by Ted Beyer
Brushbots, bristlebots, scooterbots, and any other cleverly named bots have been around for years. You know—the toothbrush head (or something similar) paired with a tiny vibrating motor and a battery. For years, classroom teachers and homeschool parents have been using them to introduce even young students to the principles of engineering and robotics.
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College level, electricity, Elementary level, energy, experiments, High School level, Middle School level, Physics | Tagged: bristlebot, brushbot, Educational Innovations, electricity, engineering, experiments, fun experiments, hands-on activity, hands-on science, homeschool, homeschool activity, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, science, science fair project, STEM, variables, vibration | 
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Posted by Donna Giachetti
by: Priscilla Robinson
If I look back upon the presents that had the greatest influence on me, they were all gifts that made me wonder, encouraged me to play cooperatively, or gave me a sense of confidence and independence. Those same values have often trickled into my lessons as a science teacher, my priorities as a parent, and even the way I play with my grandchildren.
Many of us are working hard to raise a generation of thinkers, doers, and life-long learners… but do we have enough time in our busy days to make the kinds of smart holiday purchases that will help carry that forward? How much multi-tasking can one mere mortal manage?
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Posted by Donna Giachetti
By: Ted Beyer
Summertime—sun and fun! For most of us (in the northern hemisphere at least) that means hot weather. Heat does interesting things to the world around us, and to us as well. On a hot day you tend to perspire. Your body does this for a good reason: as the moisture evaporates, it cools your skin, and thus helps to regulate your body temperature.
In contrast, dogs don’t perspire—they don’t have sweat glands! So on a hot day you will see dogs panting—lots of rapid, shallow breaths with their tongues looking bigger than usual hanging out of their mouths. That’s the doggie way of cooling off. They are moving air over a wet surface—again using evaporation to lower their body temperature.
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1 Comment | College level, Earth Science, Elementary level, experiments, High School level, Middle School level, Physics | Tagged: air pressure, DIY, Educational Innovations, evaporation, experiments, homeschool, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, Physics, science, science fair project, solar energy, thermal energy, variables | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
by: Priscilla Robinson
Recently, on a warm summer evening, I did something special with my three-year-old grandson. At 8 PM, little Henry was still full of energy, having had a late nap. I decided to use that to my advantage. We ventured outside to enjoy the setting sun with the twilight of oncoming darkness. My bag was packed with a blanket, some bottles of water, two headlamps, and a few special summer science surprises from Educational Innovations. Henry was delighted to have an outing instead of being hustled up to bed, so off we went—down the block to our local elementary schoolyard.
Leave a Comment » | Elementary level, experiments, High School level, Middle School level, Physics | Tagged: Educational Innovations, energy, experiments, fun experiments, hands-on activity, homeschool, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, science, summer camp, variables | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
By: Donna Giachetti
Around the EI offices lately, something magical has happening. Folks are laughing more… There’s a lighter spring in their step and a happy-go-lucky chirp in their voices… It’s as if we have all become enchanted.
Well, let me amend that…
EI employees are a very grown-up, responsible bunch. They take pride in doing their jobs as well as humanly possible. If you haven’t yet read Ted’s blog (EI’s Pick-and-Pack Customer Service Crew), don’t miss out! It’s a paean to the hardest working group of individuals I have ever met.
2 Comments | Elementary level, High School level, Middle School level, Physics | Tagged: Educational Innovations, friction, fun experiments, gravity, homeschool, inertia, motion, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, Physics, physics demonstration, refraction, science | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
