Workshop Plans: Rolling Balls

Have you noticed the theme going?  I'm developing plans for a teacher's workshop at a small Catholic school in about three weeks.  I'm preparing several inquiry-based labs to present and try.  In the past few posts, there have been instructions for a DNA extraction (Biology or Life Science), Alka-Seltzer labs (Chemistry or Physical Science),  and Clouds in a Bottle (Earth Science).  This time it's Physics or Physical Science: Rolling balls.  This is trickier than it appears.  You should change the angle without changing the potential energy.  This lab from Harvard demonstrates just how profound an experiment with rolling balls is, Inclined Planes and Rolling Balls.  Here is an explanation for acceleration as the ball rolls down the ramp.

Workshop Plans: Cloud in a Bottle Inquiry Lab

I try to make as many labs as possible fit an inquiry-based format, namely trial and error.  Take something as simple as the cloud in a bottle lab, popular in Earth Science lessons.  This lab offers four different trials and is already inquiry-based.  But, I suggest researching different methods and letting the kids try them all: Clouds with matches, Cloud in Jar with Ice and Hairspray, and Steve Spangler style with a pump!  Your kids will have no problems understanding experimental design!

Workshop Plans: Ideas...Kiddie Chemistry

I'm assembling my plans for a workshop this coming August for a small, Catholic school in WV.  Part of my plans include several resources for inquiry-based activities.  Let me share a few with you.  First up is ACS Inquiry in Action.  ACS is the American Chemical Society.  They produced these activities which have complete instructions with solid explanations--perfect if Chemistry isn't your thing.  Bayer also has excellent Alka-Seltzer lab experiments.  I especially like the rockets.  Experiment with the amount of one tablet or the water temperature. Try substituting baking soda and vinegar or baking soda and citric acid.  Be sure to add water to activate the dry chemicals.  Vary the ratios.  Just remember to change one factor at a time and write down your trials!  It can be difficult to locate film canisters.  Educational Innovations sells them for a fair price.  One more idea: slime!  Be sure to make it inquiry-based!  The basic recipe is glue and borax solution, typically colored with food dye.  I use tempera paint instead of food dye because it's cheaper.  Walmart usually sells Borax.  How do you make it inquiry-based?  Which ratio of glue to borax solution works best?  Change the glue from white glue to clear glue.  Switch brands.  Every change is another chance to test.  How do you make the slime more like a bouncy ball?  Write down the changes you make with a description of the results!  One more source for inquiry labs.  This last resource is directed toward girls.  It has a host of STEM ideas; so, it includes both math and science activities, including team tasks.

Workshop Plans: DNA Extraction

Next month, I'm doing a workshop for a small Catholic school in WV.  I like to promote inquiry-based instruction. One of the workshop topics is DNA Extraction Lab.  Yes, you can follow the directions as written and perform a decent lab.  Why not make it more inquiry-based?  Let's look at the materials: split peas, salt, alcohol, meat tenderizer, and liquid detergent.  (I know from experience it pays to buy the meat tenderizer fresh.)  I instruct my students to do the DNA extraction according to the instructions.  Then, I ask them to try either different alcohols (or concentrations of alcohols), different detergents, or types of salts.  The kids end up repeating the same basic experiment several times.  The results are determined by the amount of DNA produces.  It's important to vary one factor at a time.  Otherwise, how will you know which factor improved or diminished the results?  Be sure to have the kids record their experiments explaining which factor they changed.  Check to see they keep the measures the same.  Use photos to compare the amount of DNA extracted.

Dihydrogen Monoxide Poster series....

Water's scientific name should be dihyrogen monoxide.  It isn't; scientists resisted the name.  But, it lends itself well to posters and memes that riff off the inside joke of dihyrogen monoxide among chemistry students or science nerds.  Take a look at this meme.

Back on the Technology Bandwagon...

You all know how much I promote technology for science.  Pasco has an older, hand-held device, called GLX, which is frequently available on eBay for around $100.  The GLX is compatible with the Pasport sensors and collects and displays data.  A manual is available, too.  The GLX is pretty intuitive; if you get stuck, hit the house or home button.  Best of all, it's self-contained.  You won't have to connect this with Bluetooth and an iPad.  Just plug in a sensor and start collecting data.  It's another affordable option to add a little technology to your curriculum.

