Pre-Level I Physics Laboratory Workbook

I am using all Real Science 4 Kids for my elementary school science this year. My kids love it. The science process skills, concepts and vocabulary are excellent.

I really like the real science for kids series. My big complaint with the series overall is the cost. If a science lesson is done once a week a $75 single subject set will last just 10 weeks. Although the resale value is fairly high $300 plus the cost of materials per school year is really expensive for a single elementary school subject. The books are basic paperbacks. They are smaller than a standard sheet of paper but are full color. Each of the 10 chapters in the 'textbook' takes approximately 5 minutes to read out loud. The experiment takes another 20 or so minutes. Many of the pages in this workbook volume are almost completely blank, the teacher's book is needed to explain what to do. It would be a bit of a hassle but this book could be skipped entirely in favor or the teacher's book and a blank sheet of paper for each experiment.The problem I have with the experiments is that they assume you own quite a few 'household objects' that my family doesn't own. Perhaps most other families do but the experiments require us to do quite a bit of shopping before they can be done. There are also many specialized items that must be purchased.Some of the 'household objects' you're expected to have on hand:- fresh lemons- a rubber ball- two tennis balls- marshmallows- a wooden board (although they say a large piece of very stiff cardboard can be used)- feathers- both small and large glass marbles- duct tape (this one, like the food items and string, seems reasonable)- styrofoam- a single metal and single plastic paperclip- colored, mercury, and halogen light bulbs- an electric car or train- stringSome of the items you're expected to find and purchase:- zinc wire- plastic coated copper wire- radio shack led #276-307 led bulb (not sure what to do if you don't have a radio shack nearby, no alternatives are suggested for any of items)- rubber balloons (not standard latex)- wire clippers- two bar magnets with labeled n/s poles- two plastic or glass prisms- a steel ballI really, really wish the company offered a reasonably priced kit with most of the items needed with the exception of things like lemons and tape. Not only are there lots of things to track down but it can get expensive to buy a package of feathers to use just a few or a bag of marbles just have two to use. I'm still not sure if we're going to be able to do all the experiments since I don't have time to drive all over to find prisms, magnets, and specific types of wire.

Great book. My grade one homeschooled son loves it. It keeps him interested.