by Ted Beyer
Fidget spinners are the latest fad to sweep, seemingly, the world. Love them or hate them, they are everywhere—on playgrounds, in backyards, living rooms, and even schools, although many schools have banned them as being distractions. But wait just a minute here! For once, let’s see if we can’t use a fad to teach something. You see, there is actually a fair bit of science lurking in those spinney things.
Leave a Comment » | 
College level, Elementary level, experiments, High School level, magnetism, Middle School level, Physics | Tagged: discrepant event, DIY, Educational Innovations, experiments, fun experiments, hands-on activity, homeschool, Newton's First Law, Newton's Second Law, Newton's Third Law, parent friendly, Physics, physics demonstration apparatus, science, science fair project, STEM, variables | 
Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
by Tami G. O’Connor
As elementary school teachers, we are expected to help our students become scientifically literate (among many other things), but let’s face it: too often we have limited time for science instruction during the school day. Still, we know that kids just love science! They’re always eager to learn more about the world around them, especially when the material is taught in fun and creative ways.
But what can we do when our science teaching time is so limited in school? How do you get students involved in scientific discovery outside the classroom? Sure, you can give them homework, but many kids find simply reading about science unappealing. You want your students to LOVE learning more about science… not dread it.
1 Comment | Elementary level, energy, experiments, life science, magnetism, Physics, STEM | Tagged: discrepant event, DIY, Educational Innovations, elementary science, experiments, fun experiments, hands-on activity, homeschool, parent friendly, science, science fair project, STEM | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
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 so that I can pick it up and watch it while I clear my head. In addition to being a soothing, relaxing activity for busy adults, it provides myriad possibilities for calming, inspiring, and teaching students. Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | 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, Physics, science, STEM, variables | 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…)
Leave a Comment » | 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, Physics, science, variables | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
by John Frassinelli
Having first seen a “drinking bird” in elementary school myself, I had never forgotten it. Our teacher, I think, had placed one on the windowsill. We had no air conditioning in those days, and the windows actually opened! Air circulated through the room, and that probably influenced the bird. I think it’s too bad that many classrooms are hermetically sealed these days, but we do what we can.
Recently I decided to introduce my first graders to my old friend, the Drinking Bird. I bought a few birds and fooled around with them, making sure each one would “drink” as it was supposed to. I learned that some birds need a bit of adjustment—their centers of mass might be too high or too low. But this is easily remedied by gently twisting the bird’s body and raising (or lowering) it on its metal clasp.
Leave a Comment » | Elementary level, energy, experiments, Physics | Tagged: DIY, Educational Innovations, elementary science, energy, experiments, fun experiments, hands-on activity, homeschool, Physics, science, STEM, variables | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
