Middle school physics?

[tankgirl73]

We used NOEO Science for Biology II a couple of years ago and loved it.  I'd always intended to use NOEO for Physics II (when he was grade 6 or 7) and then Chem III for middle school...

We ended up doing stuff for science for the past year (his grade 7 year), focussing on other subjects so just doing little things for science.  Some Science Jim little courses, and more recently, Ellen J McHenry's The Elements -- which he has really enjoyed.  We'll be finished that in a couple more weeks.

So now I'm looking at science again, for "what next".  Looking at NOEO again, the Physics II is actually 'beneath' him now.   He's a bit 'delayed' in some areas (writing) - but not in his comprehension - so the NOEO approach of being able to draw responses, and write to whatever level of understanding they were at, was perfect.  I was expecting to still be able to use level II even though he was a little older (and hasn't done a full formal Physics program before).  But the content matter really is below what he's asking for now.  For instance, last night he pulled out the Science Encyclopedia (which is the core of all the NOEO level II courses) and was leafing through it *just for fun* (wheee!!!  this is a big deal for my non-motivated ADHD Aspie boy), full of curiosity of all kinds of things.  He was finding the information in it fascinating -- but insufficient.  He wanted more detail, more info.  He was saying it was "for younger kids".  This is new to me!!  :)

NOEO Chemistry III would be an appropriate level.  But we were talking about it and he might want to do a Physics course next instead.

So now I'm wondering what great resources you lovely folks have found for middle school physics?  Secular please!  :)

[moominmamma]

Not sure I'm much help, but for what it's worth ...

We've followed the Canadian practice of not separating the sciences out into separate subject-area courses until the Grade 10 or 11 level. My kids have actually really enjoyed working through the school curriculum that's used here in BC (McGraw Hill Ryerson BC Science), and they have publications intended to align with the curriculums of different provinces. What I like particularly is that (a) they're all secular and evolution-friendly and (b) they don't neglect some of the "lesser" areas of science that don't fit neatly into Bio/Chem/Physics. So climate change, conditions in extreme environments, sustainable energy production, geology ... those things get their own units of focus, rather than being lumped in or chopped up to fit in as peripheral components of say physics or whatever. I also like that biology gets touched on in greater depth every year. 

My 8, 12 and 14-year-olds have worked through BC Science 6, 8 and 10 this year respectively. I liked all three courses. None was overly challenging but they were nicely presented without a lot of fluff and without talking down to the students too much. There's a workbook that doesn't require a ton of writing, at least compared to other programs... and my dysgraphic son managed a lot of with shorthand or verbal responses. They don't provide the hands-on kits or anything, but there are a bunch of great suggestions for simple explorations within the textbook, and there's pretty robust on-line support and enrichment, with self-assessment quizzes, links to Canadian sites, reference articles, Quirks & Quarks podcasts/interviews, videos and so on. 

Having said that, I think the books are not cheap if you have to buy them. We got the texts through the school and only had to buy the workbooks. The full-meal deal would cost you about $100 per year I think.

Miranda