Science Magic! Jeff Weinert, B.S., Med. jweinert@medicine.nevada.edu

Science Magic!

Jeff Weinert, B.S., Med.jweinert@medicine.nevada.edu

What’s important?

• How many are k-3?• How many are 4-6?• 7-8?• 8-12?

Why is science important?

What are the downfalls of Science Education?

• Why is science hard to teach?

• Preparation• Variety of disciplines• Materials• $$• Contains all the “R’s”• Space/storage• ???

Science Teacher’s Characteristics • My inspiration: Tik Liem, Phd.• Wrote Invitations to Science Inquiry

• Enthusiasm• High self esteem

• “To activate others you must first activate yourself”

• Develop the attitude of “You are Important”

• Creativity• Human

Teaching by Demonstration• The Discrepant Event• The human mind is naturally driven to

understand• Leon Festinger, who wrote “The Theory of

Cognitive Dissonance” back in 1957 had this to consider…

• 1. The existence of dissonance being psychologically uncomfortable, will motivate the person to try to reduce the dissonance and achieve consonance.

• 2. When dissonance is present, in addition to trying to reduce it, the person will actively avoid situations and information which would likely increase the dissonance.

The good ol’ egg in a jar demo• Witness demo• Discuss in groups• Perform hands on• Discuss as a class• Tie in concepts

• http://www.researchsupply.net/bottles.html• 1000ml Erlenmeyer = $12.75

How to use the Discrepant Event• Present

• Show the event without explanation.

• Involve• Allow students to pair up to explain the event.

• Interact• Students should participate in activities that involve

similar concepts with that of the discrepant event.• Students should present their explanations• Go over concepts and content.• Have them summarize in a writing assignment.

Use the Kinetic Theory

• Start Simple• Get a periodic table• Show how atoms build molecules (make

water)• Demonstrate: ice to water to steam• Have them do it• Follow up with the can crushing demo

Develop your Events

• Build your box of goodies • Have ready in separate containers• Keep a notebook, just for demos.• Get some good books!

• In my opinion Tik L. Liem is the God of Science demos.

A Few Easy Demos to Consider

• Density• Floating sodas• Gatorade bottles• floating egg / carrots• Cartesian diver

• Surface tension• Strawberry Baskets• How many drops can you get on a penny• Then add soap• Float needle or paper clips

• Boil water in a paper cup

• Balance raw egg

Bibliography

• Educational References

• Festinger, Leon, “A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance,” Row, Peterson and Co. 1957

• Piaget, Jean, “The Child and Reality: Problems of Genetic Psychology” translated by Arnold Rosin, London: Frederic Muller, 1974.

• Waitley, Denis, “Seeds of Greatness”, Fleming H. Revell Co., 1983.

• The Ultimate Science Demo Books:• Liem’s books have many demos but are hard to find (K-12):

• Liem, Tik, “Invitations to Science Inquiry 2nd ed.” − ISBN 1-878106-21-X

• Liem, Tik, “Supplement to 1st and 2nd editions” − ISBN 1-878106-01-5

• Other great Demo Books:• These ones are more for high school chemistry:

• Chemical Magic [Paperback] by Leonard A. Ford; E. Winston Grundmeier [Paperback] By: Leonard A. Ford, E. Winston Grundmeier (Editor)

• Chemical Demonstrations: A Sourcebook for Teachers Volume 2 (Chemical... [Spiral-bound] By: Lee R. Summerlin, et al

• Chemical Demonstrations : A Handbook for Teachers of Chemistry Vol 1 or 4 [Hardcover [Hardcover] By: Bassam Z. Shakhashiri

• Chemical Curiosities [Hardcover] by Roesky, Herbert W.; Möckel, Klaus; Russey [Hardcover] By: Herbert W. Roesky, et al

• Physics demo books (simple)• 75 Easy Physics Demonstrations by Kardos, Thomas [Paperback]

By: Thomas Kardos• Turning the World Inside Out and 174 Other Simple Physics Demonstrat

ions... [Paperback] By: Robert Ehrlich

• Hands-On Physics Activities with Real-Life Applications: Easy-to-Use Labs and Demonstrations for Grades 8 - 12 (J-B Ed: Hands On) (Paperback) ... [Paperback] By: James Cunningham, Norman Herr

• High School Science (biology, physics, chemistry) • Favorite Demonstrations for College Science: An Nsta

Press Journals Collection [Paperback] By: Brian Shmaefsky (Editor)

• Elementary • Magic With Science: Scientific Tricks, Demonstrations, and

Experiments for Home [Paperback] By: Walter Brown Gibson

• Elementary teacher's classroom science demonstrations and activities By: David E Hennessy (old but loaded with stuff)

• Kids Shenanigans by Klutz Press ISBN 1-878257-41-2• The Usborne book of Science Experiments, by Jane Bingham

• The Everything Kids Science Experiments Book, By Tom Robinson• The Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions (and 2), by John E. and

Danita Thomas• Kid Concoctions and Contraptions, by John E. and Danita Thomas