Physics Book Project
The Task
Create a book addressing one physics concept covered in class this year. The book should have a reading level appropriate for first or second graders (ages 6 to 8). It must have original art (in color) on each page to help explain ideas and interest the reader. Original art means copyrighted characters may NOT be used. Pictures cut or copied from magazines, newspapers or other printed sources may NOT be used.
Make the book interesting to young children as well as your peers. The book should have a theme or story; it is NOT a report or list of facts. The book should be interesting, entertaining and educational. The book MUST contain factual and correct information. If it reads like an encyclopedia, it is BORING!
Requirements – described in the required order in the book
1.The book must be in a thin binder which holds the pages when turned in for a grade. Binders or folders not meeting the requirements will NOT be accepted. Check ahead of time if you are not sure. Waiting until the moment the project is due is NOT wise. Binders should have metal tabs to hold the pages in place. Binders relying on friction alone will not hold the pages well enough against the wear and tear of use by elementary students. Friction binders are NOT acceptable. Three ring notebooks or binders are NOT acceptable. Pages loose in a folder are NOT acceptable.
2.The book must have a cover showing the title of the book and the name of the author.
3.The cover must be on the outside of the binder. It may be a sheet of paper glued onto the front of the binder.
4.The cover must include art reflecting the content of the book.
5.The book must have a correctly formatted title page. The title page has the title of the book, the name of the author, the date ‘published,’ and the city of ‘publication.’
6.The book must have at least 12 pages of content. This does NOT count the cover page, the title page, glossary, or bibliography.
7.A page must be the size of a standard sheet of paper (8 1/2 by 11 inches).
8.Each page must have writing and a picture.
9.The minimum font size is 18; any desired font may be used. If the writing is handwritten, it must comparable in size to a size 18 font.
10.Pictures must be original art or photographs. The art should be in color and beyond the stick figure art level. The art may be drawn by hand, drafted or computer generated, but NO COPYRIGHTED characters may be used. Color may be from a printer, markers, crayons or colored pencils.
11.The art and content must be appropriate for viewing in school.
12.At least TWO pages must have some sort of POP UP object or moveable action device.
13.At least ONE of the pages must show a task or experience the reader could do with common playground, sports or household objects to develop an understanding of the physics concept of the book.
14.The topic of the book must be a physics concept covered in class this year. The topic must be explained with words and concepts simple enough for a first or second grade (6 to 8 years old) child of normal ability to understand.
15.There must be a glossary page after the last page of content.
16.The glossary page must have explanations of words or terms used in the book. Copying a definition from a book or internet source is NOT acceptable. The definition must be written so a young reader could understand what is being explained.
17.A bibliography citing sources of information must be included at the end of the book.
18.It must be entitled ‘Bibliography.’
19.The bibliography must contain at least 5 sources of information (at least three must be non-internet – the books used in class are acceptable as sources of information).
Topics - Some of these may not be covered yet but will be by the end of the school year.
A limit of TWO books may be made on any topic below.
Sign up early and select your topic.
Linear Motion
Acceleration
Vectors
Forces
Waves
Sound
Inertia
Rotational Motion
Optics
Light
Color
Linear Momentum
Angular Momentum
Simple Harmonic Motion
Pendulums
Energy
Circular Motion
Projectile Motion
Nuclear Power
Production of Electricity
Simple Circuits
Torques
Gravity
Pressure
Conservation of Energy
Conservation of Momentum
Moments of Inertia
Newton's Second Law