Envirothon for Teens

While we're getting ready for fall, let's talk about opportunities.  Is your young teen a naturalist?  Have you heard of Envirothon?  I've had teams compete.  Home-school teens are welcome!  In an ideal world, Envirothon is a club, sponsored by the local conservation district, with regional, state, and national events.  My best team met after school, took on special seminars from experts, and made it to the state competition.  Now is the time to locate the education specialist at the local conservation district to get more information about Envirothon.  Our community has a web site; many do not.  Don't let that deter you.  Call them up and ask about Envirothon.  The Virginia Envirothon website posts dates and times for events and has a decent description. See the trainings listed?  We had different specialists come to our school: macro-invertebrates, forestry, soils, tracks, fire science, watersheds, etc.  Some topics are part of the competition every year.  Each year, there is one special section with a specific theme requiring a presentation.  If you do decide to compete, check Envirothon websites for different states.  You'll want all the resources you can find in order to compete successfully.  If your teen love nature, try it!

Favorite Science Posters!

I love funny posters, bumper stickers, or calendars.  I covered the walls of my garage with funny posters for my Co-op.  Here's a round up of my favorites, at affordable prices: Video Games, Van Gogh Selfie, Engineer, Neutrinos, Trust an Atom, Warning, Carol (which the teens found hysterical), Wild Goose Lab Safety, Technically, and this Happy Bunny Education pin.

Favorite Science Posters!

I love funny posters, bumper stickers, or calendars.  I covered the walls of my garage with funny posters for my Co-op.  Here's a round up of my favorites, at affordable prices: Video Games, Van Gogh Selfie, Engineer, Neutrinos, Trust an Atom, Warning, Carol (which the teens found hysterical), Wild Goose Lab Safety, Technically, and this Happy Bunny Education pin.

Mad Science

The County Parks and Rec sponsored a Mad Science show.  As a science teacher, I've been curious about the Mad Science franchise for awhile.  My husband, Rob, our favorite six year old, Paul, and his friend, Cassidy, ten, and I went to see Fire and Ice, one of seven programs available.  To get an idea of the price for a show, a birthday party for 15 children is $229.  If your Co-op wanted to book a program, it would pay to call and see about group rates.  The Mad Science presentation was great!  The science was accurate.  The presenter demonstrated a Whoosh bottle, several dry ice experiments, Lycopodium powder, flash paper, and hydrogen gas filled balloons.  The presenter explained sublimation, and that bromothymol blue was an acid indicator.  The presenter was very entertaining and kept her young audience rapt for an hour.  Very impressive.  We paid $5 each to attend the performance in a large group setting.  If your Co-op is planning a week-long science camp, I would consider offering one of their programs for Friday as a finale.  Here is a photo from the program.

Wildlife Presentation

My husband, Rob, and I are watching our favorite six year old, Paul, this summer.  Like many of you, we're always on the hunt for worthwhile programs.  The library is a summer staple and ours just hosted a program with the local wildlife center.  We arrived early to claim a reading prize and check-out a fresh pile of books. Last summer, I hosted a science camp with a nature theme.  Anyone can reserve wildlife programs.  If your Co-op is planning a workshop, ask in advance several months in advance.  These programs aren't cheap, often $200 for a 45 minute session.  If you live near a Center, you may consider volunteering, especially if your teen is a naturalist.

Apologia Physics: More Preliminary Plans

Here are some initial notes for the fall's Co-op based on Module One.  I want to insert some technology, CER, use of graphing calculators, and informally assess skills.  You'll get a feel for the stages of planning.  This is the outline for the first week's classes.
Apologia Physics: 

1. Bowling for Density: Bowling ball and Glass Marble: bowling ball, scale, big trash can, water, digital scale, tape measure, string, plastic cylinder.

