Brain-Powered Science | Teaching, Learning, and Educational Leadership

See also DanielWillingham.com for other articles and videos: "Brain-Based" learning: More fiction than fact (Fall 2006); Do visual, auditory, and kinesthetic (VAK) learners need VAK instruction? (Summer 2005)

Chrome Music Lab

Dallas Symphony Orchestra: Tin can telephone

HowStuffWorks: Homemade toy telephone

Hyperphysics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University:

Sound and Hearing explanations, concept maps and applications

PhET Interactive Simulations: Sound

Philomel Records

University of Iowa Physics and Astronomy Lecture Demonstrations

University of Michigan Physics Demonstrations: Category 3: Oscillations

Wake Forest University Physics Department: Sound demonstration videos

Whelmers #67: Bells in Your Ears (variation on the Utensil Music activity

[Procedure, step #1] using a pencil)

Wikipedia:

Activity 7. Identification Detectives: Sounds and Smells of Science

American Educator

International Mind Brain and Education Society

Magic Water Black Box Activity

Mystery Mailing Tube

Society for Neuroscience (SFN): Brain facts: A primer on the brain and nervous system

Termites, Ink Pens and Pheromones

Termite Trails

Virginia Tech Physics Lecture Demo W20: Buzzer in a vacuum

Activity 8. Two-Balloon Balancing Act: Constructivist Teaching

Bubbles, Babies and Biology: The story of surfactant

Exploratorium:

LaPlace's Law

LaPlace's Law and Lung Misconceptions

Lung Functioning and Gas Laws

University of Michigan Physics Demonstrations: Category 2: Fluid Mechanics: Surface tension

Wikipedia:

Activity 9. Batteries and Bulbs: Teaching Is More Than Telling

All About Electricity: Lessons on DC circuits

Arbor Scientific's Cool Stuff Newsletter

Electronics for Kids

Flash Animations for Physics: Electricity and magnetism: Compare a DC circuit to flow of water

HowStuffWorks: Light bulbs

HyperPhysics: DC circuit water analogy

Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation

PhET Interactive Simulations: DC circuit construction kit

A Science Odyssey: Simple circuits, electromagnets and Morse code

Spark! Lab: Invent Your Own Light Bulb

Surfing Scientist: Simple circuits and conductivity tester

University of Michigan Physics Demonstrations: Category 5: Electricity & Magnetism: DC Circuits

Virtual Voltage Circuit Simulator/Lab

Wikipedia:

Activity 10. Talking Tapes: Beyond Hearing to Understanding

(see Sound and Waves demonstration listings, including Talkie Tapes)

Chrome Music Lab

HowStuffWorks:

Groovy Sounds

NIH/National Human Genome Research Institute (NGHRI)

Wikipedia:

Activity 11. Super-Absorbent Polymers: Minds-On Learning and Brain "Growth"

Biology Corner: Scientific Method: Sponge Animals, Gummy Bear Lab and more

Brain Rules: 12 Principles of surviving and thriving at work, home and school

How Stuff Works:

Disposable diapers

Purdue University Division of Chemical Education: SAP demonstration

Steve Spangler's Making Science Fun: Experiments with water absorbing crystals

Science Spot: Gummy bear lab

Watersorb

Wikipedia:

Superabsorbent polymers

Activity 12. Mental Puzzles, Memory, and Mnemonics: Seeking Patterns

American Educator:

Allocating student study time: Massed versus distributed practice (Summer 2002)
Inflexible knowledge: The first step to expertise (or why transfer is hard) (Winter 2002)
What Will Improve a Student's Memory?: (Winter 2008/09)

Ask a cognitive scientist column: Daniel Willingham

Exploratorium Online Exhibits: Don't forget—Playing games with memory

Common cents: Can you identify the correct penny from a group of 11 other "imposters"?

HowStuffWorks:

Human memory

John T. Bruer. Publications and presentations on cognitive psychology

Wikipedia:

Activity 13. Sound Toy Tubes: The Importance of Varying Stimuli

Bernoulli's Principle Animation

Chrome Music Lab

Hello – Walk off the Earth (pop music with sound toy tubes; 5:52)

HowStuffWorks:

Vacuum cleaners

Hyperphysics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University: Sound and Hearing explanations, concept maps and applications

Hyperphysics: Science of Sound

PhET Interactive Simulations: Sound

Physics Video Demonstrations on Bernoulli's Principle

University of Michigan Physics Demonstrations: Fluid Mechanics

University of Virginia Physics Department: Sound activity stations

Whelmers Physics Collection

Wikipedia:

Activity 14. Convection: Conceptual Change Teaching

Conceptual Change Teaching (overviews of theory and research from various sources):

Conceptual Change among Students in Science

Exploratorium Museum Snackbook:

HowStuffWorks:

Kathi Mitchell: Hot Air Balloons

John T. Bruer. Publications and presentations on cognitive psychology

NASA: Candle flame in microgravity

PhET Interactive Simulations: Balloons (hot air and helium) and buoyancy (and gas laws)

University of Iowa Physics and Astronomy Lecture Demonstrations: Heat and fluids

University of Michigan Physics Demonstrations: Category 4: Thermodynamics

Whelmers

Wikipedia:

Activity 15. Brain-Powered Light Bulb: Knowledge Transmission?

