The Best Physics & Physical Science Textbook

Buying Guide

Science is an important part of education, starting in elementary school and going all the way through graduate school. Some students will choose majors that require an intensive study of science, while others will only require a basic course or two to get the foundational concepts down before completing an unrelated degree.

Physical science has four major branches: astronomy, physics, chemistry and the Earth sciences. The Earth sciences include meteorology and geology. In elementary and middle school, students likely get a low-level overview across the spectrum, but as they progress through high school, they can niche down into specialized classes like chemistry and physics.

For teachers who have the freedom to choose the textbooks they use, it’s important to find a book that covers all the topics in an engaging but informative way. Some textbooks come at science from a conceptual problem-solving standpoint, while others emphasize quantitative analysis. You may find some textbooks present multiple approaches, which can help students learn about the different ways of looking at things.

Parents might be interested in purchasing educational materials that can help their children excel in science class. You can find textbooks and workbooks that supplement what your kids are learning in school with fun workbooks and exercises, so students can more easily retain the information they’re learning. It may even motivate them to pursue science as a college major and career.

• What students need to learn about science can vary dramatically from one year to the next. Make sure the textbook you choose is appropriate for the grade level. Some are better for elementary or middle school students while others are more for college-age students.
• Many students won’t need a high-level physical science textbook. If they’ll simply be taking basic science courses toward a degree, a science text designed specifically for an overview of all the areas could be sufficient.
• Teachers likely will want to customize the approach they take in teaching the sciences. State standards could also affect lesson plans. With a more robust science textbook, you can pick and choose the chapters you want to emphasize to customize the learning experience for your classroom.
• You can buy textbooks used or rent them. If e-books aren’t an option, though, make sure the textbook you’re buying is in decent condition. Used textbooks can save you money, but some go through rigorous use before they’re resold.
• It’s a small thing, but pictures and illustrations can make a big difference in a textbook. Pages of text that aren’t broken up tend to become dull after a while, making for difficult reading. If you can find a textbook that combines text with pictures, you might find it’s more engaging, especially for younger minds.
• Some science textbooks have puzzles and interactive exercises that go beyond teaching science. These problem-solving challenges may be related to science on the surface, but they also can help students build problem-solving skills that pay off later in life.