Physical Science.
The characteristics of desirable physical science programs will enable students to pursue individual goals and interests by involving them in projects and activities that relate physical science content to real-world problem situations. Desirable programs will help students overcome their fear of the physical sciences, especially because of the mathematics that it involves.
Sci-Math. This program is designed to help students apply mathematics to introductory science. The course can be used as a physical science course for 8th or 9th grade students. The NDN suggests that it can be used for high achievers at the 7th grade level, and slow learners at the eighth or ninth grade levels.
The program consists of two modules. Module One focuses on the mathematics involved in prealgebra dealing with arithmetic and logic of operations. Module Two explores how algebraic equations express proportions, and studies the graphical representation of proportions.
There are 23 hands-on activities in the program. The problems and activities deal with variables that are familiar to the student, and materials used in the investigations are readily available and inexpensive such as rulers, string, pennies, spoons, jars and masking tape.
Awareness materials are available from Sci-Math Director, Education & Technology Foundation, 4655 25th Street, San Francisco, CA 94114.
Informal Science Study (ISS). This program offers an alternative and supplement to the physical science course. The ISS materials presents several mini-units based on the student's involvement with popular park rides, sports, and playground experiences to develop physical science concepts. The program topics include motion, acceleration, relativity, forces, gravity, time, graphing, conservation of energy, and frames of reference.
Each mini-unit is designed to involve the students in dialogue through an introduction and review/application of the physical science concepts in a low-key, nontechnical language. Terms are kept to a minimum, and are introduced only after instruction. Some of the units include laboratory activities using toys and playground equipment.
The developers have shown that students significantly increase their knowledge and comprehension of science concepts after as few as three weeks of instruction. These National Diffusion Network materials are available from Informal Science Study, University of Houston, Room 450 Farish Hall, Houston, TX 77004.
Environmental Physical Science. This program, developed in the Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania School District, uses physical science as an approach to study the environment. The program accommodates the students life science study in grade 6 by emphasizing the ecological aspects of the environment, and serves as an introduction to Earth science in grade 8 by exposing the students to some Earth science units, from a physical science point of view.
The program is centered around the following goals:
Through a series of units of study, the students develop the skills and concepts necessary to understand physical science. Some of the units include ecology, weather, chemistry, solid waste disposal, air pollution, and energy.