2. Accuracy, Precision, Sci. Notation,and Sig figs. (http://www.santarosa.edu/~lwillia2/p10/p10lab1.pdf)

(http://www.mlbgsd.k12.pa.us/cms/lib/PA09000085/Centricity/Domain/83/Lab%20Acc%20and%20Pre.pdf)

3. Many kids have dropped over dead converting metrics.  What are the metric prefixes?

4. Review key concepts in Apologia Physics about motion.

5. Try Pasco Motion graphs and sparkvue labs. (Tech)

6. Graphing calculator activity (Dig up chem graphing stuff to do.)

7. Claim Evidence Reasoning (http://www.edutopia.org/blog/science-inquiry-claim-evidence-reasoning-eric-brunsell) and 

Apologia Physics Prepping for Fall: Measurement

Measurement, metrics, and conversions.  The first module in Physics reviews these key skills.  Can the kid do math?  He is going to need a mastery of math and algebra to be successful in Physics.  I like to assess and review simultaneously.  I suggest Bowling for Density or Will a Bowling Ball Float?  The answer depends.  You can assemble a tape measure, bowling ball, bathroom scale, plastic trash can, water, and ice, while tasking the teens with the problem: Will a bowling ball float?  Typically, I start off coaching the group.
1. Will a bowling ball float?
2. What determines if something floats?  Here, the discussion should be about density.  Once kids say an object must be less dense than water in order to float, it's time for the next step.
3. What is the density of water?  Usually, one kid knows it's 1 g/ml.  If not tell them.
4.  Make sure the teens understand what density is: mass/volume.
5.  With density defined, ask how to measure volume, presumably with the formula for the volume of a sphere. Calculate the ball's volume.  (1 cubic centimeter equals 1mL.)
6.  Now, ask how to determine the mass of the bowling ball.  One of the kids will figure out how to weigh the ball by first weighing himself, then with the ball.  Girls will not weigh themselves in public.
7. Point out that the bathroom scale is in pounds.  The density formula is in grams.  1 lb. is 0.454 kg.  Let the kids convert the bowling ball's weight from pounds to grams.
8. At this point, the kids get a little lost.  Remind them to calculate the bowling ball's density (g/mL)
9. Is the ball's density more or less than water's density, 1 g/ml?
10.  Do it!  As a follow-up, drop a marble in the plastic bin.  A ten pound bowling ball will float; the glass marble will sink.  If time permits, get out a plastic cylinder, digital scale, and glass marble.  Use a piece of string to determine the marble's circumference and calculate its density, too.

It will take 45-60 minutes for this activity.  If you have a large group, walk the kids through the steps and distribute several bowling balls.  I have borrowed and purchased bowling balls.  Yard sales are good sources.  Allow time to test the ball's.  You may want to throw in ice.

Summer Science: Brain Games

The Chicago Museum of Science and Industry has Summer Brain Games and this week's activity is a fan favorite, Flubber!  Try it!  You can buy Borax at most Walmart stores.

Let's Get Organized for Fall! LMS! LMS!

Want a tool to get organized this fall?  Try a learning management system. I've used a wide variety of LMS in schools and at Shepherd University, when I adjuncted a Chemistry class.   Khan Academy has one.  Nicenet is a simple learning management system, which is free.  It allows you to post a syllabus, links, and documents, nothing fancy; your resources are all organized in one place.  I've maintained my Nicenet account because the schools where I taught frequently changed LMS from year to year, resulting in the loss of all that documentation.  Google Classrooms is a tremendous free program.  See if your church would be willing to sponsor your Co-op to gain access.  I used Google Classroom one year and it was an intuitive, productive LMS, that made organizing your notes, assignments, and resources into one location.  If you would like to see one of my classes on nicenet.org, Join the Physical Science classroom with this Class Key: YZ232Z9QZ7 or the Chemistry Class, Class Key: YZ23220Q90.  I have documents and links saved here.  You'll get an idea of the types of materials you can save to this LMS.

Apologia Physics: Getting Ready Excel 101

My husband, Rob, wants to use Excel in the Physics class.  Great idea!  Excel lends itself well to analyzing data.  Based on Rob's experience last year in Accounting, the kids don't have a lot of experience with Excel.  Rob does.  He's been using Excel since it originated and was appalled that high school kids aren't always well versed.  Here's a link with an introduction.

Apologia Physics: Getting Ready! TI 84 Graphing Calculators

One of the first exercises Rob and I plan to review with the Physics class is the use of graphing calculators.  I have a set of TI 83 and TI 84 calculators to use.  Here is the link to an earlier post citing apps and suggestions for introducing graphing calculators to your class.  I'm using this graphing problem set as the introduction.  It's very useful to be able to enter data and do simple analyses on the calculator.  Rob and I will look for Excel exercises, too.

