Water Jelly Crystals – Superabsorbent Polymers
There's always a buzz this time of year about ways to conserve water as we head into the hot and dry summer months (but remember that there's no such thing as global warning!) Aside from reducing the amount of water we use, the water-wise are…
But the Workshop Title Sounded So Good
I just returned from a national conference with a program as thick as a phone book. At any given time, there might have been up to 50 concurrent workshops being offered. How do you decide which workshop to attend? You guessed it - by reading…
Wild About Rockets – Wilder Elementary Students Launch Homemade Rockets
It was raining rockets on the playground at Wilder Elementary. As part of their study of space, the fourth graders built their own rockets out of nothing more than paper, tape and a little clay. But prior to putting on their rocket science hats,…
The Ellen Show Called…
When the phone rings, we never know quite what to expect. The phone rang and on the other end was a senior producer at the Ellen Show (you know... Ellen DeGeneres). It seems that this producer had been watching a few of our science videos and…
The Wintergreen Lifesavers Trigger – A Variation on the Mentos-Coke Experiment
In response to a question about triggering the soda eruption, here's an experiment from the Fizz Factor book using Wintergreen Lifesavers and dental floss.
The Ultimate Eruption II - Another minty variation of the Ultimate Eruption"”guaranteed…
Willow Creek Rocket Launch
Houston, we have lift-off! Fifth graders from Mrs. Heaton's class at Willow Creek Elementary invited me to participate in their annual paper rocket launch. The rockets were made from construction paper, tape and clay... that's it. No engines…
Naked Eggs – A Different Twist
It's a classic experiment and a sure-hit favorite around Easter. Soak a raw egg in vinegar and over the course of time, the vinegar will dissolve the eggshell. What you're left with is the egg's translucent membrane to protect the egg. Even…
Science for Young Learners Conference – A New Venture for NSTA
The National Science Teachers Association hosted a special day for PreK-2 teachers who want to make science more fun, more hands-on and more integrated into their teaching experiences. The Science for Young Learners Day was the brainchild of…
Wayne Newton is not Isaac Newton’s Brother
I had the opportunity to visit Mrs. Heaton's 5th grade GT / advanced learning class at Willow Creek Elementary this afternoon with one goal in mind... To learn about Newton's Laws of Motion. The class is currently reading October Sky by Homer…
Mr. Luna’s Bright Idea Update
I've written about Kenny Luna, an 8th grade science teacher in North Babylon, New York, who wants Oprah to help him give every child in America (PreK-12) just one Compact Fluorescent(CFL) bulb in an effort to reduce electricity costs and lessen…
