Exploring Creation With Physical Science

How We are Using Apologia's Physical Science

For 8th grade science we used the book Exploring Creation With Physical Science by Dr. Jay L. Wile, published by Apologia Educational Ministries. Exploring Creation With Physical Science is very readable, it pulled me in and I couldn't put it down for awhile. Dr. Wile's writing style is conversational and friendly.

Ideally (but not necessarily) your child should have completed a pre-algebra course before starting this program. Officially, Dr. Wile recommends that the student should have finished 7th grade math before starting this course. Your student will need to be able to understand the math equations in Apologia's Physical Science.

Unit multipliers (click the link for a mini lesson) are the most commonly used math equation in the book. Sometimes called unit converters, these types of equations are important to master because the science student will see them often in the sciences. Dr. Wile explains how to use unit multipliers in Module 1 of the science book. Another equation in Exploring Creation With Physical Science is this one: F=(mass)(acceleration). I think the use of math in Apologia's Physical Science is a great benefit to the student.

Dr. Wile suggests that the student keep a science notebook. Any composition book would work well, our favorite are the sewn composition books. As an alternative, I have made lab sheets that might be useful for a science notebook or co-op class to go with the study of Apologia's Physical Science. However, if your child is going to continue studying the sciences in college, I recommend that, at some point, the student should use a sewn composition or a bound book and learn how to make a very good lab notebook by hand.

Lesson Plans: The lesson plans for Exploring Creation with Physical Science are on their own web page at: Schedules, Bookmarks & Vocabulary

The Lab Sheets for Exploring Creation with Physical Science  

Note: If possible, use a sewn composition books instead of the forms below.

2010 Lab Forms

Each file has two pages as shown in the images. Mix and match the pages to suit the lab. A couple of these are like the 2007 forms. Page numbers are omitted. It just doesn't work to have page 1 and page 2 on all of the lab forms.

#1 All Ruled Lab Form Both Pages Ruled Both Pages Ruled #2 First Page Ruled, Second with Grid Ruled then Grid Ruled then Grid #3 First Page Grid, Second Page Ruled Grid then Ruled Grid then Ruled #4 Both Pages Unlined Blank Pages Blank Pages #5 Table of Contents - Based on Edition 2 Table of Contents Table of Contents

Pre-2007 Forms

Page one: Basic Lab Sheet
Page two: Lab Summary sheet

Drawing Sheet ~this one has only the header

Drawing and Describing sheet ~has lines 
for writing on the lower third part of the paper

Lab Chart with ruled lines Compare 6 items 
such as in experiment 1.3

Weather Chart 1
Designed to collect data for modules 7 and 8. Collect weather data for 14 days.

Weather Chart 2
 Similar to chart above except this one has more space. Collect data for 7 days.

2007 Forms

All of these have two pages.
First page add the materials list, purpose, and the data. Write summary on the second page.

All Ruled
Basic 2-Page Lab ruled lines

Blank Data
2-Page Lab with blank space in Data

Chart Data
2-Page Lab with chart space in Data