November 3, 2016
by Donna Giachetti
I have the great fortune of working for a company that inspires—indeed, requires—me to learn something new every day. I’m constantly scouring online science journals for tidbits on the latest in nanotechnology, the wonders of electrochemistry, or even something as relatively simple as the ultraviolet spectrum.
I’m not claiming I always understand everything I learn… but I try my best. (Hey, I was an English major in college, so I’m not as scientifically inclined as most of my colleagues.) Luckily, I can count on my trusty coworkers to help me out.
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College level, electricity, Elementary level, energy, experiments, High School level, Middle School level, Physics | Tagged: Educational Innovations, electricity, experiments, fun experiments, hands-on activity, homeschool, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, Physics, physics demonstration apparatus, science, STEM | 
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Posted by Donna Giachetti
November 3, 2016
by Ted Beyer
Nikola Tesla. Amazing guy. He came up with a huge number of inventions, but outside the scientific community he is largely overshadowed by his better known contemporary, Thomas Edison. Tesla developed a stream of innovations that we use every day—things like AC power, fluorescent lighting, on and on.
What you might not know is that Tesla, when working on electric light in February of 1894, came up with the concept for what we now call the Plasma Globe.
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12 Comments | College level, electricity, energy, High School level, Middle School level, Physics | Tagged: Educational Innovations, electricity, energy, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, Physics, physics demonstration apparatus, science, STEM | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
October 28, 2016
By Priscilla Robinson
Teaching Disease Prevention
This summer, during a visit to Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky, I had an experience that reminded me of why teachers and parents should emphasize good hygiene and disease prevention habits to our children. Whether fungal, bacterial, or viral, pathogens can be real threats to humans—and to wildlife. Preventing the spread of infectious disease is something we can ALL do, if we are taught the proper steps.
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Leave a Comment » | Biology, College level, Earth Science, Elementary level, High School level, Middle School level | Tagged: disease transmission, Educational Innovations, germs, Glo Germ, hands-on activity, homeschool, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, science | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
October 17, 2016
Let’s face it—slime is funny stuff! You don’t have to be a slug or snail to appreciate the humor in this slippery, squishy, non-Newtonian fluid. Enjoy our slime humor!
If you have a favorite cartoon or joke, we invite you to share it as a comment below.
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Leave a Comment » | Chemistry, College level, Elementary level, High School level, Middle School level, Physics | Tagged: Educational Innovations, homeschool, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, science, Slime | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
October 17, 2016
Slime, oobleck, and other non-Newtonian fluids are always fun to present in class because they’re so surprising and… well… gooey! Whether you’re teaching in kindergarten or college, non-Newtonian fluids are always a hit. They are also a fantastic way to start a discussion on polymers, cross-linking, viscosity, and many other important chemical principles.
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Leave a Comment » | Chemistry, College level, Elementary level, High School level, Middle School level, Physics | Tagged: Educational Innovations, experiments, fun experiments, homeschool, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, science | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
