Science Fair 911 – Don’t Sweat the Science Fair We Are Here to Help

Science Fair 911 – Don’t Sweat the Science Fair We Are Here to Help

By Blog Editor Susan Wells It's January and it's Science Fair season. The keywords, "science fair projects," "easy science fair ideas," and "science fair help" are some of the top searched terms on Google in the month of January as students and their parents get online to look for help on their science fair projects. Continue reading…
Staff Spotlight on Randy in Production

Staff Spotlight on Randy in Production

Q: Tell us a little about who you are… A:  I am a Denver boy who's tried his hand on the east coast, west coast, Japan and Texas and have found no greater Continue reading…
YouTube for Schools Partners with Steve Spangler Science to Give Teachers Access to Amazing Videos

YouTube for Schools Partners with Steve Spangler Science to Give Teachers Access to Amazing Videos

We are excited to announce our new partnership with YouTube EDU and the YouTube for Schools project. Students and educators now have access to our entire library of science experiment videos in the classroom. No more work arounds or third-party sites to try to show videos in the classroom. YouTube listened Continue reading…
Steve Spangler Science Gives You a Deal Everyday

Steve Spangler Science Gives You a Deal Everyday

In honor of our most valued customers (you), Steve Spangler Science is now offering a Deal of the Day. How does it work you ask? Each night before bed our super secret Deal of the Day committee relies on the guidance of the stars combined with Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion and Continue reading…
January 26, 2012

The Spangler Effect to Debut on New YouTube Channel February 1st

Last October, YouTube announced the next big thing to come to entertainment and television… a YouTube Network of original channels. Beginning in 2012, they began adding 100 new channels to their lineup. They are bringing a wide range of talented producers, creators and personalities to the web and offering a new viewing experience for those who want to make the most of the YouTube platform. Programming on a wide range of topics like parenting, fitness, news channels, music, sports, comedy, pop culture and education are available.

We are very honored to be a part of this YouTube venture as a partner. Beginning Wednesday, February 1st Steve Spangler Science will offer an educational channel and show, The Spangler Effect.

About the Show

He’s the science teacher you always wanted to have in school. Things just happen to fizz, pop, smoke and explode, and before you know it, you’re a part of his learning experience. His passion is to find the most creative ways to make learning fun. His methods might be unconventional, but the goal is to turn ordinary science experiments into unforgettable learning experiences. And when it happens, it’s called The Spangler Effect.

It’s a series about a group of people who are

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January 24, 2012

Soap in the Microwave – Science Fair Project Idea

This is the perfect experiment for Don’t do it at home, do it at a friend’s home. Who wants to make a mess in their own microwave?

Ivory soap is one of the only soaps that float. Drop it in water and check for yourself. But how does Ivory float when most soaps sink?

For this experiment, take a new, fresh bar of Ivory soap. Not one that has been sitting on the shelf for a time. Cut it into smaller pieces and note that the bar does not have pockets of air. The air is pumped into the soap during the manufacturing process. Microwave for a minute or less and watch what happens. If you microwave the soap for a long time, it will start to turn brown and gross, so watch it while it cooks.

Now, turn this demonstration into a science fair

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January 23, 2012

Science Fair 911 – Scientific Method

By Guest Blogger Debbie Leibold 

So you have a great science fair project idea, but you’re not sure how to get started? We’re here to help!

Every successful science fair project starts with the Scientific Method. The Scientific Method is just a road map to get you from your question to your answer. Follow these steps to make your experiment amazing!

Question

Find a topic that interests you and decide what you want to learn from the project. Remember to pick a topic that is narrow enough for you to become an expert on one specific aspect of that topic. For more information on choosing a topic, see our first Science Fair 911 blog post or check out the science fair section at www.SteveSpanglerScience.com.

Research

Gather information about the question you want to explore. By doing some research ahead of time about your subject, you will be able to narrow down your question and figure out exactly what it is you want to find out. You will also have some background knowledge that will help you to understand the results of your tests and possibly lead you to some meaningful

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January 20, 2012

How is a Science Fair Judged and Tips for Science Fair Success

Guest Blogger: Dr, Maille Lyons, The Science Fair Coach

How is a Science Fair Judged?
It might surprise you to learn that there are no rules on how a science fair must be judged.  In an ideal situation, all science fair judges would review all of the projects, and then interview all of the students, and then come to an agreement on the ranking of the overall best projects.  This, however, is generally not going to happen because of time constraints and limits on the number of judges available.  The next best option is to have groups of judges assigned to natural groupings of projects.  For example, some judges would only judge 5th grade projects while others would only judge 6th grade projects.  Alternatively, some judges would only judge biology projects, while others would only judge physics projects.  In both cases, all judges evaluate all projects in their group and come to a consensus regarding the rankings for that type of project.  Realistically, it is more common that each judge evaluates a randomly assigned group of projects, looking to identify the

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January 18, 2012

The Republican Candidates’ Views on Education – Should We Do Away with the Department of Education?

By Blog Editor Susan Wells

As the field narrows and we get closer to a front runner emerging for the Republican nomination for president, it’s important that voters do their homework and really learn about each candidate and their views. The candidates do not agree on many topics, including education.

We looked at the remaining five candidates and their views on the future of education. Two of the candidates are in favor of eliminating the Department of Education. Is this a good idea?

The U.S. Department of Education’s website states its mission “is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.”

ED was created in 1980 by combining offices from several federal agencies. ED’s 4,400 employees and $68 billion budget are dedicated to:

  • Establishing policies on federal financial aid for education, and distributing as well as monitoring those funds.
  • Collecting data on America’s schools and disseminating research.
  • Focusing national attention on key educational issues.
  • Prohibiting discrimination and ensuring equal access to education.

I think the majority of Americans will agree our education system needs repair and reform. Some of the questions being asked of the candidates

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