teacher workshops & hands-on activities
At the Exploratorium, we believe that you learn by doing. Here you'll find a smattering of hands-on activities I've taught in professional development workshops for secondary school science teachers..
Click here for my top picks of educational websites.
 |
Saltwater
Batteries A lot of physics teachers use saltwater batteries (a more powerful version of a fruit battery) to illustrate circuits. The electrochemistry behind the cell is somewhat complicated, however. In an upcoming publication, The Salty Science of the Aluminum-Air Battery (the Physics Teacher. With Dr. Dennis Chasteen and Dr. Paul Doherty. In press) we explain the chemistry of this cell. |
|
workshop |
Attack
of the PodPeople! We learned about listening to, downloading, and making podcasts in the classroom. Download PDF of handouts, Head Harp string activity, Editing using Audacity, or Editing using Garageband. |
|
workshop |
Attack
of the PodPeople! Using and making podcasts in the classroom Exploratorium, March 31 2007 In a half-day workshop we learned about using and creating podcasts for the classroom. We listened to some great podcasts that students and teachers can listen to, and created a collaborative class podcast! Download workshop handouts and Go to Podomatic website with final class podcast |
|
workshop |
Sparking
excitement for electricity: Electrostatic
activities that work CMSESMC conference -- March 3 2007 A series of electrostatics activities from a workshop I taught in San Mateo -- flying the hydra, exploring the electrostatic world with sticky tape, and zap yourself with a pie plate. Download handout. |
|
workshop |
Surface
Area and Volume (workshop) Online iVisit workshop with Tory Brady -- February 2007 How does surface area and volume affect, like, everything? Chemistry, cell biology, thermodynamics, combustion? Click here for workshop materials (videos, activity handouts, etc.) |
|
activity |
Spectrum
at your fingertips Your nails can be a fun way to show the different ways that colors can be categorized. The choice of 7 colors (ROYGBIV) for the visible spectrum is arbitrary, plus there are 'invisible' colors! You can also show different schemes for color mixing (CYMK and RGB). PDF |
|
activity |
Rainbow
rice Who knew sushi could be so pretty? Rice can be dyed a myriad of colors to be used in a variety of activities, such as the rice model of the atmosphere. Download PDF of activity. |
|
activity |
Wicked
Styrofoam of the West I'm dissolving... dissolving....! Styrofoam will rapidly dissolve (à la the Wicked Witch), disappearing into a soupy mush, when placed in acetone, but not in water. Starch packing peanuts, however, break down in water but not acetone. Covers concepts of solvents and solutions ("like dissolves like", polymer chemistry, and scientific observation. PDF |
|
|
||
activity |
Digital
Sound Examine the shape of your voice Use free software to explore the shape of your voice and musical instruments, and examine an audio illusion. A great activity to go along with a sound or waves lesson. The realtime spectral analysis of the voice and instruments is deeply engaging. (1) Handout using TEEMS2 Soundgrapher, or (2) handout using Spectrafoo and Audacity. And here's a spectrafoo screenshot and Audacity screenshot. |
|
|
||
activity |
Ferrofluid
Magnetic fluid shows magnetic fields Visualize magnetic fields, and make cool magnetic art, with ferrofluid. Several alternate recipes are given, as well as some activities to do with the fluid. See me on Iron Science Teacher, doing a ferrofluid demonstration. (Real Media file). Activity PDF. |
|
activity |
Juice
from Juice Using blackberry juice, iodine, and a few simple materials you can make a Graetzel cell -- a type of solar cell that mimics the process of photosynthesis. PDF |
|
Links
Exploratorium Teacher Institute Providing professional development resources for teachers
Exploratorium Institute for Inquiry Introducing teachers to inquiry methods of teaching
Dr. Paul Doherty; Scientific Explorations and Adventures
Dr. Jill Johnsen; Material Science and the Nanoworld
Dr. Sebastian Martin Passionately curious -- explorations from Sebastian at the Exploratorium, including lots of photos, activities with light and motion, and physics and music.
Science Snacks Small-scale and low-cost versions of Exploratorium exhibits you can build yourself.
History of Physics. From the American Institute of Physics (AIP) a very nice series of explorations in physics history, including a lovely site on cosmology, and others on Einstein, transistors, the electron, and global warming. Many include teacher materials.
Drop into a black hole Board a spaceship, fly to a black hole, and drop yourself in. A very nicely put together set of simulations discussing black holes, including the ability to view key objects in the universe with visible light, radio waves, and x-rays.
Wineglass resonance video Demonstrates resonant vibrations and standing waves in a wine glass. Very nice super slow-motion.
Journey Through Time This is a slideshow of astounding images from nature photographer Frans Lanting -- it's a web version of his latest book. It shows critical geological and evolutionary events, the pictures are organized with a dynamic timeline.
Ignobel Prizes These are awarded annually by the Annals of Improbable Research (AIR) for research that "cannot or should not be reproduced."
