Introductory Physics by John D. Mays
from Novare and Classical Academic Press
Some science and education reading led me to the philosophy of teaching physics before chemistry and biology. You can read a great explanation of the arguments on the Novare website. Sold on the idea, I also liked the professed dedication to wonder and quality textbooks. So I ordered the set. It came with the student textbook, a solutions and answer manual for the teacher, a book of experiments, and digital resources like review guides, quizzes, tests, exams, and recommended schedules. I also ordered the Student Lab Report Handbook, also by John D. Mays.
The text - I have the third edition. It's well-written; full of color photos, diagrams, and clearly worked out problems; and well-bound. The author is not a Catholic, but he does an excellent job of presenting the events of Galileo's studies and trial. Throughout the book, he shares his delight in physics and God's created world.
the solutions manual - This is one of the best solutions manuals I have ever used in any curriculum. It gives every problem and step-by-step calculations of the answer. You absolutely do not need to be a confident science teacher to use this book to teach physics to your homeschool student.
the experiment book - This book was a disappointment. The few labs were way too complicated for a homeschool mom to manage, even with a science background (biology, not physics). A friend in our local homeschooling community teamed up with me to make some of the labs work for us, which was a great blessing. I also added in some labs from Sabbath Mood Homeschool Form 3-4 physics, which I already owned.
The good news is that there is now an Introductory Physics Lab Kit which I have heard makes the experiments much more approachable.
the Student Lab Report Handbook - This is a fantastic resource for all lab reports. It gives clear instructions for what a lab report should do and how to write one. Highly recommended if you have kids who may be interested in taking advanced science or pursuing science in college.
Overall, I was very pleased with this curriculum and recommend it, especially if you would like to teach physics first in high school (before biology and chemistry) or if you are looking for a physics course that doesn't require higher level algebra.
I have received nothing in exchange for this post. Links to Novare, Classical Academic Press, and HomeScienceTools are not affiliate links.