Apologia Physics: Get Ready for Fall!

This fall, my husband, Rob, and I plan to teach a physics course to the local Co-op.  Physics isn't my thing.  My brain just shuts down whenever I see the word.  Now, I've taught Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Human Biology, etc.  Rob, on the other hand, is a natural.  What terrifies him is all of the hands-on and technology aspects of a modern classroom.  That I can handle.  So, we're prepping the class together and I plan to post the highlights, just as I have for my other science classes.  We'll use Donna Young's Schedules, the Apologia Physics textbook, Take Home Physics from NSTA, minilabs from Glencoe's Motion, Forces, and Energy, Sparkvue labs from Pasco, and graphing calculator exercises.  Rob and I will post as we go. Right now, I'm assembling the materials and digging out resources.  Stay tuned!

New Technology from Pasco!

I've raved over Pasco technology for years.  Their sensors are exceptionally user friendly.  Pasco has a new Airlink Bluetooth device, which eliminates the need for interfaces, such as Sparklink or Airlink2.  Instead, the pasport sensor can be attached to the new Airlink and connect to an iPad through Bluetooth directly, using the Sparkvue app.  Incidently, update the Sparkvue app.  The new Airlink is only $59.  As I've mentioned repeatedly, bid on eBay for the sensors and save.  The new Airlink at $59 makes sense for many home-school Co-ops.

Easy Technology to Adopt this Fall

Yes, I'm still on the topic of technology.  Want another easy way to add some technology to your science curriculum?  Use your TI 84 graphing calculator.  Vernier offers an adapter, called Easylink which connects Vernier probes to the TI 84 graphing calculator.  You can also buy  a temperature probe, called EasyTemp, which connects directly to the calculator.  TI 84 series graphing calculators come preloaded with EasyData.  When you attach a probe, the calculator recognizes the device, open EasyData, and begins collecting the data, which is stored in the Stat files on the calculator.  The Stat files are the rub.  You need to be able to manipulate the data in these files before graphing or doing any analysis.  Many home-school teens use graphing calculators.  If your teen isn't intimidated by the stat files or the clumsy guidebook from Vernier, Easylink is the way to go.

Set the Stage for Fall Science...GLOBE

As long as I'm setting the stage for science classes this summer, I should mention GLOBE, which is sponsored by NASA in the United States.  GLOBE is an international science program with strict data protocols.  Start by reading this introduction to GLOBE.  You need to figure out what it is before determining whether GLOBE is a great program or if you want to start an environmental program.  In many areas, home-schooled students participate in data campaigns.  I found it difficult to locate a workshop and literally spent over two years before traveling over 100 miles for one.  Now, they have an eTraining program.  Anyone can use their protocols.  I use the training modules with kids before taking them out in the field.  Take a look at the Atmosphere Module first.  Elementary aged children like the cloud protocol.  Don't let the number of data sheets and activities overwhelm you.  Try one activity; you don't have to commit to becoming trained or collecting regular data.  Take a look at the K-4 Clouds Storybook, first.  The Cloudscape activity is pretty good for young children.  The Cloud Module eTraining unit is better.  GLOBE has detailed instructions under Cloud Protocols. (Maybe too much.)  This cloud data sheet for one of the Atmosphere investigation is perfect.  The contrail chart and cloud identification chart are both useful and in pdf format.  Try it.

More Technology

Let's assume you surmounted your fear of new technology and bought a digital temperature probe.  You even downloaded Vernier's Loggerlite software and successfully used the probe.  Yeah!  I remember how heroic I felt, too!  You're ready for more!  Do you have an iPad?  Vernier's competition, Pasco, has terrific probes which link via Bluetooth reliably.  (Okay, I had kids trouble-shoot the Bluetooth connection.  But, I can use it now!)  Pasco software and probes are a bigger investment and also require Sparkvue software and and interface, such as Airlink2.  Pasco has tremendous support. I shop eBay for sensors to save money. This temperature probe is $14.50.  The pH probe is just under $40.  I have been able to buy Airlink interfaces on eBay.  It's much easier to buy probes.  There are gobs of ideas for labs here.

