by Linda Dunnavant
The ZigZag Density Tumbler is an elegant desk “toy” and much more. Turn the tumbler over and watch two different colors of droplets float down in a relaxing zigzag pattern. I like to keep mine on my desk. I often pick it up and watch it while I clear my head. Not only is the tumbler a soothing, relaxing activity for busy adults, but it also provides so many possibilities for calming, inspiring, and teaching students. Read the rest of this entry »
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Chemistry, College level, density, Elementary level, energy, High School level, Middle School level, Physics | Tagged: density, Educational Innovations, force and motion, fun experiments, hands-on activity, homeschool, kinetic energy, parent friendly, PBL, PhBL, PhenoBL, phenomenon based learning, Physics, science, STEM, variables | 
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Posted by Donna Giachetti
by Priscilla Robinson
Dinosaurs inspire curiosity and wonder in scientists of all ages. With the help of Educational Innovations’ Home Science Lab: Tabletop Fossil Safari, young learners can conduct investigations at home to dynamically discover how fossils were created millions of years ago, and to better understand how they continue to be unearthed by paleontologists today. Everything you need comes in the nifty Home Science Lab box: six activities organized in a booklet filled with easy-to-follow instructions, whimsical illustrations and photographs, assorted chemicals, household items, and of course, real fossils!
It’s so easy, even a grandmother can do it. Seriously!
2 Comments | Biology, Earth Science, Elementary level, experiments, life science, Middle School level | Tagged: DIY, Educational Innovations, experiments, fun experiments, hands-on activity, home science lab, homeschool, parent friendly, science | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
by Linda Dunnavant
Most kids find the idea of science thrilling. It conjures up images of potions, explosions, and top-secret laboratories. When I asked my son what kind of birthday party he wanted this year, he eagerly exclaimed, “A science party!” That night, I was taken aback when I Googled science birthday party ideas. Many of the suggestions seemed far too adult-led and complicated—not to mention expensive!
2 Comments | Elementary level, experiments, Middle School level | Tagged: DIY, Educational Innovations, experiments, fun experiments, halloween fun, hands-on activity, homeschool, parent friendly, science, STEM | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
By Jeremy Johnson
In my 13 years of classroom teaching experience, I’ve learned a few tricks to keep my students from becoming overwhelmed—or bored—by their science textbooks. One of my favorite tricks is to get my kids up on their feet, doing science instead of reading about it.
When I teach about gravity and center of mass, for example, I like to shake things up by turning our classroom into an impromptu biokinetics lab. I challenge my students to perform a series of seemingly simple physical tests, described below. Lift a chair? Raise your leg? Pick up a quarter? No problem! (Or so they think…)
5 Comments | College level, Elementary level, experiments, High School level, Middle School level, Physics | Tagged: discrepant event, DIY, Educational Innovations, experiments, force and motion, fun experiments, hands-on activity, homeschool, newton, parent friendly, PBL, PhBL, PhenoBL, phenomenon based learning, Physics, science, variables | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
by Ted Beyer
The sun is, on average, about 93,000,000 miles (149,668,992 kilometers) away from us. That’s pretty darn far. In fact, if the sun went out right now, we would not know about it for about eight minutes. Not to worry, that’s not going to be a thing to fret about for quite a while—a couple of billion years last time I checked.
That huge (try 109 times as big as Earth) ball of fusion reactor up in our sky is arguably responsible for all of the energy we use on Earth. Not just solar power, but all of it. Fossil fuels (oil, coal, and natural gas) were created from ancient plant and animal matter—which all lived because of the sun.
Image source: Stanford Solar Center
Hydropower is only possible because of the water cycle (best look that one up on your own, they won’t let me make these posts too long). Wind power relies on, well, wind—and that is a byproduct of the warming and cooling of the atmosphere—and that’s the sun doing that warming too. Atomic power uses heavy elements like Uranium, which was created in the hearts of suns.
I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea.
4 Comments | astronomy, College level, Earth Science, Elementary level, High School level, Middle School level | Tagged: DIY, Educational Innovations, energy, green science, hands-on activity, homeschool, light, parent friendly, science, thermal energy, ultraviolet | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
