Science Mom

Science Mom Physics 1: Mechanics

No reviews

Science Mom Physics 1: Mechanics is a semester video course that explores motion, forces, energy, gravity, and simple machines through visual lessons, interactive polls, quizzes, and home demo ideas. Parents appreciate how she breaks down abstract physics ideas into relatable, real‑world examples. Unique for its blend of engaging visuals, math integration, and approachable pace, it’s a strong first exposure to high‑school‑level science without overwhelming learners.

Recommended Ages

Designed for ages 10-13 (Also works for younger students)

Style
Video-BasedOnlineTeensSelf-Paced

Science Mom’s approach combines clear, age-appropriate teaching with active learning and scaffolded support. Concepts are introduced visually and verbally, then reinforced through doodle-style guided notes and in-video polls that check for understanding. The course encourages scientific thinking—predicting, observing, explaining—rather than passive memorization, with practice problems and quiz-show reviews offering immediate feedback. Optional hands-on labs and challenges bring practical context to theoretical ideas, and doodle notes make complex physics accessible and engaging. Aligned to NGSS, the curriculum blends entertainment, creativity, and solid pedagogy to prepare students for high school physics without heavy prep.

Self-Direction
E means highly structured. A is basically unschooled, completely self-guided.
How much do students guide their own learning in this course?
A
B
C
D
E
Regular price $150.00 USD
Science Mom Physics 1: Mechanics
$150.00 USD

Skills

What kids will learn

Our mission

The mission of Science Mom is to make science and math learning engaging, accessible, and inspiring for families everywhere. Through self-paced, secular, and visually rich video courses paired with interactive doodle notes, polls, quizzes, and hands-on projects, they aim to empower learners to explore core concepts with confidence and curiosity. By keeping prep minimal and content lively, their goal is to support diverse learning styles and bring joyful, real-world education into homes and classrooms, fostering a lifelong love of discovery.

Our story

Science Mom (Jenny Ballif) and Math Dad (Serge Ballif) began their journey when Jenny, a plant science expert, started bringing weekly science demos to her son’s second-grade class in 2013, where she earned the nickname “Science Mom.” Wanting to make science fun and accessible for more families, she teamed up with Serge, a math Ph.D. and former college instructor, to create engaging, educational YouTube videos. Their channel grew quickly, especially during the pandemic, leading to the development of full self-paced, secular courses in biology, chemistry, and math. These courses blend entertaining video lessons with doodle notes, quizzes, polls, and hands-on projects, all designed to require minimal prep while deeply engaging learners. What started as classroom demos evolved into a global resource for joyful, real-world science and math learning at home.

Watch a demo lesson

Get a taste of Science Mom

FAQ: Additional Details about Science Mom Physics 1: Mechanics

In a typical lesson like “Free Body Diagrams” or “Cup Stack Challenge,” Science Mom explains the concept using clear visuals and real-world examples. Students follow along on printable notes, pausing to fill in blanks and answer embedded polls. The lesson often features a fun demonstration—like stacking cups to explore stability—followed by a quiz-show-style review to reinforce learning. The mix of watching, drawing, and doing keeps the lesson interactive and memorable.

Upon enrollment, families gain lifetime access to all lessons, printable notes, and answer keys. A suggested pace of three physics lessons per week completes the course in one semester, though learners can progress at their own rhythm. Each lesson includes a video, note-taking, practice problems, and optional hands-on activities. Materials are downloadable and printable, so you can choose to watch and discuss, complete notes with or without video, or integrate the activities seamlessly into your schedule.

This course is ideal for curious, visually and auditory-driven learners in grades 5–8 who enjoy structured videos with guided note-taking and the occasional hands-on activity. It suits homeschoolers, co-op groups, or independent learners seeking a clear, secular introduction to physics grounded in real-world applications. Students who enjoy humor, interactive quizzes, and real-life examples will be especially engaged.

Physics 1 may not suit students who dislike screen-based learning or find it hard to focus during longer lessons. It’s less ideal for families seeking daily, in-depth lab experiences or a traditional, textbook-heavy high school-level physics course. Learners who prefer drill-based or text-driven instruction might find the doodle-note format too casual, and those under grade 5 with limited math background may struggle with concepts like graphing and calculations.

The course works well for students who thrive with visual and auditory instruction—especially learners on the autism spectrum, and those with dyslexia who benefit from video-based content instead of heavy reading. Guided doodle notes and practice questions support structured learning without relying on extensive text. However, lessons lasting 30–45 minutes may challenge students with ADHD; parents might consider breaking videos into shorter segments or adding physical movement or hands-on labs to keep engagement high.

Science Mom and Math Dad very well for gifted and 2e learners, offering engaging, rigorous science exploration with flexibility to differentiate. For profoundly gifted kids, it’s a strong starter—pair with deeper extracurricular projects or independent research to meet their advanced needs.

Gifted learners appreciate the in-depth explanations and real-world science, which are great for skill-building like note-taking even when content isn’t fully new.

Twice-exceptional (2e) or accelerated students can still benefit, especially when pairing familiar topics with scaffolded academic techniques.

Profoundly gifted students seeking autonomy and depth will find the self-paced, inquiry-driven structure supportive; however, they may need more complexity or opportunities for independent extension beyond the provided material.

Contact form

Meet Jenny and Serge

Science Mom has an M.S. in Plant Science from Utah State University. Math Dad has a Ph.D. from the Pennsylvania State University. We run the Science Mom YouTube channel where we create educational content for kids.

Science Mom and Math Dad teach self-paced courses using a secular curriculum. Each course uses an open-and-go design that requires minimal preparation and supervision. In our science courses, each lesson has follow-along notes, interactive comprehension questions, and quizzes. Students can participate in polls while watching the recorded lessons. There are science and art projects for deeper dives. Our math courses use the interactive Desmos curriculum. Each video lesson has an exploratory activity and practice material to complete after the lesson.

Modulo's thoughts

Our learning specialists give their honest evaluation
ManishaCEO and Founder

Science Mom and Math Dad is hands-down the most beloved STEM program for middle schoolers. Jenny and Serge are highly engaging teachers that share concepts in a compelling and engaging way.

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)

Reviews in Other Languages