The science demo trunks are packed, soda geysers secured, and the trash can of science is ready for a journey to Flushing, New York. I’m excited to be invited by Discovery Education and Siemens Science Day to help celebrate the success of the students and teachers at P.S. 201 Q The Discovery School for Inquiry and Research. As part of the Siemens Science Day experience, teachers had the opportunity to win an Ultimate Cool School Assembly… that’s my part of the celebration. In addition to presenting two school assemblies for the students, I’m also honored to get the opportunity to share some best practice ideas and science teaching strategies with the teachers during a special hands-on science training scheduled on the same day. Thanks to the generosity of Siemens and Discovery Education, each student will receive a take-home science experiment to help share what they learned during the Siemens Science Day (shhhhh… that part is a secret).
UPDATE – Flushing, New York – June 4, 2010
We had a blast with the students and teachers at P.S. 201 Q. The teams from the Siemens Foundation and Discovery
The oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico has been front page news for over a month now. Officials are still unable to clearly state how much oil is leaking out of the pipeline under the ocean while wildlife above and below the water struggle for survival. What we do know is this is the biggest oil spill in U.S. history. Red blobs of oil are seen floating on the water four miles from shore. Tar balls are washing up on the beaches and marshlands along the Louisiana coast.
The oil leak is in the minds of Americans along the eastern seaboard and all the way inland. Even young students are brainstorming ideas on how to stop the flow and help the environment. One fourth grade student at Walnut Hills Elementary turned her questions about the oil leak into her science fair project. She found that
Steve Spangler Science is proud to announce a new elementary school assembly program coming to a gymnasium near you. Sub-Zero Science is filled with eye-catching science experiments and hands-on demonstrations that explore states of matter and changes in temperature.
Award-winning elementary teacher, Julie Gintzler, makes homemade hot air balloons float, soda cans crush on command, clouds of water vapor erupt from an ordinary glass of water and flash freezes household items in a bath of liquid nitrogen.
As a teacher serving over 20 years in the classroom, Julie found the most creative ways to make science fun. She has now transformed her passion for science into school outreach programs and teacher training workshops.
During Sub-Zero Science, Julie uses highly visual demonstrations to teach students and teachers how to be life-long learners.
You just can’t make this stuff up. Weather & Science Day is cancelled due to… weather. But it’s not just a little rain we’re talking about. This storm has the potential to drop a lot of snow, and the high temperature for tomorrow is supposed to be only in the low 30′s. We received the word just a few minutes ago from the Colorado Rockies management that the event scheduled for Wednesday, May 12th has been cancelled due to the large winter storm bearing down on Colorado. The Rockies even cancelled tonight’s game due to the snow. Here’s the formal announcement from the Colorado Rockies.
Unfortunately, due to the inclement weather and cold temperatures, we are cancelling the 9News Weather and Science Day presentation with Steve Spangler at Coors Field. We will NOT be able to reschedule the presentation due to the Rockies schedule. Here are the ticket options…
Keep tickets and attend the May 12 game- as of now, we fully anticipate playing the regularly scheduled game.
Exchange tickets for another game- May 25-27, June 8-10- and return ALL of your May 12 tickets to
With the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico growing everyday, people around the country are trying to find ways to clean it up. Just imagine if the solution to the spill was this simple: sprinkle a small amount of a non-toxic powder onto the layer of oil and in seconds the powder bonds to the oil, forming a sponge-like material that can be easily removed from the surface of the water.
It’s more than just a dream… a form of superabsorbent polymer technology is changing the way environmental scientists approach oil spill and waste management problems. Enviro-Bond 403 Polymer was created by Larry Thompson and bonds quickly and safely to liquid hydrocarbons including crude oil, diesel fuel and gasoline. The bonding is so complete that it literally encapsulates the liquid hydrocarbons in just seconds.
The oil begins to hook onto the dry polymer and turns it into something that can be picked up by a crane. The material can then be burned and used for energy and it doesn’t release any bad byproducts into the environment.
You just can’t make this stuff up. 