Summer Science: Plan Technology for Fall

While I like to use technology, I'm not an expert.  When I connected our wireless printer to the wifi, I did a victory dance, just like the time I updated the router!  Wooo!  But, I'm serious about incorporating technology into science classes, even for elementary aged children.  Aside from blogs, I like kids to use sensors.  Summer is the time to bid online for sensors.  There are two major companies producing sensors and links for schools: Vernier and Pasco.  Vernier's  Elementary Science equipment includes free software to download to a laptop.  Start with the free Loggerlite software and a GoTemp thermometer sensor.  Connect to the laptop and begin collecting data with these instructions. or this mitten experiment.  GoTemp sensors sell for $39.  I shop eBay and Good Will for sensors.  Ebay has one right now for sale for $19.95.  If you only buy one sensor, make it a thermometer.  Here are a few ideas for your new temperature probe.

1. Calibrate your thermometer.  Is it accurate?  You'll want to calibrate all of your thermometers. (The instructions are from a program, called GLOBE.)
2. Make a thermometer.  You can calibrate it, too.  How does it compare to a spirit thermometer?  If you have an infrared thermometer, compare it, too.
3. Try this experiment measuring temperature and reaction time from Science Buddies.  Science Buddies are a great place to start when you're looking for Science Fair ideas, too.
4. Measure the greenhouse effect.  This is another popular topic for kids.  Be aware that many, many kids do this experiment for Science Fair.  It is a good experiment to try with your new thermometer.
5. How about accuracy and precision? 
6.  Calorimetry from Flinn Scientific is another great way to test your thermometer.  Calorimetry is another popular experiment conducted for Science Fair.  Just bear in mind, that popular experiments have way too much competition.
7.  Reaction in a Bag is one of my favorite labs.  Calcium chloride is the chemical in some drive-way deicers.  Sodium bicarbonate is baking soda.  Home Training Tools carries phenol red, an acid-base indicator.  Incidently, Home Training Tools caters to home-school families.  I order from them all of the time!
8.  Specific Heat and Climate does require a digital scale or balance.  This balance is quite accurate.
9.  Another good topic is Temperature vs Heat.  What's the difference?
10.  This kid's experiment on the effects of temperature on yeast looks like it might be okay for Science Fair. 

My hope is that this list sparks your own ideas for an experiment.  Let's use our new digital temperature probe!

Summer Science: Technology in the form of a blog.

One topic I like to blog about is technology, especially for home-school families.  Many home-school families have iPads.  Let's talk about a few ways to use them.  One, does your family blog?  I have may teen students create blogs.  I often have them create videos, upload them to Youtube, and import the videos to their blog.  BTW, this is another form of assessment.  When my teens were videoing and explaining physical science problems, I would review the video for accuracy.  If the kids forgot to mention units or their math was off, I would have them redo the video.  Because the kids had an audience, the public blogosphere, they took the videos seriously.  Blogs can be part of a portfolio.  I recommend taking loads of photos whenever you do an activity and create digital records saved to Google Drive.  This will make it so much easier to compile a portfolio in June.

Summer Science Fair Favorite Ideas

Kids should at least like their Science Fair project.  When a kid is artistic, I often suggest Suminagashi or some variation, Colorful Lather Printing, or marble dipped mugs.  The teen has to decide how to vary the experiment, the number of trials, etc.  If she wants to marble mugs, she might use the same brand of nail polish and cheap mugs, but change the temperature of the water.  The teen needs to decide what constitutes success. Pattern? Duration? Color depth?  She needs to understand the underlying science.  Hint: It's not cheating to ask a chemistry teacher to explain the process.  Be sure to add the teacher to the bibliography.

Summer is the time to do Science Fair!

Somehow, kids have the idea their science projects have to be dull.  Not so.  I used to make all of my Chemistry students do a science project for Science Fair.  Every single kid.  I had very few exceptions or kids who just wouldn't do the project.  (Part of the reason kids did their projects was that the alternative assignment was terrible; I'd let kids who had completed Science Fair projects write the rubric for the alternative project, basically a history of science.)  Kids were always surprised  when I suggested something that aligned with their interests.  For example, why not do a project on distracted driving?  You can simulate it with car racing games on an X-box or play station.  There are several variations: texting, phoning, playing on apps.  There's plenty of studies available, too.  Which is worse, talking or texting?  What about music or drinking a soft drink and driving?  Basically, kids can design distracted driving simulations in the den.  Any human study should have 30 participants.  Kids need to decide if the participants will all be teens or a mix of folks different ages.  Focus on one factor.  Isn't this fun?  The science is sound; kids will learn plenty about experimental design, too.

