Fossils and Dinosaurs TV


EI TV - Educational Innovations BlogAn astonishing amount of information can be learned from fossilized bones that are millions of years old, but what about the many questions that we can’t know for sure?  How fast did dinosaurs move?  Did any species have feathers?  Who picks the names of newly-discovered species?  We may not have any living specimens around to observe, but there are hundreds of excellent videos that share information about what dino life might have been like.

If you find a video that you’d like to share with us, please leave a comment!

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Fossils and Dinosaurs Lesson


Lesson - Educational Innovations BlogAt Educational Innovations, we love helping teachers come up with new, exciting ways to explore science topics with their students.  And let’s face it, what child doesn’t love dinosaurs and fossils?

The fact is, there are just so many ways to bring this subject into the classroom like activities and experiments that we couldn’t decide on a single lesson that would appeal to all students and teachers. Luckily, the “interwebs” are chockful of excellent lesson ideas.

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Fossils and Dinosaurs in the News


Dinosaurs may be extinct, but our fascination with them is alive and well!  There seems to be a never-ending stream of new fossil discoveries around the globe, often leading to new species being named.  It’s an exciting time to be an archaeologist, paleontologist, or just a “plain” dinosaur lover!

Read on for some interesting news reports related to dinosaurs and fossils.  Let us know if you find an article you’d like us to post!

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Using the ZigZag Density Tumbler In (and Out) of the Classroom


Linda Dunnavantby Linda Dunnavant

The ZigZag Density Tumbler is an elegant desk “toy” and much more.  Turn the tumbler over and watch two different colors of droplets float down in a relaxing zigzag pattern.  I like to keep mine on my desk.  I often pick it up and watch it while I clear my head.  Not only is the tumbler a soothing, relaxing activity for busy adults, but it also provides so many possibilities for calming, inspiring, and teaching students. Read the rest of this entry »


Center of Mass Challenge


By Jeremy Johnson

In my 13 years of classroom teaching experience, I’ve learned a few tricks to keep my students from becoming overwhelmed—or bored—by their science textbooks.  One of my favorite tricks is to get my kids up on their feet, doing science instead of reading about it.

When I teach about gravity and center of mass, for example, I like to shake things up by turning our classroom into an impromptu biokinetics lab.  I challenge my students to perform a series of seemingly simple physical tests, described below.  Lift a chair?  Raise your leg?  Pick up a quarter?  No problem!  (Or so they think…)

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