Junior Physics Resources

[Greenmama2]

DD 4.5 has repeatedly requested us to "tell me all about physics". She is especially interested in electricity. We have Usborne Starting Point Science which she loves but the electricity section is too simple. The descriptions of the various types of power station simply describe how they get the turbines to spin the generator to which she replies "yes, but how is the electricity made?"
I've found a few animations online and a lot of websites aimed at 10-13 year olds with lots of reading involved. She loves to learn from being read aloud to - from books, not from a webpage. None of the animations seem like they would apeal to her either.
I'd love resource suggestions of any kind (books, webpages etc) both specifically about electricity and more general physics. Any other tiny physicists out there?

[kgianforti]

I answered in the gifted board as well:

Magic School Bus books. I know there are some about electricity and such. I just can't remember if it's the chapter books, picture books or readers. Sonlight Science K is moving into Physics stuff and a book used is called Isaac Newton and the Laws of Motion. It's a comic book type book...my big girl thumbed through it and thought it was cool, so we'll see!

We also have a book called How Do You Lift A Lion? by Robert E. Wells and that's about simple machines.

[Marimami]

If you think she might like something more hands-on for understanding/exploring electricity, DD has enjoyed Snap Circuits, and it's easily something you can do together or on her own as she gets older.

Holli

[emilysmama]

Before you do the snap circuits, I suggest that you try Castle Electronics Kit first.


On a completely different tack, the professional society of physicists who study light have this site for kids: Optical Society of America


You can find similar sites by googling the professional scientific societies and looking on their home pages to see what educational/kids/outreach/K-12 links they have.

Here are some thoughts

APS or AIP (Probably AIP is more likely) American Physical Society/American Institute of Physics

IEEE

AGU (Geology)

AAS (American Astronomical Society)

NSTA (National Science Teachers Association)

[*Jessica*]

The free Color Me Physics Activity Book and Coloring Book are fun.

[Greenmama2]

Thanks, these are all great!