Color Me Physics: American Physical Society Coloring Book for Kids

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the American Physical Society's coloring book aimed at introducing children to physics and notable physicists. Participants share their thoughts on the concept, its potential effectiveness, and various aspects of the book's design and content.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express skepticism about the book's effectiveness in engaging children with physics, suggesting that a non-scientific test could be conducted to evaluate its impact.
  • Others find the idea of a physics coloring book appealing, citing similar successful educational tools like anatomy coloring books that helped students retain information.
  • A participant humorously critiques the design choices, questioning the size of the physicists in the illustrations compared to the more colorful elements, and the overall grammar used in the text.
  • There are multiple humorous suggestions for alternative coloring books, such as a pro-string/anti-string physics coloring book, reflecting on the playful nature of the discussion.
  • Concerns are raised about the representation and diversity depicted in the book, with one participant criticizing the portrayal of characters and the perceived lack of scientific accuracy in the content.
  • Some participants share personal anecdotes about their experiences with coloring books and how they relate to learning science.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express mixed feelings about the coloring book, with some appreciating the idea while others criticize its execution and content. There is no consensus on its effectiveness or appropriateness.

Contextual Notes

Participants highlight limitations in the book's design and content, including concerns about representation, educational value, and the accuracy of scientific concepts presented. These points remain unresolved within the discussion.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers interested in educational tools for children, particularly in the fields of physics and science education, may find this discussion relevant.

ZapperZ
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OK, this would have been funny if it were a joke. However, the American Physical Society (APS) has produced a http://www.physicscentral.com/coloringbook/index.html" . It intends to "... introduce children to physics and some of its most famous characters..." I kid you not! :bugeye:

How successful the book is remains unknown. If you have children of the age intended, and you decide to download and try it out, I'd love to hear from you of the outcome. It'll be our own (non)scientific test on whether such a thing actually works!

:biggrin:

Zz.
 
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That actually sounds like a good idea (though I haven't looked at the link yet...am I likely to change my mind if I do?)

They have things like anatomy coloring books to get kids interested in science (and laugh if you want, but I've known undergrads who used it to supplement their biology lessons...they seemed to remember things better when coloring them in, and the labels were all accurate).

Edit: I just looked at some of the pages. :smile: I guess it's NOT going to introduce them to proper English grammar! :bugeye: Couldn't they have made the physicists a bit smaller and the rest of the picture, that looks more fun to color in, a bit bigger? Who wants to color in Copernicus (what color crayon do you use for a physicist anyway?) when they could color in the planets? :smile:
 
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I agree. This is great.
 
Aww its cute! I'm going to d/l it for my grandson, not that it would be a true test, he colors everything that isn't moveing.
 
Moonbear said:
They have things like anatomy coloring books to get kids interested in science (and laugh if you want, but I've known undergrads who used it to supplement their biology lessons...they seemed to remember things better when coloring them in, and the labels were all accurate).

That's what my brother did!
 
ZapperZ said:
OK, this would have been funny if it were a joke. However, the American Physical Society (APS) has produced a http://www.physicscentral.com/coloringbook/index.html" . It intends to "... introduce children to physics and some of its most famous characters..." I kid you not! :bugeye:
Zz.
Ah! - Now I understand...:smile:

Garth
 
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I want to see a pro-string/anti-string coloring book that has colorful language.
 
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Ivan Seeking said:
I want to see a pro-string/anti-string coloring book that has colorful language.
Do I see a new physics party coming on? The physicists will be split into either Stringist or Anti-Stringists! God this gives me a great idea for a comic, too bad I can't draw...
 
Ivan Seeking said:
I want to see a pro-string/anti-string coloring book that has colorful language.

Actually, there is a string coloring book, only no one has made an observation of it yet.

<slaps himself silly> :smile:

Zz.
 
  • #10
Does it come with three color, and three anti-color crayons?
 
  • #11
haha, the last page in the book says, 'now draw yourself as a physicist' and leave a nice blank page for you :smile:
 
  • #12
moose said:
Do I see a new physics party coming on? The physicists will be split into either Stringist or Anti-Stringists! God this gives me a great idea for a comic, too bad I can't draw...
Seriously, the ability to draw has nothing to do with making http://xkcd.com/c181.html".
 
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  • #13
Ah, the joys of electronic art. I can just import that to Illustrator and colour it without ever picking up my crayons. :approve:
(Good thing, too, because the budgie ate all of my green ones and W put the rest someplace where I can't find them. )

Good comics, Dave. I love that second one. :smile:
 
  • #15
ZapperZ said:
Actually, there is a string coloring book, only no one has made an observation of it yet.

<slaps himself silly> :smile:

Zz.


For some reason I laughed really hard at that.:smile:
 
  • #16
What was the creative team thinking?
hideous. Yes -- people too large... cheesy rhymes not REAL science.
And much too PC with the diversity of kids on the cover. "Color me physics" indeed! :smile: In order to get all major skin colors in we must put the Asian girl in the wheelchair? Please. Why isn't the blond white kid with glasses depicted as blind with assist-dog and cane?

When one of my stepsons (at age seven) drew a picture of me "in the lab" I was very small and surrounded by bottles, hoses, beakers, and all kinds of stuff... me in a dangerous lab, free of interference from campus "Environmental Health and Safety" regulations! YEA! The cell and anatomy coloring books are full of useful information. Kids above five would know and respect that. Kids I know would. Heck -- the "diverse" kids you want to reach have seen a LOT and know a LOT.

Kid's aren't dumb, don't treat 'em like they are, or you won't catch their attention. It's patriarchal in the worse way. :mad: :mad: :mad:

And:
WHY WHY WHY give Maria Gepphart a female symbol to lean on? I'm not a nuclear physicist, but I don't think that's a symbol for nuclear force. Am I wrong there? Please inform me if I am -- this book doesn't.

BLAH. They probably dumped lots of money into it and should have come up with better. Pay some of us to fix it up.
 

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