Review: Wile E. Coyote Physical Science Genius

There is a delightful sense of nostalgia attached to this particular series; both my husband and I grew up watching the hapless antics of Wile E. Coyote, and seeing him transition into an educator is truly a treat. The Wile E. Coyote Physical Science Genius set consists of four books covering essential concepts: simple machines, forces and motion, flight and gravity, and speed and velocity. Each volume is meticulously structured, featuring clear definitions of key terminology within the chapters and a comprehensive glossary in the back. This organization makes it incredibly easy to conduct impromptu quizzes or formal tests. Additionally, the books provide curated reading lists and a website access code to further enhance the learning experience.

True to the spirit of the original cartoons, Wile E. Coyote’s elaborate schemes always culminate in a hilarious (and often gravity-defying) mishap. To ensure my daughter truly internalizes these physics concepts, we have transformed these readings into a hands-on project. I encourage her to forage for household objects to test the principles we read about, insisting that we use the proper scientific vocabulary—terms like fulcrum, load, and force—during our sessions. Because each chapter explores a distinct concept, the curriculum is highly flexible. I’ve planned to tackle one chapter per week, incorporating the corresponding physical experiments, which will provide us with 17 weeks of engaging STEM material.

I was surprised to note that many of these concepts didn't enter my own academic path until much later than second grade. However, I am a firm believer that through physical experimentation, a student can absorb complex information far more effectively than through a textbook alone. By observing Wile E. Coyote’s attempts to capture the Road Runner—whether he is slingshotting a boulder or piloting a plane until gravity inevitably takes over—our daughter is gaining a significant head start on her future science curriculum. The comical illustrations serve as the perfect "hook" to keep her invested in the more technical aspects of the lessons.

So far, the highlight for our daughter has been the inevitable "smash" at the end of each experiment; she finds Wile E. Coyote’s misfortune absolutely hilarious. From a teaching perspective, what I appreciate most is the simplicity of the explanations. The definitions are straightforward and calibrated for a young mind, yet they don't sacrifice scientific accuracy. On the rare occasion she finds a concept particularly elusive, I use physical objects to demonstrate the book's meaning, turning a theoretical idea into a tangible reality. It is the perfect marriage of humor and high-level educational content.

These books arrived as part of our Timberdoodle second-grade kit, and they have quickly become a staple of our school week. While the material is sophisticated, I highly recommend them for any family looking to add a bit of laughter to their lab work. Even if the concepts seem advanced, you can never do too many experiments! I’m curious to know—who was your favorite Looney Tunes character growing up? Let us know in the comments below! And now, see if you can guess our next 2nd-grade review using these clues: For STEM class, Hands-on, and Engineering.