Physics: Modeling Nature Student Edition

Novare Science emphasizes that science education needs to be renewed using research, scientific evidence, and forward-thinking strategies while keeping God at the helm. Students are taught to see God in creation, while learning current scientific theories including the evolutionary theory. Using a mastery approach, students learn fewer topics in more depth than typical courses while reviewing previously learned key concepts. Self-created lab journals and reports are suggested to prepare students for high school and college sciences. Life Science, Physical Science, and Earth Science are taught at the middle school level. At the high school level, Novare takes a Physics first approach to science and offers two pathways for students: Grade-Level Pathway and the Accelerated Pathway. Parents and teachers are encouraged to read From Wonder to Mastery by John Mays to learn about the program philosophy.  

Novare Science offers two High School Pathways that link a student’s math placement and science courses. The Accelerated Pathway was created for students who have taken Algebra 1 in eighth grade, then aligns with a high school math sequence of Geometry, Algebra 2, Precalculus, and Calculus. Taking a Physics first approach, the Accelerated Pathway for Novare Science is Accelerated Studies in Physics and Chemistry, Chemistry for Accelerated Students, Advanced Biology, and Physics Modeling Nature. The Student Lab Handbook is recommended for all courses. 

Written to prepare students for college level STEM programs, Physics Modeling Nature is a vector-based physics course to meet the needs of advanced and honors students. The final course in the Novare Science Accelerated High School Pathway, the course emphasizes mastery by teaching a narrow scope of topics that advanced physics students should master during the high school years. Topics covered with more complexity include mathematics and vectors, uniform motion, forces, fields and Newton's Law, static equilibrium and torque, energy, rotating systems, pressure and buoyancy, kinetic theory, thermodynamics, simple harmonic motion, electrostatics, geometric optics, nuclear physics and more. Students will also learn the basics of quantum mechanics that includes outside class readings from In Search of Schrodinger's Cat by John Gribbin. Lab experiments and fully documented lab reports are expected. Each student completing this course will be well-prepared to take the AP Physics test. Also included are two supplemental (optional) chapters to prepare students for the SAT subject test, the DSST test and the CLEP test, if appropriate. Prerequisites include one year of introductory or first year high school physics, as well as Advanced Algebra and Trigonometry. Students may take this course concurrently with Trigonometry once mastery of right-angle trigonometry and triangle laws has been accomplished. The Full Program includes the Physics: Modeling Nature Student Edition,  Experiments for Physics: Modeling Nature, Solutions Manual to Accompany Physics Modeling Nature, and the Digital Resources. Components are available individually or in the Full Program Package.