Middle and High School … from a Montessori Point of View
Gravity, as we know, is proportional to the mass of an object. The above graph shows the amount of space affected by the major bodies (planets and moons) in the solar system. The gravity well is a measure of how far you would have to go to be able to escape the gravity of a planet.
I like to do as much science as I can using everyday materials. When it comes to basic chemistry the vinegar and baking soda reaction is one of the easiest, safest and useful you can come across. Wayne from www.apple-cider-vinegar-benefits.com has a great page on simple experiments from basic volcano building, to stoichiometry (using a balloon) and demonstrating endothermic reactions (but you’ll need an accurate and fast thermometer).
A nice graphic published by the New York Times showing change over the last 10 years.
Combining math, science and culture. Christmas tree rocketry.
This intelligently done history of Auto-Tune is wonderful for several reasons. First, it has a simple, elegantly executed story arc, where it describes the trajectory of a fad from introduction to over-exposure to parody/remix and finally to a new equilibrium. And it discusses these concepts in a clear and entertaining way.
Know Your Meme: Auto Tune (featuring “Weird Al” Yankovic) from Rocketboom on Vimeo.
Second, Auto-Tune is a great example of something that was created for one purpose but finds a new life in a completely different discipline. The technology was created for analyzing seismic signals in petroleum exploration before being applied to music. It is amazing what can come from working with people of diverse backgrounds, and having a broad appreciation of the world. Group work is important.
Third, in touching on parody, it brings up an issue that adolescents, in particular need to understand; parody is not just a cheap joke, it has something important to say. It uses humor to address significant issues:
While making fun of something is easy [mockery], parody requires a study of both technique and form, before creating its own recontextualization.
Third, the overexposure stage of fads and memes is something everyone should be aware of. The meme infiltrates so many aspects of the culture that it becomes irritating. As a Middle School teacher I see it primarily in the language my students use. By introducing this concept to my student, we now have a common language for talking about at least one type issues in the classroom.
Finally, equilibrium. An important concept in natural and social science, the concept is neatly encapsulated in how the fad starts off small, overshoots and gets smaller but does not disappear as there remains some lower level of use.
In looking for appropriate resources on Children’s Rights, I found some neat little cartoons from UNICEF in Flash and RealPlayer formats.
Some other simple UNICEF material:
This online periodic table by Theodore Gray has pictures of all the elements. Some are in pure ingots or crystals, others in example applications, and some in ore form. What I find most interesting is there is a bit of trivia about each element when you hover over its picture. Also, the images of the noble gasses shows the colors they emit when excited with electricity (e.g. neon lights), which is kind of cool.
Good blogging style, like good presentations, should be multi-modal. On the internet we’re limited to text, images and sound/video so we do the best we can. I tend to be text oriented so I try to add an image to each post. In an earlier post on how science works I snagged an image by cédric sorel that he contributed to Wikipedia.
Each time I see this interpretation of the Big Bang I am astonished once again. The textures give the impression of a three-dimensional cut-away, and the detail in the spiral galaxies swirling away from the center just pulls my attention like a strong magnet lines up iron filings.
The image is in the public domain and a high resolution version can be found on the Wikimedia Commons page (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Big_bang.jpg).
