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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Sound and Waves in the News


Sound and Waves in the News - Educational Innovations BlogWant to get your students revved up over the science of sound?  This area of science has so much to explore, with more advances every day.  Enjoy this collection of news related to recent discoveries about sound and waves.

If you find an interesting article on this subject, please share it with us in the comments below!

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Sound and Waves Discussion Starters


Sound and Waves Discussion Starters - Educational Innovations NewsletterIf a tree falls in a forest and there’s no one to hear it, will it still make a sound?  This is an old question, but what’s the answer?  Sound can be a difficult concept to portray because the waves cannot easily be seen or touched.  What is sound, and why do we care about it?  There is plenty of vocabulary associated with sound waves, including frequency, amplitude, longitudinal waves, transverse waves… the list goes on.  So how do you introduce and teach this topic?  We scoured the Internet for great ideas.  Hope you enjoy them!

If you have other ideas or websites you’d like to share, please write to us in the Comments section below. Read the rest of this entry »


You Said It! Sound and Waves Product Reviews


Sound and Waves Product Reviews - Educational Innovations NewsletterWe know that teachers are always looking for new ways to demonstrate sound and waves in their classroom.  How do you teach something you can’t see or touch?  We have some great ideas.

Read on to hear what our customers are saying about some of their favorite EI sound and waves teaching tools.  If you have a favorite Educational Innovations product, we invite you to send us a comment below.  We’d love to share your review with your fellow teachers and science lovers.

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Potential and Kinetic Energy Explained


by Arthur Murray

Teaching about potential and kinetic energy is always exciting, whether your students are in kindergarten or college.  There is so much to explore, and the world is full of examples of these types of energy in action.  Any time that you’re chewing gum, typing on your computer, or launching a rubber band into the air…  you are demonstrating potential and kinetic energy in all its glory.

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