September 24, 2008

We are honored to periodically host the Carnival of Education. Hats off to our good friend Jane Goodwin for all of her work on the latest Carnival. - editor
It’s time to put on our thinking caps and experience the 190th Carnival of Education, right here at Steve Spangler’s blog!
All learning is scientific, you know. The world is a giant laboratory, and every day, we are all, regardless of our ages, making discoveries never before known to mankind.
Perhaps some of you will make some discoveries right here at the Carnival of Education!
Remember now, we don’t all necessarily have to agree on everything to appreciate it, or realize that it has a value.
Let’s begin with some Games for the Brain. That will make us alert and ready for some educational action.
Over at Three Standard Deviations to the Left, there is some discussion about low expectations. Mr. IB lets us know, in no uncertain terms, that HIS expectations are high.
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Tags: adapting, anti-teacher sentiment, apostrophe, artificial turf, Asperger's, autism, brain games, Brainpop, cafeteria food, Carnival of Education, childhood obesity, classroom politics, classroom technology, collaborating teachers, democracy, differentiation, discoveries, educators, electoral, English, equinox, expectations, failures, field trip, foreign language, General, Genuine, giant soap bubbles, Hands on Science Boot Camp, homeschool, humble man, humility, internet dating, Jane Goodwin, John Wilkes Booth, learning style, Links, Mamacita, middle school, moron monday, National Punctuation Day, notecards, Obama, parent-school relationship, paying students, politics, printer, public school, public service messages, quiz, racism, risk, schools, skipping school, steve spangler, students, study hall, stupid, Teachers, technology, toasted pumpkin seeds, video podcasters, wall street bailouts, worksheets, writer's block
Filed under: Hands-on Science Boot Camp, In the News, Podcasts, Science in the Media, Teacher Spotlight, Teaching Moments
August 27, 2008
Once again, the educators that help put together the Carnival of Education have included one of our blog posts in this week’s edition of the Carnival. Check it out and support our fellow bloggers and educators by reading some of the other great blogs over there!
August 15, 2008

The BBC UK called our offices yesterday to get permission to use the Inside the Soda Can experiment, that I’ve done on 9News, for Chris Jeavans “plastic-free” blog. Chris is trying to live for one month without using any plastic products. As the soda can experiment proves, Chris is finding that this may be a harder task than she once expected! When you perform this experiment, you will find that aluminum cans actually have a plastic liner, which prevent the acid in pop from eating away at the metal can. Mark that up as one more product Chris will be eliminating from her life this month! Be sure to check out Chris’ blog for some great info on what it means to “go green” in this consumer-driven world. It’s always fun to see our experiments making it around the world.
August 14, 2008
Hey, folks, the new Carnival of Education is up and we’re in it! Go check it out… you’ll find all kinds of fantastic resources and information there.

August 8, 2008

Preparation for standardized testing has taken a lot of the fun out of the classroom, but good teachers will find a way to sneak the fun back in. REALLY good teachers will sneak the fun back in and teach some awesome lessons at the same time!
Science teachers frequently say, “I love all the activities you do, like being able to make slime, or make water float in a bottle, but of the 220 activities you taught us, only a handful were allowed in my school curriculum. There just isn’t enough time for science because it’s not on the big test!”
A colleague went to her principal and asked: “If it is not in school time, but in private time, do you mind if I teach science?”? The principal agreed.
On average, an elementary teacher spends about 15 minutes per child per year on his/her birthday, and each year that time grows shorter. That’s why “Cup Cakes for Science” was born. The kids were offered a choice between a traditional party or a science party where the birthday child gets to be helper. After one party, the …
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