November 17, 2017
by Priscilla Robinson
What can a teacher do when the season’s cold, wet, or snowy weather makes curious and rambunctious children go stir crazy? This was exactly the predicament I found myself in with my five-year-old grandson last year. After sledding and playing in the snow, Henry and I looked for something else to do. I reached deep into my Nana brain and unlocked my inner teacher. “What’s your teachable moment today, Nana?” I murmured.
All weekend long, we had been experiencing the crackle and pop of static electricity as a result of the house’s warm, dry air. Henry himself had been zapped a half dozen times. Petting the family dog, he marveled as her hair stood on end. He was curious: what was this invisible power?
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College level, Elementary level, energy, experiments, High School level, Middle School level, static electricity | Tagged: DIY, Educational Innovations, electricity, experiments, fun experiments, hands-on activity, homeschool, magnetism, parent friendly, PBL, PhBL, PhenoBL, phenomenon based learning, science, static electricity, STEM, variables | 
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Posted by Donna Giachetti
April 14, 2017
by Nancy Foote
The latest addition to my classroom’s Curiosity Table is a Static Electricity Electroscope. The fact that it looks a bit odd made it even more intriguing to my students. Once they began to play with the electroscope, they couldn’t stop. Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | College level, electricity, Elementary level, experiments, High School level, magnetism, Middle School level, static electricity | Tagged: DIY, Educational Innovations, electricity, experiments, fun experiments, hands-on activity, homeschool, parent friendly, PBL, PhBL, PhenoBL, phenomenon based learning, science, static electricity, STEM, variables | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
October 16, 2015
We love talking about science all year long, but the Halloween season gives us an extra reason to celebrate the countless ways that our lives are touched by science. Whether we’re looking up at the stars or down at our toes, there is always something amazing to learn.
In honor of this MONSTROUS time of year, we’ve selected a few video clips related to spooky science. These videos will grab your students’ attention and help you start a lively discussion.
If you come across a spooky science video you’d like us to add to this list, leave the URL in a comment below or write to us at socialmedia@teachersource.com.
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Leave a Comment » | College level, Elementary level, High School level, Middle School level | Tagged: Educational Innovations, fun experiments, halloween, halloween fun, hands-on activity, hands-on science, homeschool, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, static electricity | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
April 28, 2015
Sometimes showing a brief video to your students—
or assigning it for home viewing—can go a long way
in helping to explain concepts that might take too
long in class. We’ve selected a few video clips,
ranging from old favorites to new hi-tech glimpses
at the future of electricity.
If you come across a video you’d like us to add to this list,
leave the URL in a comment below.
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Leave a Comment » | College level, electricity, Elementary level, energy, High School level, Middle School level | Tagged: Bill Nye, electricity, energy, homeschool, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, science, static electricity, video | Permalink
Posted by Donna Giachetti
October 9, 2014
by: Donna Giachetti
“In the spring
a young man’s fancy
lightly turns to thoughts of love.”
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Alfred may have a point, but these days our thoughts turn to darker, spookier things—zombies, ghouls, witches, monsters and ghosts (more about them later, scroll down to the end of the blog).
Why is autumn one of our favorite times of year?
Let us count the ways:
- A new school year…
- Cooler temperatures…
- Warm, cozy sweaters and boots…
- A procession of colorful fall foliage…
But best of all, there’s the anticipation of HALLOWEEN! What a wonderful time to be a mad scientist! Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | Elementary level, experiments, Middle School level, static electricity | Tagged: brain, discrepant event, edible insects, Educational Innovations, experiments, fun experiments, halloween, hands-on activity, homeschool, parent friendly, PBL, phenomenon based learning, phenomenon-based science, science, Slime, static electricity | Permalink
Posted by Tami O'Connor
