February 7, 2017
Even toddlers understand the concepts of hot and cold. And we’re all familiar with the plight of an ice cream cone on a hot day, right? So does that mean it’s easy to teach the concept of thermal energy? Not necessarily. It’s important to start with clear definitions of terms such as “heat” and “temperature.” Many students cannot discriminate between these terms or may use them interchangeably. This confusion can present a barrier to understanding other important physical science concepts.
One of the best ways to explain thermal energy to your students is by using real-life examples, which is why we’ve compiled a bunch of curiosity-inducing questions below. Use these questions to start a thermal energy discussion with your students. If you have other questions you’d like to share, please write to us in the Comments section below.
Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | 
College level, Elementary level, energy, High School level, Middle School level, Physics | Tagged: Educational Innovations, energy, homeschool, insulators, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, science, thermal energy | 
Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
February 7, 2017
To put it simply, we think thermal energy is cool! Many of our best-selling discrepant event demos are related to thermal energy, as you’ll see from the reviews below. With our Ice Melting Blocks, you can ask your students to predict which block will melt an ice cube more rapidly… Use a Chemical Heat Pack to challenge your class to figure out how heat—usually associated with melting—can be produced by a reaction that turns a liquid into a solid… Or dazzle them with Nitinol Memory Wire that changes shape upon heating!
If you have a favorite Educational Innovations product, send us a comment below. We’d love to share your review with your fellow teachers and science lovers.
Leave a Comment » | College level, Elementary level, energy, High School level, Middle School level, Physics | Tagged: discrepant event, Educational Innovations, electricity, energy, experiments, hands-on activity, hands-on science, homeschool, kinetic energy, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, science, science fair project, STEM, thermal energy | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
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.
Read the rest of this entry »
3 Comments | 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 | Permalink
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.
Read the rest of this entry »
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
August 12, 2016
By Nancy Foote
When a little kid comes up to you and asks you do science, it’s hard to say no. But when you’re a science teacher, and that little kid is your granddaughter, you know you have to come up with something fast.
Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | Biology, electricity, Elementary level, energy, experiments, High School level, Middle School level | Tagged: DIY, Educational Innovations, electricity, energy, fun experiments, green science, hands-on activity, homeschool, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, science, science fair project, STEM, variables | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
