Science Magic!
Jeff Weinert, B.S., Med.
jweinert@medicine.nevada.edu
What’s important?
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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?
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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
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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
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Floating sodas
Gatorade bottles
floating egg / carrots
Cartesian diver
Surface tension
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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
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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.
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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
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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
Demonstrations... [Paperback]
By: Robert Ehrlich
• Hands-On Physics Activities with Real-Life Applications: Easy-toUse Labs and Demonstrations for Grades 8 - 12 (J-B Ed: Hands
On) (Paperback) ... [Paperback]
By: James Cunningham, Norman Herr
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High School Science (biology, physics, chemistry)
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Elementary
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The Everything Kids Science Experiments Book, By Tom
Robinson
• Favorite Demonstrations for College Science: An Nsta Press
Journals Collection [Paperback]
By: Brian Shmaefsky (Editor)
• 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 Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions (and 2), by John E.
and Danita Thomas
• Kid Concoctions and Contraptions, by John E. and Danita
Thomas