by: Donna Giachetti
Albert Einstein famously said,
The important thing is not to stop questioning.
Curiosity has its own reason for existing.
At Educational Innovations, we agree wholeheartedly. Our company was founded by a master teacher in 1994. Today it’s still run by a dedicated crew of teachers who share a passion for science… and for fostering curiosity in kids.
3 Comments | 
Chemistry, Earth Science, Elementary level, energy, experiments, magnetism, Physics, static electricity | Tagged: DIY, Educational Innovations, homeschool, homeschooler, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, science | 
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Posted by Donna Giachetti
by Janice VanCleave
I love the magnetic accelerator. In fact, I met friends at a restaurant yesterday and took the accelerator with me. We had a lot of fun predicting what would happen and testing our predictions. No formal steps….just making cool guesses and then discovering whether we were correct.
Yes! The steel ball shot off the end of the track and hit the floor a couple of times, but that just added to the excitement. It’s a small town and few are surprised that the eccentric science author is experimenting at the restaurant–again!
A parent came in with her daughter, a second grader. With the mother’s permission I invited the child to sit with us. The girl had sinus problems and didn’t feel well. She was a bit sluggish and her eyes looked dull, as one would expect. When I asked the child if she wanted to do some science experiments, her dull eyes brightened. She had not been present during the previous testing of the accelerator, but she was immediately interested.
Leave a Comment » | College level, Elementary level, experiments, High School level, magnetism, Middle School level, Physics | Tagged: PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, science | Permalink
Posted by Tami O'Connor
by Ted Beyer
Ahhh, Eddy Current Tubes – you would never think that a hunk of copper pipe and a magnet could make anyone grin from ear to ear. I just love these things.
So simple in appearance, and yet so magical to see and use. Whenever I happen to have a set at home, I soon lose control of them to my wife who is just as fascinated by them as I am.
Although they can be used in fairly high end physics demonstrations, they are stunning enough that everyone who has a chance to see them is simply amazed.
Just realized – you may not have not seen one, have you? Here’s a video for you:
Kinda cool, huh? So, since I have (hopefully) gotten you to say “wow,” I’ll just bet you are wondering “why” — here’s some science:
Leave a Comment » | High School level, magnetism, Physics | Tagged: aluminum tube, copper tube, eddy currents, electromagnetic field, Lenz's Law, magnetic viewing film, magnetism, neodymium magnet, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, science | Permalink
Posted by Tami O'Connor
by: Martin Sagendorf
This 3D Magnetic Field demonstration is actually quite easy to do. It clearly illustrates that magnetic fields are not flat (as too frequently demonstrated in the classroom).
This easy-to-make construction requires only four components:
Leave a Comment » | Elementary level, experiments, magnetism, Middle School level, Physics | Tagged: fun experiments, magnetic fields, magnets, phenomenon based learning | Permalink
Posted by Tami O'Connor
by: Michelle Bertke
Simple iron filings can be used for a variety of interesting experiments and demonstrations. Magnetism is a mysterious concept that can be difficult for students to grasp. Magnetic fields are the forces surrounding a magnet that are identified by how they interact with adjacent magnets and other metal objects. While magnetic fields are ‘invisible’ they can be observed by sprinkling iron filings on a white paper with magnets beneath.
Leave a Comment » | Elementary level, experiments, magnetism | Tagged: fun experiments, iron filings, magnetic fields, magnetism, phenomenon based learning | Permalink
Posted by Tami O'Connor
