Novare Physical Science
Good science instruction should leave students with an increasing love of the world in which they live, new knowledge of how it works, and a sense of wonder at the benevolent Creator who made it all. Novare Physical Science not only presents concepts of force and motion, waves, chemical compounds, and the electro-magnetic spectrum, pages are devoted to considering questions like "What kind of knowledge does science give us?" "What is a theory?" and "What does the presence of order in the universe suggest?"
Novare Physical Science is beautiful inside and out. With a mature, developed sense of aesthetics, this book is tidy and attractive. Students love the personal style of the narrative in which the author concisely and accurately explains the concepts with evident wonder and excitement at the marvels of God’s world.
Textbook Specs
Textbook Specs
ISBN: 9780998169910
Edition: 3rd Edition
Grade Level: Grades 6-8
Course Length: 1 year
Content Credit: 1 full middle school science credit
Trim Size: 6.5” x 9.5”
Binding: Hardcover
Color or BW: Color
Pages: 368
Digital Resources
Digital Resources
Digital Resources for Novare Physical Science is a downloadable resource that includes all documentation and electronic resources necessary for the administration of this course, whether in a homeschool setting or a coop or classroom. All items are printable and distributable to your student or classroom; only one copy of digital resources are needed per classroom or home.
Included in the Digital Resources:
- Course Overview - "Recommendations for Teaching the Course" by John D. Mays
- 27 Weekly Review Guides
- 29 Quizzes
- Fall and Spring Semester Exams
- All Keys and Sample Answers
- Lesson List
- Sample Schedule for the year
- Experiment Manual (2-up for printing out as a booklet)
- Experiment Manual (1-up for displaying on a computer screen)
- Useful Links – List of free games and activities on the internet
Experiments Included
- Kinetic Energy - determine how the kinetic energy of a matchbox car varies as its mass changes
- Heat Transfer by Conduction - compare the ability of three materials (copper, aluminum, plastic cord) to conduct heat
- Electrostatic Forces - observe the effects of static electricity caused by accumulations of electric charge
- Growing Crystals - grow and observe and describe crystal formations using alum, sodium chloride, and Epsom salt
- Determining Volume - develop skill at calculating and measuring the volume of a regular solid
- Determining Density - determine the densities of several different materials and compare these densities to reference density values (aluminum, brass, carbon steel)
- Heat of Fusion - observe the effects of the heat of fusion of a substance
- Inertia and Force - use a jig with a spring that launches balls of different masses to observe how equal forces affect objects with different masses
- Observing Chemical Reactions - identify types of compounds in equations and associate chemical formulas and chemical equations with visual observations of what the compounds and reactions look like (copper sulfate, sodium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, hydrochloric acid)
- Refraction - measure the indices of refraction for acrylic glass and water and compare the experimental values to published reference values
- Series and Parallel Circuits - observe the behavior of resistor networks connected in series and in parallel
- Magnetic Field Strength - determine how the strength of the magnetic field around a current-carrying wire varies with the distance from the wire
Special Parts Kit
The Special Parts Kit contains three custom-made wooden jigs and five metal samples specifically designed to help with five of the experiments in Novare Physical Science. Schematics for making these widgets are included in the experiment manual for Novare Physical Science. However, we recognize that many do not have time or resources, so we also make these available to you fully assembled and ready to use. Each kit contains all of the following:
- Hot Wheels Track Clamp Support Base – used in Experiment 1, Measuring Kinetic Energy
- Double Support Stand with Adjustable Crosspiece (set of two) – used in Experiments 1 and 12, Kinetic Energy and Magnetic Field Strength
- Four Hole Spring Block – used in Experiment 8, Inertia and Force
- Five Metal Samples – used in Experiment 5, Determining Volume, and Experiment 6, Determining Density
Novare Science Recommended Sequence
Learn More About Physical Science
What is Physical Science?
What is Physical Science?
Physical science is a middle school course that includes basics concepts in physics and chemistry, drawing only on pre-algebra math knowledge. It is an excellent course for younger students to prepare them for greater depth in their high school science courses, but it is not a requirement or prerequisite for high school science. Physical science typically covers basic concepts in motion, energy, substances, the electromagnetic spectrum, waves, sound and light, as well as units of measurement and scientific procedure. In chemistry, students will learn about the periodic table, compounds and chemical reactions.
Useful Articles
Useful Articles
Welcome to the New Metric System
Novare Science Summer Reading Lists
Sequencing Upper School Science and Math Curriculum, part 1
Sequencing Upper School Science and Math Curriculum, part 2
A Novare Science Boot Camp, part 1: Understanding the Novare Pedagogy and Standard Components
A Novare Science Boot Camp, part 2: Preparing for and Teaching the Class
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