episode 1: science
air date: Sept 19 & 21
*What do you think of there being standards for schools to use?
*Are you pleased with the current instruction of science?
*What IS science to you?”
*Are you pleased with the current instruction of science?
*What IS science to you?”
Look to see what you can do with this buoyancy project by making the necessary modifications to keep your structure from sinking.
- Large bowl or tub of water (it should be able to hold at least eight cups, that’s 64 ounces, or almost two liters)
- aluminum foil (cut into squares that are 5 in by 5 inches or 12.5 cm for those that are metrically inclined, you’ll want four or five of these)
- a number of quarters (20 should be good)
- something to keep time, whether it is a clock with a second hand, a phone with a stopwatch, or if you have one, an actual stop watch!
episode 2: technology
Air date: October 17 (9:30 am) & 19 (1:00 pm)
*Where do you feel that you use technology the most?
*The purpose of technology is to help us through situations, but
do you think there’s also a downside to using technology?
*How do YOU define technology?
*The purpose of technology is to help us through situations, but
do you think there’s also a downside to using technology?
*How do YOU define technology?
Here we are looking to see if the texting you, a friend, and/or a family member do through the course of a day is actually advantageous other than a means to communicate. With this episode, we're looking to reaction time! REMEMBER: you can be a subject too!!!
- Use the link at the end of this sentence to use or view the document to find out how long your subject might text on a given day (click here for the time texting document).
- Go to the website, Neuroscience for Kids, and be sure you are in the Brain Games section (there will be a link to the tests below, but I want to be sure you can get there and see all the other cool stuff).
- Scroll down to the "Online Response Time Experiments".
- Have your subjects take the Hit-the-Dot test (Experiment 3) and the Check Box test (Experiment 5).
episode 3: Math
air date: Nov 7 & 14 - 9:30am
NOV 9 & 16 - 1:00pm
*When you aren’t in class, where do you use math the most?
*What do you enjoy most about learning math?
*According to international tests (TIMMS and PISA) the United States scores significantly lower than other industrialized nations. How does this bother you and what do you feel can be done to rectify the situation?
*What do you enjoy most about learning math?
*According to international tests (TIMMS and PISA) the United States scores significantly lower than other industrialized nations. How does this bother you and what do you feel can be done to rectify the situation?
One of my earliest recollections of loving and wanting to be involved with science was my time spent at the "bubble chambers" at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, IL. As a three and four year old, the colors and shapes created by pressing the red button to lower the wire frames into the solution and wondering how the next bubble would be different from the last had me occupied for hours at a time (I actually STILL love bubbles)!!!
Which liquids do you think will make the largest bubbles? What was the difference in how long a bubble lasted between the liquids to tested from say milk or orange juice?
- You’ll need a straw and/or a set of pipe cleaners or other bendable wire item;
- a bowl (preferably a shallow one);
- a flat surface to place the bowl;
- a towel to place under the bowl to make your cleanup easier;
- whatever set of liquids you have handy to make your bubbles.
Which liquids do you think will make the largest bubbles? What was the difference in how long a bubble lasted between the liquids to tested from say milk or orange juice?
episode 4: Education & Engineering
air date: Dec 5 & Dec 12 - 9:30am
Dec 7 & Dec 14 - 1:00pm
*If given the opportunity, for what reason or reasons would you like to own a flying car?*What displays of human engineering are you most impressed with?
*How do YOU define engineering?
*How do YOU define engineering?
My son Amari (the guy in the middle picture) talked about the golden airplane that he doesn’t think he’ll ever be able to recreate… well, let’s see if you can’t help him out by creating a NEW golden airplane! There are hundreds of personal preferences, books, and websites you can look to, but I’m going focus on the planes found on the 10paperairplanes.com website. Instead of looking to how ONE plane will perform, build the airplanes found on 10paperairplanes.com and determine which plane is best suited for distance, which plane stayed in the air the longest, and which plane were you able to get the most tricks out of. If you REALLY want to impress your friends, head over to Autodesk.com, create a free account, and download the Flow Design program. See how engineers use simulation software to visualize how the airflow changes if flaps are added to a plane.
episode 5: Chemistry & Education
click the title and listen to the show!
see where Dr. Pritchett is right now, Working with scifest
air date: TBA (friday) - 9:30am
TBA (Sunday) - 1:00pm
Article reading from: Chemistry Times; adapted from a news release issued by Drexel University picture from: http://www.chemistrytimes.com/research/Bending_ _but_not_breaking_--_in_search_of_new_materials.asp |
*If given the opportunity, what would YOU do with the team's MXene research?
*How would you agree or disagree with my professor in that "an understanding of chemistry is the gateway to unlocking the knowledge of the universe"?
*How would YOU explain the concept of chemistry?
*How would you agree or disagree with my professor in that "an understanding of chemistry is the gateway to unlocking the knowledge of the universe"?
*How would YOU explain the concept of chemistry?
Not nearly as complicated as the work reviewed in this episode’s article excerpt, or the procedures that Dr. Pritchett uses, materials science is a fantastic way to get introduced to the content area of chemistry. Here’s a fun project from our friends at ScienceBuddies.org to perform and experiment with! What is it called? Listen, perform, and then let me know what YOU would call it!
Next, you will make the Borax solution. Adding 2 teaspoons of Borax to 1 cup of warm water to a jar. Tightly secure the lid, and shake until no particles of Borax remain and the solution is clear. Once again, using the marker, label this jar "4% Borax".
Now we will add the 50% glue and 4% Borax solutions together in different ratios to see what properties the final mixture will have. You can use the amounts on my webpage (scroll down the page until you get to Episode 5 Data Information) OR you can make up your own.
Either way, add the correct amount of the 50% glue solution to a Zip-lock baggie, then add the corresponding amount of the 4% Borax solution. Seal the baggie, and using your fingers squish {squish} the mixture around to mix the ingredients. When the mixture begins to form a sticky glob, you can take it out of the baggie.
Cleanup Tip: If you have leftover 50% Glue or Glue/Borax mixtures, do not pour them down the drain. They can cause clogs. Instead, throw them in the garbage.
Which ratio of ingredients produced the best product?
- You’ll need a zip lock bag
- Water
- Glue (Elmer’s has worked the best in my classroom)
- Borax (also called 20-Mule Team household cleaner)
- measuring cups and spoons
- glass jars with lids (or something similar)
- a permanent marker and
- some disposable gloves (as it turns out, some people might get a slight skin irritation over handling borax),
Next, you will make the Borax solution. Adding 2 teaspoons of Borax to 1 cup of warm water to a jar. Tightly secure the lid, and shake until no particles of Borax remain and the solution is clear. Once again, using the marker, label this jar "4% Borax".
Now we will add the 50% glue and 4% Borax solutions together in different ratios to see what properties the final mixture will have. You can use the amounts on my webpage (scroll down the page until you get to Episode 5 Data Information) OR you can make up your own.
Either way, add the correct amount of the 50% glue solution to a Zip-lock baggie, then add the corresponding amount of the 4% Borax solution. Seal the baggie, and using your fingers squish {squish} the mixture around to mix the ingredients. When the mixture begins to form a sticky glob, you can take it out of the baggie.
Cleanup Tip: If you have leftover 50% Glue or Glue/Borax mixtures, do not pour them down the drain. They can cause clogs. Instead, throw them in the garbage.
Which ratio of ingredients produced the best product?