This Summer Get Started on Science Fair!

Science Fair is a tough sell.  I feel that every high school student should compete once.  Why?  Science Fair competitions instill a number of science skills, such as experimental design, and involve public speaking and technical writing.  They also require a tremendous effort to be successful.  Looking for scholarships?  Win at Science Fair.  What spurred this post is an article in the Wall Street Journal regarding cell phone safety.  WSJ's article, Cellphone-Safety Debate Heats Up describes how Dr. Quirino Balzono tested walkie-talkies (similar in the type of radiation emitted) by placing them next to a human skull filled with sugar water and measuring the the water temperature.  When kids are stumped for science fair ideas, I have a list ready.  One popular topic is measuring cell phone radiation.  I had an inexpensive EMF meter I lent to kids.  So let's use cell phone radiation to design an experiment suitable for Science Fair.

Step 1. Select a topic.  Done.  The topic is Cellphone Radiation or Temperature.  We'll determine a catchy title later.  (Brain fry?)
Step 2. Hypothesis.  What do you think is going to happen?  (I'm not a fan of 'if-then' statements.) Keep it simple.  The cell phone will increase the temperature of the test water.  This hypothesis works if you're replicating the original walkie-talkie study.  The cell phone will emit radiation is a good hypothesis is you're using an EMF detector.
Step 3.  Hypothesis.  In Step 2, you determined the alternative hypothesis.  Now, you need a null hypothesis.  For this experiment, the null hypothesis is that the cell phone will not change the temperature of the water or the cell phone will not emit any radiation.  The null hypothesis is the basis for comparison, not what you think will actually happen.  Include both the null and alternative hypotheses in your experiment.

Step 4.  Experimental Design.  Basically, how are you going to set up the experiment?  You have many decisions to make.  Are you going to try something similar to Dr. Balzano's study?
Substitute a  glass bowl of sugar water?  Test the temperature?  Use the EMF detector?  Will you use cell phones?
  What type?  On or off?  Texting, phoning, or gaming?  What about walkie-talkies or iPods?  How
many trials? (In statistics, the minimum is three trials.). If you measure the temperature of a basin of water or the cell phone itself, what type of thermometer do you plan to use?  Digital, infrared, glass?  Set up all kinds of trials and record the results.  Compare cell phone models or model years.  How will you set up controlled variables?  For example, use the same basin for water, with the same volume, at the same initial water temperature.  Another control is to take measurements of all the cell phones or devices on and off.  Maintain the same distances when you measure temperatures or EMF values.

Step 5.  Conduct the trials.  Do the experiment.  Write down the results.  Take photos while
conducting the experiment: the equipment, the people, the actual trials, the cell phones, and photos of the data.  Email these photos to yourself.  This way you have concrete records to use at Science Fair.

Step 6.  Determine the results.  Average the data.  If you used a basin of water, how many degrees did the water temperature rise, if any?  Calculate the mean, median, and mode.  Record the calculations and label them as mean, median, and mode.  If the data is growing too complicated, just calculate the
means or averages.

Step 7. What happened during the experiment?  Write down anything weird.  Was one brand of cell phone especially warm?  Did the EMF detector readings change when the device was on or off?  This is discussion.

Step 8.  Draw conclusions.  Did the results support the alternative or the null hypothesis?  We're the results so varied there are no conclusions?  Chances are, more study is indicated.  Based on your evidence, what do you recommend doing next?

Step 9.  Let's do a little research on this topic.  Start with the Wall Street Journal articles.  Look up
related studies.  Be sure to copy and paste the website addresses to use in your report.  Have five sources.  In your own words, what do these studies indicate?  Do cellphones cause cancer?  (This could be the title.  It's not catchy, though.)

Step 10.  This is the hard part.  You need to assemble a backboard and research paper.  What I have kids do is create a PowerPoint slideshow: Title, Background, Hypotheses, Experimental Design, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, and Bibliography.  If they do this on-line, they can insert web pages, play with the fonts, add photos, etc.  It makes it easier to print and assemble into a report and material for the backboard.

