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.
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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 | 
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Posted by Donna Giachetti
January 27, 2017
by Jen Donaldson
In my classroom, I’ve devised two new uses for Growing Spheres which help students have a better grasp on some otherwise complicated science concepts.
These small spheres are a wonderful way to make the invisible VISIBLE—in three dimensions!
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Leave a Comment » | Chemistry, College level, Elementary level, experiments, High School level, Middle School level | Tagged: Chemistry, Educational Innovations, experiments, fun experiments, growing spheres, hands-on activity, homeschool, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, Physics, science, variables | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
January 13, 2017
by Gabrielle Hodgins and Dr. Kenneth Lyle, Duke University, Durham NC
The wonders of magnetic ink!
INTRODUCTION
Demonstrating the magnetic ink used in printing US currency has proven to engage audiences of all ages because of its relevance to everyday life. Nearly everyone has used machines that distribute and/or accept currency but few understand how the machines distinguish between the various denominations. The key is in the face of each denomination. Magnetic ink is used in the printing of the currency. Each denomination has a different face and, therefore, a different magnetic signature. Similar to a bar code reader, the machines recognize the denomination by its magnetic signature. A strong magnet, such as a neodymium magnet, can be used to demonstrate the magnetic character of US currency.
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Leave a Comment » | Chemistry, Elementary level, High School level, magnetism, Middle School level | Tagged: DIY, Educational Innovations, fun experiments, hands-on activity, homeschool, neodymium magnet, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, Physics, science, science fair project | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
December 16, 2016
by 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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Leave a Comment » | College level, Elementary level, experiments, High School level, Middle School level, Physics | Tagged: air pressure, Educational Innovations, experiments, fun experiments, hands-on activity, homeschool, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, Physics, physics demonstration apparatus, science, STEM, variables | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
December 6, 2016
If a picture is worth 1,000 words, a video is surely worth a few million. Especially when it comes to scientific explanations, a video is a wonderful tool for conveying information to your students in a visual, easy-to-follow manner.
The videos below offer you and your students a glimpse into the world of hydrophilic polymers—where they are today, what new discoveries we’ve made, and where we are headed in the future.
Enjoy! If you find a video on hydrophilic polymers that you’d like to share with us, please leave a comment!
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Leave a Comment » | Chemistry, College level, Elementary level, High School level, Middle School level | Tagged: Chemistry, Educational Innovations, green science, hands-on activity, homeschool, hydrophilic, instant snow, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, polymer, polymer crystals, polymers, science, snow polymer, sodium polyacrylate | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
