Thousands of science teachers found their way to St. Louis for the 2007 National Science Teachers Association convention, and we wanted to make sure they had something to take back to their students. So, we loaded our trucks with experiments and products from the website along with 5,000 rolls of MENTOS stuffed into plastic test tubes and headed for the Gateway City. We were fortunate to have 14 teacher ambassadors from the Hands-on Science Institute join us in the booth to each share their favorite science activities. Aside from 500 bottles of Diet Coke and a mountain of MENTOS, all eyes were on the 18 foot tall soda eruption chamber. We were demonstrating the new Geyser Tube by triggering a MENTOS geyser as fast as we could set-up a launch (about every 2-3 minutes for 3 full days). At the end of the convention, the soda was gone, the rolls of MENTOS were in the hands of 5,000 teachers, the truck was cleaned out… and we all had a blast. It’s back to the classroom for the 14 ambassadors to start working on cool stuff for next year’s NSTA in Boston.

Popularity: 67% [?]

When the phone rings, we never know quite what to expect. The phone rang and on the other end was a senior producer at the Ellen Show (you know… Ellen DeGeneres). It seems that this producer had been watching a few of our science videos and wanted to know if Ellen would have fun making huge clouds with liquid nitrogen, shooting potatoes, whipping up a batch of slime or learning how to make toilet paper fly. My response was “yes” to all of the above. But maybe it’s best if you help us decide which science experiments would be most fun to do with Ellen. Of course, the goal of the segment is to show parents how to make learning fun… and what could be more fun than 50 gallons of Insta-Snow erupting on the set?

Now this doesn’t mean that I’m automatically on the show… they’re just interested. So, what cool science demos should I pitch to the producers at the Ellen Show?

Popularity: 6% [?]

The dates for Science in the Rockies are etched in stone. Mark your calendar for August 3-5, 2006 (that’s Thursday through Sunday) in Denver, Colorado for another year of bubble blowing, slime-making, potato launching fun… educationally speaking, of course. Last year we had 99 teachers who attended our summer workshop and a small handful were brave enough to do a few science demos on live television at 6:30 AM. Watch the video and read teacher comments from 2005.

Learn more about Science in the Rockies 2006

Popularity: 2% [?]

In a 2003 survey, elementary teachers said the hardest thing about teaching science was “I don’t have enough time in the day”?. In that survey supervisors were asked the same question. Their responses related to not enough materials or staff development opportunities. The secret is if we are going to make science a priority in our classrooms, we have to integrate science into the curriculum.

Listen to my podcast on teachers and time

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Popularity: 5% [?]

How to be amazing teacher? Try this! Get organized. The hardest thing is to take all the ideas we learn at conferences, workshops and seminars and put them to use.

Don’t put science demonstrations in a closed box - because they will stay there. Throw the lid away, so you constantly have to look at those materials. If they are staring you in the face, you are more likely to build them into your curriculum.

Once you get organized, you start using your resources better. And you will be a more effective science teacher with those tools right at your fingertips.

Listen to my podcast on how to be an amazing teacher by taking the lid off the box

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Popularity: 3% [?]

Corporate trainers should take a lesson from teachers (and perhaps little ol’ me) on how to inspire the people they’re teaching. Today, the buzz word in corporate training is “interactive”, but few trainers truly understand the meaning. To many traininers, the concept of “interactive” learning means, “Break into groups of 5 or so and share your thoughts and dreams with regard to baked Ziti.” That’s not interactive… that’s an easy way to spot a trainer who doesn’t have enough content to fill the day! I might be completely dead in the water, but I don’t think that most workshop participants find value in “discussion groups.” Try doing this with a group of 8th graders and they’ll eat you alive.

I hear some fantastic stories from science teachers around the country who have captured the hearts and minds of their students, not by parlour tricks, but with some amazing methods that involve and engage them. Just imagine starting the day off by inviting the class to decide if the regulation bowling ball will float or sink when Maria drops it in the huge aquarium filled with water. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to determine that abowling ball is heavy and it’s sure to sink. Now imagine the looks on the students’ faces when Maria drops the bowling ball in the water and it floats! As they wipe the water from their faces (hey, it was a huge splash!), the questions start flying from all parts of the room. How can a bowling ball float? Is the ball real? Is this a trick? How does the floating bowling ball work? This simple but highly effective approach to learning not only grabs the learner’s attention, but stimulates the participants to want to learn more. Who would have thought that learning about the concept of DENSITY would be so much fun?

Now, when was the last time you heard of a corporate trainer who did that? “Lifelong learning” at the workplace would be a lot more popular if it were a lot more fun!

Popularity: 9% [?]