Science Fair is a lot of work.  I suggest your teen work on his or her project now.  It will reduce the panic this fall.

This Summer Get Started on Science Fair!

Science Fair is a tough sell.  I feel that every high school student should compete once.  Why?  Science Fair competitions instill a number of science skills, such as experimental design, and involve public speaking and technical writing.  They also require a tremendous effort to be successful.  Looking for scholarships?  Win at Science Fair.  What spurred this post is an article in the Wall Street Journal regarding cell phone safety.  WSJ's article, Cellphone-Safety Debate Heats Up describes how Dr. Quirino Balzono tested walkie-talkies (similar in the type of radiation emitted) by placing them next to a human skull filled with sugar water and measuring the the water temperature.  When kids are stumped for science fair ideas, I have a list ready.  One popular topic is measuring cell phone radiation.  I had an inexpensive EMF meter I lent to kids.  So let's use cell phone radiation to design an experiment suitable for Science Fair.

Step 1. Select a topic.  Done.  The topic is Cellphone Radiation or Temperature.  We'll determine a catchy title later.  (Brain fry?)
Step 2. Hypothesis.  What do you think is going to happen?  (I'm not a fan of 'if-then' statements.) Keep it simple.  The cell phone will increase the temperature of the test water.  This hypothesis works if you're replicating the original walkie-talkie study.  The cell phone will emit radiation is a good hypothesis is you're using an EMF detector.
Step 3.  Hypothesis.  In Step 2, you determined the alternative hypothesis.  Now, you need a null hypothesis.  For this experiment, the null hypothesis is that the cell phone will not change the temperature of the water or the cell phone will not emit any radiation.  The null hypothesis is the basis for comparison, not what you think will actually happen.  Include both the null and alternative hypotheses in your experiment.

Step 4.  Experimental Design.  Basically, how are you going to set up the experiment?  You have many decisions to make.  Are you going to try something similar to Dr. Balzano's study?
Substitute a  glass bowl of sugar water?  Test the temperature?  Use the EMF detector?  Will you use cell phones?
  What type?  On or off?  Texting, phoning, or gaming?  What about walkie-talkies or iPods?  How
many trials? (In statistics, the minimum is three trials.). If you measure the temperature of a basin of water or the cell phone itself, what type of thermometer do you plan to use?  Digital, infrared, glass?  Set up all kinds of trials and record the results.  Compare cell phone models or model years.  How will you set up controlled variables?  For example, use the same basin for water, with the same volume, at the same initial water temperature.  Another control is to take measurements of all the cell phones or devices on and off.  Maintain the same distances when you measure temperatures or EMF values.

Step 5.  Conduct the trials.  Do the experiment.  Write down the results.  Take photos while
conducting the experiment: the equipment, the people, the actual trials, the cell phones, and photos of the data.  Email these photos to yourself.  This way you have concrete records to use at Science Fair.

Step 6.  Determine the results.  Average the data.  If you used a basin of water, how many degrees did the water temperature rise, if any?  Calculate the mean, median, and mode.  Record the calculations and label them as mean, median, and mode.  If the data is growing too complicated, just calculate the
means or averages.

Step 7. What happened during the experiment?  Write down anything weird.  Was one brand of cell phone especially warm?  Did the EMF detector readings change when the device was on or off?  This is discussion.

Step 8.  Draw conclusions.  Did the results support the alternative or the null hypothesis?  We're the results so varied there are no conclusions?  Chances are, more study is indicated.  Based on your evidence, what do you recommend doing next?

Step 9.  Let's do a little research on this topic.  Start with the Wall Street Journal articles.  Look up
related studies.  Be sure to copy and paste the website addresses to use in your report.  Have five sources.  In your own words, what do these studies indicate?  Do cellphones cause cancer?  (This could be the title.  It's not catchy, though.)

Step 10.  This is the hard part.  You need to assemble a backboard and research paper.  What I have kids do is create a PowerPoint slideshow: Title, Background, Hypotheses, Experimental Design, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, and Bibliography.  If they do this on-line, they can insert web pages, play with the fonts, add photos, etc.  It makes it easier to print and assemble into a report and material for the backboard.

