Teaching Moments

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Young Engineers Build Homemade Rockets

I helped the fourth graders at Wilder Elementary test their rocket designs today. Watch the video below from last year to see what this interactive lesson is all about. Earlier in the week, the students watched the movie October Sky, based…
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Methane Mamba Tower of Bubbles

Do not try this experiment at home. This experiment is done by firefighters to demonstrate the movement of flammable gases that are lighter than air. There are 13 gases that are lighter than air and rise. The rest of the gases sit low or…
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Please Take Action! Understanding the Dangers of Dihydrogen Monoxide

Thousands of people are at risk from exposure to Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO) every day. This silent killer has gone unreported by the media and ignored by government agencies. The dangers remain virtually unknown to the general public. Fortunately,…

UV Beads Used in South Africa to Teach Dangers of Sun Exposure

South Africa has the highest rate of skin cancer in Africa and is second to Australia in the world skin cancer rates. The Human Alliance for Cancer Awareness (HACA) is working to create clubs in South African high schools to improve students’…

Freeze Frame on Water Jelly Cubes

We love to hear from our customers to see how they are using our products in their classrooms and in their homes. Recently, we met a very interesting customer that doesn’t purchase our products for the usual educational purposes. He shoots…

Build a Trap, Catch a Leprechaun for St. Patrick’s Day

It’s St. Patrick’s Day eve. The day when children and adults alike put the finishing touches on their leprechaun traps. Catching a leprechaun is tricky business. They are very sneaky and don’t play fair, so no one has ever caught a…
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The Science of Earthquakes

Earthquakes have been in the news a lot recently. It’s scary for children to watch the news and see the mass destruction, death and rubble caused by a quick shaking of the earth. From the damage in Haiti to Chile and most recently in Turkey,…
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Ice Skating – A Classic Lesson in Physics

The Olympics may be over, but teachers and parents are still using the science behind the games to educate children. Ice skating is a classic lesson in physics. When an ice skater spins, they are using angular momentum. In a spin, their arms…

Athletes Dress for Success in the Science of the Olympics

Olympic athletes wear special competition clothing to gain an edge in their sport. Science & technology continues to improve the clothes and protective gear they wear. In the bobsled, downhill racing and speed skating, athletes want to…

Math Counts In the Science of the Olympics

It might not be as obvious as physics or materials engineering, but math from arithmetic to calculus can describe every move the athletes make from jumps to spins on the snow and ice. Math counts in the Olympics. There are 2,500 athletes…