November 17, 2017
by Priscilla Robinson
What can a teacher do when the season’s cold, wet, or snowy weather makes curious and rambunctious children go stir crazy? This was exactly the predicament I found myself in with my five-year-old grandson last year. After sledding and playing in the snow, Henry and I looked for something else to do. I reached deep into my Nana brain and unlocked my inner teacher. “What’s your teachable moment today, Nana?” I murmured.
All weekend long, we had been experiencing the crackle and pop of static electricity as a result of the house’s warm, dry air. Henry himself had been zapped a half dozen times. Petting the family dog, he marveled as her hair stood on end. He was curious: what was this invisible power?
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College level, Elementary level, energy, experiments, High School level, Middle School level, static electricity | Tagged: DIY, Educational Innovations, electricity, experiments, fun experiments, hands-on activity, homeschool, magnetism, parent friendly, PBL, PhBL, PhenoBL, phenomenon based learning, science, static electricity, STEM, variables | 
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Posted by Donna Giachetti
April 14, 2017
by Nancy Foote
The latest addition to my classroom’s Curiosity Table is a Static Electricity Electroscope. The fact that it looks a bit odd made it even more intriguing to my students. Once they began to play with the electroscope, they couldn’t stop. Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | College level, electricity, Elementary level, experiments, High School level, magnetism, Middle School level, static electricity | Tagged: DIY, Educational Innovations, electricity, experiments, fun experiments, hands-on activity, homeschool, parent friendly, PBL, PhBL, PhenoBL, phenomenon based learning, science, static electricity, STEM, variables | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
May 13, 2016
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.
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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 | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
October 9, 2014
by: Donna Giachetti
“In the spring
a young man’s fancy
lightly turns to thoughts of love.”
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Alfred may have a point, but these days our thoughts turn to darker, spookier things—zombies, ghouls, witches, monsters and ghosts (more about them later, scroll down to the end of the blog).
Why is autumn one of our favorite times of year?
Let us count the ways:
- A new school year…
- Cooler temperatures…
- Warm, cozy sweaters and boots…
- A procession of colorful fall foliage…
But best of all, there’s the anticipation of HALLOWEEN! What a wonderful time to be a mad scientist! Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | Elementary level, experiments, Middle School level, static electricity | Tagged: brain, discrepant event, edible insects, Educational Innovations, experiments, fun experiments, halloween, hands-on activity, homeschool, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, science, Slime, static electricity | Permalink
Posted by Tami O'Connor
March 1, 2013
by: Norm Barstow
This is a guide on how to make a Leyden Jar that makes awesome sparks with materials you may even find in your house. It’s inexpensive, basically harmless and fun.
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Leave a Comment » | experiments, High School level, Middle School level, Physics, static electricity | Tagged: capacitor, DIY, film canister activities, generators, homeschool, leyden jar | Permalink
Posted by Tami O'Connor
