Magicians do the impossible first
People often ask how I got excited about science. Who was the great chemist who influenced my life?
I grew up in an unusual family. My first recollection was when I was three years old, peeking through the curtain at the Paramount Theater,…
Teacher as Blogger – Sharing recipes, experiments and passion for teaching science
David Mayer is on the road to becoming a great teacher. He's an undergraduate student at Boston Universty majoring in Earth Science, and he spends his summers teaching science to students ages 5-11 at a day camp called Camp Summer in Connecticut.…
The hardest thing about teaching science – not enough hours in the day
In a 2003 survey, elementary teachers said the hardest thing about teaching science was "I don't have enough time in the day"?. In that survey supervisors were asked the same question. Their responses related to not enough materials or staff…
Teacher evaluations – the great dinner table experiment
During my first year in teaching, my first evaluation revealed I wasn't as terrible a teacher as I thought. My principal said: "I notice when I come into the room you go into performance mode. It makes learning so much fun but I am not sure…
Lights! Camera! Action! Enter the amazing teacher
A teacher is always on stage. The lights come on. The sound comes up. And the teacher is on stage for six hours guiding the kids through the learning process.
I am often invited to attend conferences and speak to audiences. The last thing I…
Teaching teachers to do magic
A teacher can be an amazing teacher. In science workshops and seminars, I teach teachers how to do magic.
I grew up in a family of professional magicians, but my 13 years in the classroom didn't involve a lot of magic other than science magic,…
Home schooling – make science come alive
One of the benefits of home schooling is you can take time to wonder, discover and explore. Science instruction can be a really difficult area, however, because you may have limited resources such as chemicals and equipment.
So why not go to…
After school demos make great teachers
So you want to be an amazing teacher? Start with the parents. Back to school night is a great time to do some science demonstrations.
Imagine yourself doing an experiment right in front of the parents' eyes, like filling a Ziplock bag with…
Baby Soda Bottle – test tube in a bottle
Some of the products you see in the Steve Spangler Science catalog were born because science teachers found it difficult to get the supplies they needed. One such product is the Baby Soda Bottle. If you haven't seen one, Baby Soda Bottle is…
International Toy Fair open to all – yes, even teachers
If you are ever in New York in February you have to visit the International Toy Fair. It's a kind of convention where the latest and greatest toys are rolled out for buyers across the world to stock their shelves. It's a wonderful experience…
