The Paper Balloon Paradox Mystery


Educational Innovations Blogby Nancy Foote

Two of my favorite things are bubbles and balloons.  I once had a part-time job delivering balloons.  How I loved that job!  I learned a lot about gas laws.  I found out balloons take up less volume in cold weather and expand in hot weather.  (Some of those lessons I learned the hard way.)  I gained plenty of insight into people… and tips… and, of course, balloons!

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STEM Galore with OneCar and More!


Priscilla Robinson, Educational Innovationsby Priscilla Robinson

If you teach STEM,  you’ll want to learn about the OneCar system.

The performance components in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) have spawned many wonderful chances to explore STEM in the classroom.  The STEM curriculum is based on the idea that an interdisciplinary, applied approach is the best way to teach students these four specific disciplines.   When your students are searching for solutions to real-world problems, they are more engaged, and their learning is more authentic.

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Inspiring Curiosity with the Atmospheric Mat


Electricity from Mud?! Educational Innovations Blogby Nancy Foote

A curiosity table.  That’s what I call it.  Whenever my students have a free minute (which rarely happens), I encourage them to investigate the materials on the curiosity table in our classroom.

Today I added something new—an Atmospheric Mat.

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Air Pressure Lesson


Air Pressure Lesson - Educational Innovations BlogEducational Innovations’ President and CEO, Tami O’Connor, spent many years as a science teacher in elementary and middle school classrooms conducting air pressure science activities.

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She was also a professional airline pilot, so you can be sure she knows a few things about air pressure!

One of her favorite air pressure activities at school was the Do-It-Yourself Gyrocopter.  You can download her lesson (complete with template) by clicking on the image below.

 

Air Pressure Lesson - Educational Innovations Blog


Air Pressure Discussion Starters


Discussion Starters - Educational Innovations NewsletterThe sky (and beyond) is the limit if you’re looking to start a class discussion on air pressure!  Practically anything goes—from balloons to spacesuits, smoke rings to clouds in a bottle.

We hope you have as much fun using these air pressure discussion starters as we’ve had gathering them.

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