If you think back to your “show & tell” days, you probably brought your favorite stuffed animal or action figure to school. But some teachers are raising the bar by turning show & tell into more of a “demonstrate and learn,” and this little demonstrator is only five years old.
The Wilder Community Preschool is based in Littleton, Colorado and has an enthusiastic and knowledgeable team of teachers who focus on getting their children involved in their own learning on so many levels. I first introduced readers of this blog to the Wilder Preschool staff back in 2007 when I featured the staff on our 9News Mad About Science television segment. In terms of teaching science, the Wilder Preschool staff – Jane Carson, Julie Peterson and Betsy Henry – help their children build connections between clever science activities and real-world applications.
The budding young scientist pictured above – Science Guy Scott – is sharing a science experiment about finding the water-slurping powder in a brand new baby diaper. Believe it or not, toy manufacturers use the same water-absorbing powder (yes, it’s safe to touch and squeeze between your fingers)
Note from the Editor, May 15th – Our Teacher Appreciation Contest has ended. We will be picking the winners today. Thanks to everyone who submitted their awesome teachers for the contest.
This is one of the greatest parts of my job – I always look forward to Teacher Appreciation month. My team at Steve Spangler Science would like to help you recognize and honor an outstanding science teacher in your community. If there’s a science teacher who has made a positive impact in your child’s life, done something great for the school or is just a great teacher, let us help you honor that person.
While coffee coupons and mugs with clever sayings are the standard, we want to give you a chance to be creative and say thank you to an outstanding science teacher by allowing him or her to select their own gift. There are over a thousand cool science toys and hands-on science activities at www.SteveSpanglerScience.com. We love to show our appreciation to great science teachers – we just need your help finding them.
Early childhood teachers know that getting kids excited about science is only part of the challenge. Today’s young learners need more than excitement and motivation – they need opportunities to actually DO more science on a daily basis. That’s why we love using children’s literature that connect with our science activities… and that’s why we were so excited to talk to Lisa Felske.
Lisa teaches workshops to Pre-K through second grade teachers on how to combine physics concepts with children’s literature. As part of the Harris County Board of Education, Lisa presents her workshops to teachers throughout her region. And, now, her efforts have received the attention of some major companies. Lisa is receiving grant money from Shell, Boeing Company, American Honda Foundation and the Henry and Camille Dreyfus Foundation that will allow teachers to attend her workshops and provide Lisa with the necessary materials to conduct those workshops.
Congratulations Lisa on your grant money and keep up the good work! For more information on Lisa’s training programs click on the press release above.
Ladies and gentlemen… please welcome our magicians for this evening… the amazing Bruce and Kitty Spangler.
As a very young child, I can remember sitting backstage and hearing these words as the orchestra began to play and my parents took center stage. I’ve often talked about my love for the art of magic, but few people know that I grew up in a family of professional magicians. When you live in a family of magicians, seeing your Mom float or get sawed in half is really nothing out of the ordinary. I remember taking my Dad to show-and-tell when I was in kindergarten. What did he do? My Dad pulled a torch out of his bag of tricks and ate fire for my entire class. Let’s just say that when your Dad eats fire for show-and-tell, it’s kind of a show stopper.
I recently introduced 9News reporter Kim Christiansen and photo journalist Eric Kehe to my parents, Bruce and Kitty Spangler, for a behind the scenes look at a special art that is being passed down through three generations.
It was easy to spot Doc Gizmo as you wandered through the exhibit hall at the Colorado Science Convention. He was the only person dressed in a tie-dyed lab coat with multi-colored socks and a smile that beamed from ear to ear. Even before watching his program, there was no question that this guy had found his calling.
Doc Gizmo, whose real name is Phil Arnold, has been traveling around the Midwest for several years doing his science assembly program for a wide variety of audiences. Phil told the audience that his wife teaches chemistry and physics in Bucklin, Kansas, and he was recruited to build a few science demonstrations for her to use in the classroom. One thing led to the next and Doc Gizmo is traveling the Midwest with his science show speaking to anyone and everyone who wants to learn why science is fun.
During the hour long program for an audience of science teachers at the Colorado Science Convention, Doc Gizmo skillfully weaved a handful of classic
If you think back to your “show & tell” days, you probably brought your favorite stuffed animal or action figure to school. But some teachers are raising the bar by turning show & tell into more of a “demonstrate and learn,” and this little demonstrator is only five years old.
