Science Fair or Science Failure?
 |
 |
 |
PR: 
L: 
I: 
Age: 
I: 
Rank: 
Links: 
The American Science Fair has a long and noble history. Science Fair programs really began in 1921 with the inauguration of the Science Service, a non-profit company dedicated to helping students explore the scientific method and learn science as an activity. The Science Fair took its modern form only in 1941, when Science Service went national, and helped to found over 800 science clubs in schools across America – each of which organized and held its own science fair. Read the rest
Add a Comment No CommentsSuccessful Science Fair Projects for Kids
When deciding on the perfect science fair project, kids have lots to consider. Is it connected with a topic they find interesting? Will they be able to accomplish the project with positive results? And, can they pull it all together with an eye-catching presentation that wows the judges? Read the rest
Add a Comment No CommentsFun Science Projects
With warm weather right around the corner, kids, and adults, are looking for something fun and educational to keep busy and occupied. Learning in school or at home can be a fun scientific experience through simple and easy science projects and activities. With the help of basic materials, creativity, and lots of enthusiastic hands, these fun science projects are a great way to spend a sunny afternoon. Read the rest
Add a Comment No CommentsTen Thousand To One: Physics Lesson Plan
Teaching physics concepts is a challenge in today’s classroom. How can a teacher present the majesty of physics in an era of decreasing budgets and often inadequate space? All too often, schools and teachers despair of providing legitimate, hands-on laboratory experiences for students because equipment is large and expensive, especially when teaching Newtonian concepts like forces, action-reaction, and statics. This need not be the case. I created a laboratory lesson plan that can make these concepts come alive in your classroom for a cost of just pennies per student (literally!) Below is a written description of the lesson plan. The full lesson plan on video is available here. For a complete understanding of how to create this project, it is necessary to watch the video and read the written lesson plan together.
Add a Comment Show CommentsMeasuring Merit in the Classroom
|
|
|
I love the idea of merit pay for teachers. If we try to give merit pay for cops, you might want to know how many criminals the officer had arrested. The cop who works against the criminal only wins merit when the criminal loses. If you wanted to give merit pay to doctors, you might want to know how many patients they had saved. The doctor works with the patient who is seeking his help, the doctor wins when the patient wins. Both situations are relatively clear cut; not so for the teacher. Read the rest
Add a Comment No CommentsSwimming Away From the Lifeboat: What the Charter School Movement is Telling Us
In a series of recent articles, authors in union publications have decried the effects of corporate America to give funding with“strings attached” as “being divisive”, and “punishing our schools rather than helping them”1. The districts that have accepted this ‘poisoned apple’ from corporate sponsors are portrayed in this piece as being foolish and gullible: “…in this harsh economic climate school districts are especially desperate for money – and corporate philanthropists generally have very deep pockets – schools may take donations without asking important questions.” Sidebars within the text of the article proclaim “Beware of Corporations bearing gifts”, and “Who’s pulling the strings?”, even “Running schools Like A Business doesn’t work”. (All font size, emphasis, bold and italic, are copied from the original publication.) Photos within the article show fear, anger, sneers, and looks of deep desperation, starkly contrasting with the smiling photos of happy and successful educators that pepper the rest of the publication. Read the rest
Add a Comment No CommentsScience and Technology in the Classroom
In the time of the iPhone, tablet computers and shrinking portable music players, science and technology in the classroom have gone into overdrive. Schools are now requiring students, as young as elementary-age, to have laptops in the classroom. What will these newer, high-tech changes mean for your classroom and how can you make them better? Read the rest
Add a Comment No CommentsFun Science Activities for Kids
Science experiments are a wonderful way to educate and entertain kids – and you might find yourself learning a thing or two, too! Conducting interesting investigations are as simple as using items from the kitchen cabinet. Children of all ages will enjoy finding out what happens next, engaging their brains to figure out intelligent conclusions all while conducting experiments. Read the rest
Add a Comment Show CommentsScience in the Classroom:In Defense of Low-Tech Education
|
|
|
For most of us, the idea of an effective education in a modern classroom immediately evokes the use of computers and electronics in the classroom. In my own classes, I use both high and low-tech methods to teach astronomy and physics. My physics classes are known for low-tech, hands-on lab projects; exciting and sometimes decidedly odd-looking contests where student teams compete to build the strongest crane, the fastest rocket car, or the most complex marble roller coaster. These activities serve to make the physics class more exciting and popular, but there is a lot more to it than just filling the seats in a formidable program. Let’s investigate further! Read the rest
Add a Comment No CommentsPowerPoint or Power Pointless?
There seems to be some controversy raging over the use of so-called ‘presentation software’ such as Microsoft’s PowerPoint and others. In 2003, National Public Radio estimated that there were approximately 10 million computers in primary and secondary schools equipped with Microsoft’s PowerPoint software. With the advent of competing software and open source products such as Open Office project from Sun Microsystems, that offer presentation software for free to anyone who wants to use it, the number of students with access to such tools has exploded. Such tools are available to almost anyone who wants them, but are they good for our kids? Read the rest
Add a Comment Show Comments© 1998-2008 Funderstanding. All rights reserved.
