Free Science Activity Book

Have some fun this summer! Education.com is offering a free science activity book (in pdf format).

Click here to download it.

Lab Idea - Build a Homopolar Motor

I came across this youtube video through a reference by a friend.  Here's a great and easy way to demonstrate (or have students work through) how electricity and magnetism interact.  

You only need three simple materials: an AA battery, a neodymium magnet, and a piece of copper wire.

If you're looking for the magnets, there is an assortment of listings on Amazon.  

Here's the link for the youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aPQqNt15-o

Let's talk: Have you tried this?  What did you think?  

Online Resources for Math

As I have stated in other posts, I am constantly looking for online resources that I can use to help me as I improve lesson plans, work with students, and diversify classroom activities.

Here are some Math related websites that I have found useful.

Free Math Worksheets
Has a vast selection of math worksheets that are downloadable in pdf format. The worksheets are easy to use, and there are many of them, so you will always have something for that student who needs just a little extra practice.

Homeschool Math Blog
Has some great explanations on various math problems, and has other great teaching resources.

Practical Money Skills
Has lesson plans that tie in money skills to math.

Planet Orange
Another website that has both lesson plans and worksheets that tie in money skills to math. Very kid friendly as well.


Disclaimer: These recommendations are purely my own, based upon what I
personally have found helpful.

Question: What online Math resources have you found helpful?

Online Resources for Science

I am always on the lookout for online resources to use to help me as I develop lessons, work with individual students, and attempt to enhance my classroom activities.

Here are some science related websites that I have found useful.

Teach Engineering

Has a great range of lesson plans and activities relating both to math and science subjects.

The Physics Classroom

Has explanations, movies, and practice problems relating to Physics.

Science Lesson Plans

A list of various science lesson plans.

Mr. Taylor's Science

Lesson plans and activities for Physical Science.

Amazing Space

Lesson plans and activities relating to outer space.

The Science Spot

Lesson plans, activities, and ideas for a vast array of science subjects.

Disclaimer: These recommendations are purely my own, based upon what I personally have found helpful.  

Some Online Resources for Lessons

The internet has a vast store of resources available that can help you in regards to your lessons, whether you are a teacher or a student.

Activities with Legos - www.legoeducation.us/activities

Lists of Resources on a wide variety of subjects – www.thefrugaleducator.blogspot.com

Lesson Plans and Worksheets -

www.theteacherscorner.net

www.education.com

www.abcteach.com

www.teachervision.fen.com

Free Online Books (mostly public domain books)

www.ccel.org

www.gutenberg.org

Disclaimer: These recommendations are purely my own, based upon what I personally have found helpful.

Bernoulli's Principle – Easy Demonstration

A couple of months ago I came across this idea to demonstrate Bernoulli's Principle. I do not remember where I found the information, so if anyone has information on this, please feel free to add a comment.

Materials needed: 

- a piece of paper (8 ½ by 11 works really well)

- tape

Directions:

- Fold a piece of paper in half. Fold one of the halves down so that it forms about a half inch stack on one side of the folded paper. You will need about 4 or 5 folds to accomplish this.

- Gently bend the paper so that it forms a cylinder, with the folded edge on one end of the cylinder.

- Tape the paper so that it stays in its cylindrical shape.

- Gently throw the paper.

My class had a lot of fun making this paper tube, and in our experience our tubes flew remarkably well. 

 

Math - Financial Skills

I've been looking for some more ideas to enhance my math class.  In my searches, I came across Visa's Practical Money Skills site.  It has a nice section for educators which includes lesson plans and activities for students of all ages.  

Math Games

Looking for some ideas to add variety to your math class?  Here are some game ideas.  

• operations with UNO cards - give a deck of UNO cards (without the action cards) to a group of students and have the students draw two cards and add, subtract, etc. the numbers
• bingo - have students fill in bingo cards with numbers and then ask operations questions
• calculate perimeter and area of different objects made out of Lego bricks

Some ideas for using Lego Bricks

As I mentioned in my last post, I've been looking lately into using Lego bricks outside of the normal children's play.  
I've been working on getting together some ideas for my high school physics class, and here are a few I'd like to share:

• pressure - find the amount of air pressure exerted upon different Lego bricks (assume standard temperature and pressure at sea level)
• work - build an object out of Lego bricks and calculate the work it will take to move the object 1 meter
• trigonometry - build a right angle out of Lego bricks and then calculate the hypotenuse in terms of Lego measurements

Thinking outside of the Brick

Lego bricks, those brightly colored bricks that seem to be a part of many children's childhood experience.  But, can those bricks have an application outside of a child's playroom?  Many think they can.  

• Lego has set up a website that lists many education activities.  
• Lego has also set up a website that promotes businesses using Lego bricks to brainstorm outside of the box.  

What unique applications can you find for that marvelous Lego brick?

Bernoulli's Principle - Nice Lesson Plan

The last couple of weeks I've been starting to gear up for the coming school year.  I had come across this website last school year and found some good ideas.  The search-ability of the site is nice.  Most of the lesson plans and activities are rather extensively detailed.  
I was working today on tweaking a lesson plan about Bernoulli's Principle and highly recommend Teach Engineering's lesson plan.