How to Answer Your Curious Kid's Science Questions | Review

Why is the sky blue? 
What makes a sunset orange-red?
What causes the pavement on a highway to appear wet?

If you have an inquisitive child or you will be teaching physics in your elementary or middle school this year, Novare Science & Math can help you with their reference book for teachers called Science for Every Teacher.

HOW TO ANSWER YOUR CURIOUS CHILD'S SCIENCE QUESTIONS

Written by John D. Mays, Science for Every Teacher is a 294 page paperback book with sturdy glossy pages with high quality images, graphics, charts, graphs, and illustrations, as well as shaded text blocks to give your eye a break. Each chapter has Goals, an about section, example problems, questions kids commonly ask, and ideas for your classroom. 

I have been reading Volume 1: Physics, and it is well written. It makes physics interesting and easy to understand. I have never seen a more thorough coverage of a topic for the intended age range. Of course, the purpose of the book is to give you more information than your students will need, so you can answer their many questions! I know I will be better equipped to answer these type of questions now with Science for Every Teacher

Contained within the book are 15 chapters. The first two chapters lay the foundation of science and the rest of the book focuses on physics. 

"Scientific claims are statements about our best understanding of the way things are. Hopefully, our understanding gets closer to the truth over time." - page 5

Since reading the first chapter alone, I have a better understanding of the very nature of scientific knowledge, what truth is, and how we know it. I never really understood what a scientific claim was or how a theory really works. From propositions and truth claims, scientific claims, and understanding truth vs. facts, we dive into what science is and does, what a theory is, and how hypotheses work. 

After reading the second chapter, I had a better understanding of how to teach the Scientific Method - the steps, variables, and control groups, as well as how to explain what double-blind experiments are. 

After covering general science principles, we dive into the heart of physics for the rest of the book to learn about:
  • Motion on Earth and in the Heavens
  • Newton's Laws of Motion
  • Energy
  • Simple Machines
  • Momentum
  • Atoms and Atomic Spectra
  • Substances
  • Heat and Temperature
  • Waves, Sound, and Light
  • Pressure and Buoyancy
  • Electricity
  • Fields and Magnetism
  • Geometric Optics

I was fascinated while reading "Motion on Earth and in the Heavens." It covers the physics of motion, but it also covers the history of the understanding of the motion of the planets. I was engaged while reading about the medieval model of the heavens and earth because I have been studying modern versions of the same model. I loved learning more about the Ptolemaic model and how the Copernican theory evolved.


One of the ideas to teach this is to have your students build a model of the Ptolemaic order of the planets going around the earth and compare it to a contemporary heliocentric model. I love this! I did not do any of these ideas during the review period because I am using this book as a resource for me to prepare me to teach physics this coming fall. But, if I can help it, I want to build a replica of Galileo's telescope, too! 

The book itself is visually interesting. Here are a couple pages that caught my eye while flipping through:



At the end of each chapter is a list of Ideas for Your Classroom. These are practical and hands on ways to teach relevant concepts.


My review copy is already a little worn on the cover. I pop it into my handbag whenever I go out, so I can read a little here and there. While I read the first three chapters from start to finish, I had more fun finding what interested me by thumbing through the book. I could see myself reading each chapter before we cover each topic in our homeschool, but I could also see myself using it as a reference book as we go.

When I was in high school, only the really smart kids who were good at math took Physics. So, I always thought physics would be intimidating. But, it doesn't have to be with Science for Every Teacher

So, why is the sky blue?


To find the answer, I looked up sky in the index and found the answer on page 182. I'll give you a hint, it has to do with how scattered the photons are when the light from the sun hits your eye! 

By the way, Novare Science & Math takes a neutral position when it comes to faith and teaching science. Don't get me wrong - they believe God made the world, but faith doesn't have to get in the way of science, and science doesn't have to get in the way of your faith.  
Novare Science & Math

Novare Science & Math also has middle school and high school science programs, such as Earth Science, General Chemistry, and Introductory Physics. Be sure to click below to check out more Homeschool Crew reviews! 

Biblical Based Science {Novare Science & Math Reviews}
I'm not sure Science for Every Teacher will help you answer EVERY question your child has, but it will give you a great start to answering some of their physics questions! To learn more, connect with Novare Science & Math on: Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram
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3 comments

  1. I am getting this! I've never heard of it before, but science is my weak area...man I should've stayed on the crew! 😊

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  2. Well, you could always come back! 😉It would be fun to be on the Crew with you!

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  3. I need to star blogging regularly again so I'll be eligible this November!! I am on the singles crew, so I have gotten to review some neat stuff this year.

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