquiry Science Curriculum. Newton, MA: Education Development Center, Inc., 1994.

Inquiry-based, hands-on science curriculum to teach science in the true spirit of scientific exploration and
discovery.

Doherty, Paul and Don Rathjen. The Cool Hot Rod. New York, NY: Wiley, 1996.

Presents over twenty experiments exploring energy transformations and how they affect the everyday world.

Friedhoffer, Robert. Magnetism and Electricity. Chicago, IL: Franklin Watts, 1992.

This sixth volume in a six-volume series of books using magic tricks and activities to illustrate scientific principles. Features experiments with magnetism and electricity.

Marson, Ron. Magnetism. Canby, OR: TOPS Learning Systems (Science with simple things series), 1983.

Teacher curriculum resource.

Ward, Alan. Experimenting with Magnetism. New York, NY: Chelsea House Publishers, 1991.

This book has lots of experiments and games using magnets to explore magnetism.

Ward, Alan. Magnets and Electricity. New York, NY: Franklin Watts, 1992.

Uses simple experiments to demonstrate the properties of magnets and electricity

Wood, Robert W. Physics for Kids: 49 Easy Experiments with Electricity and Magnetism. Blue Ridge Summit, PA: Tab Books, 1990.

Describes forty-nine simple experiments involving electricity or magnetism, including "How to make a flashlight," "How to make a Rheostat" and "How to destroy a magnet.


Branley, Franklyn Mansfield. Gravity is a Mystery. New York, NY: Crowell., 1986.

Explains in simple text and illustrations what is known about the force of gravity.

Charman, Andrew. Energy. New York, NY: Franklin Watts, Inc., 1992. (Science Through Art Series).

Explores how basic principles of energy can be expressed through art.

Cobb, Vicki. Why Doesn't the Sun Burn Out? New York, NY: Lodestar Books, 1990.

Presents nine question on different kinds of energy, such as heat, kinetic, and chemical energy, and their relation to matter.

Doherty, Paul and Ron Rathjen. The Spinning Blackboard and Other Dynamic Experiments on Force and Motion. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1991. (The Exploratorium Science Snackbook Series).

Presents over twenty experiments exploring the principles of mechanics. The experiments are miniature versions of some of the exhibits at the Exploratorium Teacher Institute in San Francisco.

Gartrell, Jack E., Jr. and Larry E. Schafer. Evidence of Energy. Washington, DC: The National Science Teachers Association, 1990.

Teacher curriculum resource.

Jeunesse, Gallimard. Exploring Energy. New York, NY: Scholastic. 1993. Voyages of Discovery.

Comprehensive view of energy on glossy pages with brightly colored illustrations.

Leontovich, M., Force, Of Course! Glenview, IL: GoodYear Books, 1995.

Provides instructions for simple experiments using everyday objects that show how air pressure, gravity, inertia, leverage, and other forces are constantly at work.

Ward, Alan. Forces and Energy. New York, NY: Franklin Watts, 1992.

Demonstrates the principles of different types of forces and energy through simple experiments.

Wellington, Jerry. The Super Science Book of Forces. New York, NY: Thomson Learning, 1994.

Covers a wide variety of information dealing with forces in an easy to understand way.

White, Larry. Energy: Simple Experiments for Young Scientists. Brookfield, CT: Millbrook Press, 1995.

By conducting simple experiments, learners explore the properties of energy.

Zubrowski, Bernie. Raceways. Boston, MA: A Boston Children's Museum Activity Book, 1985.

Presents a selection of games to be played or made with balls and tracks. Illustrates scientific principles such as gravity, momentum, and kinetic energy.

 


Ardley, Neil. Heat. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1992.

Defines heat and discusses its properties, origins, and uses.

Wood, Robert W. Physics for Kids: 49 Easy Experiments with Heat. Blue Ridge Summit, PA: Tab Books, 1990.

Presents a collection of experiments exploring the properties of heat.


Asimov, Isaac. How Did We Find Out About Atoms? New York, NY: Walker and Company. 1983.

Examines how the evidence of atoms has been accumulated through the work of many scientists. Asimov
makes a difficult subject understandable.

Berger, Melvin. Atoms, Molecules and Quarks. New York, NY: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1986.

An explanation of the composition, behavior and uses of atoms, molecules and quarks, the building blocks of
the universe.

Bronowski, J. and Millicent E. Selsam. Biography of an Atom. New York, NY: Harper & Row, 1963.

