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.
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 | 
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Posted by Donna Giachetti
by Ted Beyer
We love our customers, and not just because they help keep the lights on! Educational Innovations’ customers share amazing things with us all the time. In fact, some of our best products have been created as a result of our customers’ discoveries, suggestions, or requests.
Recently, we received a comment on our website regarding our color-changing goldenrod paper. It prompted us to try a brand-new experiment that we think you’ll enjoy.
2 Comments | Chemistry, College level, Elementary level, High School level, Middle School level | Tagged: awesome science experiment, DIY, Educational Innovations, electricity, experiments, fun experiments, goldenrod paper, hands-on activity, homeschool, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, science, science fair project | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
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.
Leave a Comment » | 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 | Permalink
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.
Read the rest of this entry »
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: Ted Beyer
I am sure that many of you reading this have ordered materials from Educational Innovations in the past. You might not pay any attention to the packing list that comes with your order, but I’ll let you in on a little secret—that piece of paper can tell you something about the inner workings of Educational Innovations.
There should be at least two rubber stamps on that sheet. One, in green, says “Picked by” and a name; the other is red and says “Packed by” and another name. The names for “Picked By” and “Packed By” will always be different—that way, at least two people have looked at the order to make sure you get exactly what you ordered.
Okay—let me jump in here with a word of explanation. When your order arrives here at EI, it is processed by our customer service team, and put into our computer system. The paperwork then goes to our picking department. Picking is pretty much what it sounds like—the items on your order are “picked” off the shelves in our inventory area and put into a bin that then goes to the shipping department to be checked, and packed, labeled, and eventually handed off to the carrier—usually UPS or the Postal Service.
Anyhow, it’s the names that I thought you might find of interest. You see, at EI, everyone pitches in wherever and whenever they are needed—from the very top on down. Lately, we have been very busy indeed, so you will see a few names that you don’t see all the time.
If you recently got an order, snag your packing list and follow along so you can meet the team!
2 Comments | About Us | Tagged: Customer Service, Educational Innovations | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
