If you have a favorite winter science lesson or activity, please leave us a comment below!
Thanks to Julie Olson, President SDSTA, for sharing two excellent discussion starters related to winter:
Leave a Comment » | 
Chemistry, College level, Earth Science, Elementary level, High School level, Middle School level | Tagged: DIY, Educational Innovations, fun experiments, hands-on activity, homeschool, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, science | 
Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
by: Linda Dunnavant
Autumn is here! Football season, sweater weather, hay rides, pumpkin spice lattes… I could go on and on, but I think we can all agree that the leaves changing colors is the main signal that fall is upon us. This is a magical time of year, and students will love this engaging, hands-on lesson that is appropriate for elementary and middle school students. Let’s start with some background. Read the rest of this entry »
2 Comments | Chemistry, College level, Earth Science, Elementary level, experiments, High School level, Middle School level | Tagged: DIY, Educational Innovations, experiments, fun experiments, green science, halloween fun, hands-on activity, homeschool, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, science, science fair project, variables | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
by: Donna Giachetti
In a February 2014 blog post we said goodbye to the last of our goldenrod paper supply, a beloved staple in many science teachers’ classrooms.
1 Comment | Chemistry, College level, Elementary level, experiments, High School level, Middle School level | Tagged: acid, acid base indicator, bases, color-changing paper, discrepant event, fun experiments, goldenrod paper, hands-on activity, homeschool, parent friendly, pH, science fair project, tumeric | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
by: Tami O’Connor
So, do you ever bring discrepant events into your classroom to capture your students’ attention? If so, the Poly Density Bottle should be on your list of must-haves! As you can see, this is a one-liter bottle filled with clear liquid. Floating at mid-bottle are two bands of beads, with blue on top of the white.
On its own, this is intriguing to many students. The head scratching begins, however, once the bottle is given a good shake. As soon as everything starts to settle, students will observe that the white beads now float at the top of the liquid while the blue beads sink to the bottom. The liquid, once clear, now appears to be slightly cloudy.
But wait, there’s more… After about 30 seconds something interesting begins to happen. The white beads gradually sink down, the blue beads gradually begin to float up, and the liquid above and below the beads is again clear. Now the stumper… Why is this happening? Read the rest of this entry »
8 Comments | Chemistry, College level, density, Elementary level, High School level, Middle School level | Tagged: density, discrepant event, hands-on activity, homeschool, isopropanol and salt water, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, salting out, science, science table | Permalink
Posted by Tami O'Connor
by Tami O’Connor
Many years ago at Educational Innovations we had heard rumors that our wonderful goldenrod paper that served as an easy to find indicator paper was being discontinued for environmental reasons. If you haven’t seen it before, it is was a golden-yellow paper that turned a deep red when it came in contact with a base like washing soda or Windex®. The process was reversed if an acid such as vinegar was sprayed on the paper.
13 Comments | Chemistry, Elementary level, experiments, Middle School level | Tagged: acid base indicator, goldenrod paper, homeschool, parent friendly, turmeric powder | Permalink
Posted by Tami O'Connor
