PUBLICATIONS
If you’re a teacher looking for classroom supplements, or a home schooler looking for assistance with science and math, you’ll find these materials helpful and engaging. Written by a science teacher with 30 years of classroom experience, they incorporate effective pedagogical methods across a range of grade levels.
Sky Lights
grades 6-adult
astronomy, meteorology, and earth science, a weekly blog
Price: absolute zero
Availability: Click here to visit Sky Lights.
How do we know Earth is round? Who named the constellations? What will I see in the sky tonight? Why are sunsets red? What causes dust devils? What was that ring around the Moon last night? What is a meteor shower? Answers to these and other intriguing questions are provided in Sky Lights. If it's in the sky, and you can see it, we'll cover it. Simple graphics, unique photos, and custom animations are included to help clarify concepts. Readers' questions are solicited, and no question will ever be rejected as "too simple" or "too obvious." If you ask, we'll answer. What do you want to know about things you see in the sky?
Physics Sourcebook
grades 9-12
physics
122 pages
Price: $10.00
Availability: Order it here.
This is a supplement for introductory physics courses. Part 1, Advanced Topics, covers areas often omitted from standard introductory texts: Archimedes' Principle, orbital mechanics, relativity, SETI, bio-energetics, and friction. Part 2, Worksheets, includes engaging real-world problems (with answers provided) from kinematics, dynamics, kinetic theory, electricity, electromagnetism, and modern physics. Part 3, Appendix, contains just about every type of information a science student (or teacher) could need, plus copyright-free masters for cartesian, polar, semi-log, and log-log graph paper.
Easy Field Guide to the Southwestern Night Sky
grades 6-adult
astronomy
32 pages
Price: $1.99
Availability: Order it here.
Offered by American Traveler Press as part of their Easy Field Guide series, this handbook is the ideal companion for beginning observers. It includes sky maps for all seasons, and will teach you to recognize prominent stars and constellations. Works well for any location between latitudes 25° and 45° (north of the equator).
Chapter Zero
grades 9-12
mathematics
142 pages
Price: Free
Availability: Get it here.
Aptly named, this 10-unit manual reviews the mathematics science students need to know: algebra, trigonometry, vector analysis, proportions, statistics, graphing methods, units and conversions, scientific notation, significant figures, uncertainty, and the scientific calculator. Answers to the practice problems for each unit are included, as well as copyright-free masters for cartesian, polar, semi-log, and log-log graph paper. Use it as an introductory unit or for reference. This is not an "easy read." It is targeted for the serious student of science who is motivated to improve their mathematics skills.
RB5X: Mission to Mars
grades K-16
robotics
80 pages
DVD or PDF download
Price: $10.00
Availability: Contact me if interested.
Produced under contract for General Robotics Corporation of Lakewood, CO, this curriculum package includes exercises designed around their RB5X Intelligent Robot. Interdisciplinary problem-solving activities are given for all grade levels. Students will answer essay questions, complete crosswords, solve math and physics problems, write programs, and design hardware solutions related to teleoperation. Mission to Mars includes a separate teacher's manual with solutions. NOTE: This curriculum easily adapts to other robotics hardware and programming languages, since problem and solutions are presented as flowchart algorithms. Package includes both student and teacher versions, as well as HOW2RCL.pdf, a guide to the Tiny Basic programming language used by the RB5X.
Astronomy Visualized
grades 6-14
astronomy
DVD or download
Price: $20.00
Availability: Coming soon.
You can learn much about astronomy by studying the images from observatories and space probes. You can learn even more by studying animations and simulations of astronomical phenomena. This DVD provides 2D and 3D video clips covering a broad variety of of astronomical phenomena. All clips include both WMV and MP4 versions in high-quality 720x480 30 fps digital format. Topics covered include eclipses, orbits, the international date line, seasons, cosmic expansion, midnight sun, retrograde motion, occultations and transits, and much more.
The Physics Lab
grades 6-12
physical science
DVD or download
Price: $20.00
Availability: Coming soon.
Design your own lab, build your own equipment, do real science experiments. This program is perfect for home schoolers who want a real science experience outside the confines of a formal school laboratory. It's also an excellent classroom resource, containing many projects suitable for advanced or extra credit projects and science fairs. Areas covered include measurement, kinematics, dynamics, waves, astronomy, energy, electricity, and optics.