The story of a single atom - the carbon atom - and how it is a neverending link between man and the stars.

Cooper, Christopher. Matter. New York, NY: Dorling Kindersley, 1992.

Examines the elements that make up the physical world and the properties and behavior of different kinds of matter.

Lederman, Leon M. with Dick Teresi. The God Particle: If the Universe is the Answer, What is the Question? New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1993.

Nobel Laureate Leon Lederman tells the story of the 2,500-year search for the answer to an ancient question: what is the world made of? Teacher resource.

 


Ardley, Neil. The Science Book of Motion. Chicago, IL: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers, 1992.

Easy-to-read and understand book of experiments on motion.

Balls and Ramps: An Elementary INSIGHTS Hands-On Inquiry Science Curriculum. Newton, MA: Education
Development Center, Inc., 1994.

Inquiry-based, hands-on science curriculum to teach science in the true spirit of scientific exploration and discovery.

Gartrell, Jack E., Jr. Methods of Motion: An Introduction to Mechanics Book One. Washington, DC: National Science Teachers Association, 1992.

Teacher curriculum resource.

Lafferty, Peter. Force and Motion. New York, NY: Dorling Kindersley, Inc., 1992.

Eyewitness Science Book. Explores the principles of force and motion, describing how they have been applied from ancient to modern times.

Marson, Ron. Motion. Canby, OR: TOPS Learning Systems (Task card series), 1990.

Teacher curriculum resource.

Marson, Ron. Pendulums. Canby, OR: TOPS Learning Systems (Science with simple things series),
1983.

Teacher curriculum resource.

Sauvain, Philip Arthur. Motion. New York, NY: Macmillan, 1992.

Defines motion, describes its different types, and discusses how motion is used in bicycles, escalators, typewriters, and other types of machines.


Ardley, Neil. The Science Book of Sound. Chicago, IL: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1991.

Easy-to-read and understand science experiments dealing with sound.

Berger, Melvin. Sound, Heat & Light: Energy At Work. New York, NY: Scholastic, 1992.

Written in poetic form this book covers sound, heat and light in a light and simple way.

Kaner, Etta. Sound Science. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1991.

Explores the nature of sound through experiments, riddles, interesting facts, puzzles, and games.


Brennan, Richard P. Dictionary of Scientific Literacy. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1992.

Fairly simple definitions of scientific terms with some illustrations.

Challoner, Jack. The Visual Dictionary of Physics. New York, NY: Dorling Kindersley, 1995.

An Eyewitness Visual Dictionaries series book. Information on a wide variety of topics regarding physics. Includes many colored illustrations.

Freeman, Ira M., revised by William J. Durden, Physics Made Simple. New York, NY: Doubleday, 1990.

A book that introduces physics with a simple approach covering the study of matter and energy and the relationships between them.

Jewett, John W., Jr. Physics Begins with an M...Mysteries, Magic, and Myth.. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon,
1994.

Contains a wealth of ideas and real life examples for discussion, research, and classroom demonstration.


McGrath, Susan. Fun With Physics. Washington, DC: The National Geographic Society, 1986.

Explains how physics is involved in all aspects of our lives through chapters on physics in fun, nature, home, and sports. Presents activities to demonstrate physical principles.

Oxlade, Chris, Corinne Stockley and Jane Wertheim. The Usborne Illustrated Dictionary of Physics: the facts you need to know-at-a-glance. London, England: Usborne Publishing, Ltd., 1988.

This book divides physics up using six main color-coded sections. Includes definitions, diagrams charts, and tables.

Pitucco, Anthony P. and Shawn Agut. The Restaurant at the Beginning of the Universe: Exploring the Wonderment
of the World Through Physics. Tucson, AR, Zephyr Press, 1997.

Teacher curriculum resource.

 

Richards, Roy. An Early Start to Energy. Great Britain: Simon and Schuster, 1992.
(An Early Start Series).

This book describes different forms of energy, ways of generating power, and how to measure force and energy in the first section. The rest of the book concentrates on experiments and experiences which help develop understanding of light, heat, sound, electricity and magnetism.

 

Tolman, Marvin N. and James O. Morton. Physical Science Activities for Grades 2-8 Book II. West Nyack, NY: Parker Publishing Company, Inc., 1986.

Science curriculum activities library.

VanCleave, Janice. Janice VanCleave's Physics for Every Kid: 101 Easy Experiments in Motion, Heat, Light, Machines, and Sound. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1991.

Presents 101 experiments relating to physics using readily available materials.