Science Fair is a lot of work.  I suggest your teen work on his or her project now.  It will reduce the panic this fall.

This Summer Get Started on Science Fair!

Science Fair is a tough sell.  I feel that every high school student should compete once.  Why?  Science Fair competitions instill a number of science skills, such as experimental design, and involve public speaking and technical writing.  They also require a tremendous effort to be successful.  Looking for scholarships?  Win at Science Fair.  What spurred this post is an article in the Wall Street Journal regarding cell phone safety.  WSJ's article, Cellphone-Safety Debate Heats Up describes how Dr. Quirino Balzono tested walkie-talkies (similar in the type of radiation emitted) by placing them next to a human skull filled with sugar water and measuring the the water temperature.  When kids are stumped for science fair ideas, I have a list ready.  One popular topic is measuring cell phone radiation.  I had an inexpensive EMF meter I lent to kids.  So let's use cell phone radiation to design an experiment suitable for Science Fair.

Step 1. Select a topic.  Done.  The topic is Cellphone Radiation or Temperature.  We'll determine a catchy title later.  (Brain fry?)
Step 2. Hypothesis.  What do you think is going to happen?  (I'm not a fan of 'if-then' statements.) Keep it simple.  The cell phone will increase the temperature of the test water.  This hypothesis works if you're replicating the original walkie-talkie study.  The cell phone will emit radiation is a good hypothesis is you're using an EMF detector.
Step 3.  Hypothesis.  In Step 2, you determined the alternative hypothesis.  Now, you need a null hypothesis.  For this experiment, the null hypothesis is that the cell phone will not change the temperature of the water or the cell phone will not emit any radiation.  The null hypothesis is the basis for comparison, not what you think will actually happen.  Include both the null and alternative hypotheses in your experiment.

Step 4.  Experimental Design.  Basically, how are you going to set up the experiment?  You have many decisions to make.  Are you going to try something similar to Dr. Balzano's study?
Substitute a  glass bowl of sugar water?  Test the temperature?  Use the EMF detector?  Will you use cell phones?
  What type?  On or off?  Texting, phoning, or gaming?  What about walkie-talkies or iPods?  How
many trials? (In statistics, the minimum is three trials.). If you measure the temperature of a basin of water or the cell phone itself, what type of thermometer do you plan to use?  Digital, infrared, glass?  Set up all kinds of trials and record the results.  Compare cell phone models or model years.  How will you set up controlled variables?  For example, use the same basin for water, with the same volume, at the same initial water temperature.  Another control is to take measurements of all the cell phones or devices on and off.  Maintain the same distances when you measure temperatures or EMF values.

Step 5.  Conduct the trials.  Do the experiment.  Write down the results.  Take photos while
conducting the experiment: the equipment, the people, the actual trials, the cell phones, and photos of the data.  Email these photos to yourself.  This way you have concrete records to use at Science Fair.

Step 6.  Determine the results.  Average the data.  If you used a basin of water, how many degrees did the water temperature rise, if any?  Calculate the mean, median, and mode.  Record the calculations and label them as mean, median, and mode.  If the data is growing too complicated, just calculate the
means or averages.

Step 7. What happened during the experiment?  Write down anything weird.  Was one brand of cell phone especially warm?  Did the EMF detector readings change when the device was on or off?  This is discussion.

Step 8.  Draw conclusions.  Did the results support the alternative or the null hypothesis?  We're the results so varied there are no conclusions?  Chances are, more study is indicated.  Based on your evidence, what do you recommend doing next?

Step 9.  Let's do a little research on this topic.  Start with the Wall Street Journal articles.  Look up
related studies.  Be sure to copy and paste the website addresses to use in your report.  Have five sources.  In your own words, what do these studies indicate?  Do cellphones cause cancer?  (This could be the title.  It's not catchy, though.)

Step 10.  This is the hard part.  You need to assemble a backboard and research paper.  What I have kids do is create a PowerPoint slideshow: Title, Background, Hypotheses, Experimental Design, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, and Bibliography.  If they do this on-line, they can insert web pages, play with the fonts, add photos, etc.  It makes it easier to print and assemble into a report and material for the backboard.

Science Fair is a lot of work.  I suggest your teen work on his or her project now.  It will reduce the panic this fall.