June 14, 2016
Choosing a few compelling ice-breakers and discussion starters for the first week of school may not be a priority right now, but it’s never too early to jot down a few good ideas. We’ve compiled 20 ideas to help you start some lively science conversations next year.
Each of these “raise-your-hand-if…” statements can be expanded or modified, depending upon the grade you teach. Your goal is to find ways to connect your students’ summer experiences with science topics.
Do you have any excellent discussion starter questions related to summer science? Share them with us in the comments below!
Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | 
College level, Elementary level, High School level, Middle School level | Tagged: Educational Innovations, homeschool, kinetic energy, light, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, science, ultraviolet | 
Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
June 10, 2016
By Dr. Kenneth Lyle, Duke University, Durham NC and Elaine “Lainey” Williams
Thermoplastic Polymers for All!
When thermoplastic polymer became available a couple of years ago, we purchased a bottle to see if it would be a viable addition to our chemistry outreach program. Since then, literally hundreds of people, young and old, have experienced molding the thermoplastic, taking their creations home in Zip-loc® bags.
And now, with the availability of dyes, a whole new world of creative design has opened up. The molding of a thermoplastic activity has been incorporated into our “Polymers” and “Chemistry of Crafts” hands-on outreach presentations, and has been used as a stand-alone station.
Read the rest of this entry »
2 Comments | Chemistry, College level, Elementary level, experiments, High School level, Middle School level | Tagged: DIY, Educational Innovations, experiments, fun experiments, hands-on activity, homeschool, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, science, science fair project, variables | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
April 29, 2016
EDITOR’S NOTE: At Educational Innovations, we are always looking for creative new teaching ideas to use in the science classroom. Like you, we know how cool science is—the trick is to communicate that sense of excitement and discovery to our students. Here is a social media-based classroom project that we thought our readers might enjoy. Let us know what you think!
If you have a classroom-tested idea for teaching science that you’d like to share with fellow teachers and science lovers, please leave a comment below or email us at socialmedia@TeacherSource.com. We’d love to hear from you. Read the rest of this entry »
1 Comment | Biology, Chemistry, College level, Earth Science, Elementary level, High School level, Middle School level, Physics | Tagged: Educational Innovations, fun experiments, hands-on science, homeschool, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, Physics, science, STEM | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
April 19, 2016
Why not insert a bit of green science humor into your next quiz or homework page? Extra points for students who guess the right answers to our riddles!
You might also get a jolt from our Electricity humor page, from a previous issue of our newsletter.
If you have a favorite cartoon or joke, we invite you to share it as a comment below.
Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | College level, Earth Science, electricity, Elementary level, energy, High School level, Middle School level | Tagged: Educational Innovations, electricity, energy, green energy, green science, homeschool, hydropower, light, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, science, STEM, thermal energy | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
April 19, 2016
Wind power… solar power… hydropower… power from biomass… There’s so much to say about these renewable energy sources and their growing importance in our lives. Time spent teaching young minds about green science is invaluable—we are helping them to understand and participate in their own futures as inhabitants of our planet!
Even the smallest scientists will understand that the sun and wind can be made to “do work” and produce energy. This topic is so much fun to explore, we hope you’ll share your own favorite discussion starters with us in the comments below!
Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | College level, Earth Science, electricity, Elementary level, energy, High School level, Middle School level | Tagged: DIY, Educational Innovations, electricity, energy, experiments, fun experiments, green energy, green science, hands-on activity, homeschool, hydropower, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, science, STEM, thermal energy | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
