Organization of the Discipline's Knowledge Base
For grade K-8 education, the knowledge structure of physics is based on classical mechanics, thermodynamics, and electromagnetism. Students first learn the concepts of force, acceleration, gravity, and electricity. This leads to the “big ideas” of mechanics as expressed in Newton’s Laws of Motion and Law of Universal Gravitation. The “big ideas” of thermodynamics are the conservation of energy and the entropy law. The “big idea” of electromagnetism is that there is a force in nature that underlies both electricity and magnetism. Students build their knowledge of each of these areas, and are introduced to physicists’ ultimate “big idea”—the search for a unifying force and theory that explains how all of the physical phenomena in the universe work.
Books and Materials
In grade four, which is the elementary grade that focuses on physics, students will conduct laboratory experiments from Gravitas Publications, and will use "What's Physics All About?" from Usborne. In grade eight, which is the upper grade that focuses on physics, students will use the books and laboratory kits provided by Prentice Hall Science Explorer
Teaching Techniques
Students will be taught using a variety of techniques, including teacher-led instruction, demonstrations, laboratory experiments, and investigations. The best available research that supports using a particular approach for a particular topic will be consulted when determining the techniques to be used.
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