Artificial Photosynthesis:

BrainU Institute (neuroscience resources for grades 5-12)

International Mind Brain and Education Society

John T. Bruer. Publications and presentations on cognitive psychology

Society for Neuroscience: Brain Facts: A primer on the brain and nervous system

Wikipedia:

Activity 16. Air Mass Matters: Creating a Need to Know

YouTube:

HyperPhysics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University:

Fluids, liquids and gases, atmospheric pressure

Purdue University: Can crusher

University of Iowa Physics and Astronomy Lecture Demos

see Heat and fluid: Atmospheric pressure demonstrations: Crush the can, crush the soda can; Magdeburg hemispheres; Water column-water barometer; Suction cups rubber sheets; Stick and newspaper and the vacuum cannon

Wake Forest University:

Physics of matter: Pressure demonstration videos

Whelmers #21 Balloon (in Bottle) Vacuum

Wikipedia:

Activity 17. 3D Magnetic Fields: Making Meaningful Connections

Exploratorium Snackbook:

Magnetic lines of force (homemade 3D magnetic field bottle)

HowStuffWorks:

Instructables:

Make your own homemade 3D magnetic field viewer

Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC) (concept mapping tools)

International Mind Brain and Education Society

Magz Magnetic Construction Toy

Neuroscience for Kids (select experiment: Brain songs)

PhET Interactive Simulations: Magnets and electromagnets

Royal Institution of Great Britain: Faraday Museum

Society for Neuroscience, Educational Resources

University of Michigan Physics Demonstrations: Electricity & Magnetism

Visible Thinking (a Harvard University, Project Zero research program)

Wake Forest University: Electromagnetism videos, including a 3D compass

Wikipedia:

Activity 18. Electrical Generators: Connecting With Students

Amateur Science's Ultra-Simple Electric Generator

Constructivism:

Death, Money, and the History of the Electric Chair

Exploratorium Snackbook: Motor effect and stripped-down motor (designs):

How Electricity Works

Java Applets for Physics: Generator

Nexus Research Group: Fun Science activities: Physics: Motors and generators

PhET Interactive Simulations

Science Project: Make an electric generator

Snopes.com: Urban legends: Edison and the electric chair

University of Iowa Physics and Astronomy Lecture Demonstrations (video clips): Electricity and magnetism (seven demos on motors and generators)

University of Michigan Physics Demonstrations: Category 5: Electricity & Magnetism

Wikipedia:

Activity 19. Static Electricity: Charging Up Two-by-Four Teaching

Concord Consortium: Electrostatics (see Polarization page): Molecular workbench software homepage

Exploratorium Snackbook: Demonstrations involving triboelectricity

HowStuffWorks:

PhET Interactive Simulations: Balloons and static electricity

Triboelectric Series

University of Iowa Physics and Astronomy Lecture Demonstrations (video clips of demonstrations): Electricity/Magnetism (4 demos and triboelectric series)

University of Michigan Physics Demonstrations: Electricity & Magnetism

Wake Forest University: Electrostatics

Whelmers #31: Static charged 2 x 4s

Wikipedia:

Activity 20. Needle Through the Balloon: Skewering Misconceptions

American Educator

DanielWillingham for other articles and videos:

- Critical thinking: Why is it so hard to teach? (Summer 2007)
- Why don't students like school? Because the mind is not designed for thinking (Spring 2009)

Bubble Cell Membrane Lab

John T. Bruer. Publications and presentations on cognitive psychology

David Katz's Needle Through Balloon

Science Hobbyist: Balloon demonstrations

Using (soap) bubbles to explore (cell) membranes:

Membrane Model: The Bubble Lab

Wikipedia: Membranes (biological and artificial)

Activity 21. Happy and Sad Bouncing Balls: Student Diversity Matters

CAST: Differentiated instruction

Concept to Classroom: Multiple intelligences tutorial

Human Intelligence: New and emerging theories of intelligence (synopsis of Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences, Sternberg's theories, and Goleman's theory of emotional intelligence)

Illusion-Optical.com: Happy (young princess)-Sad (old woman) 180-degree animation

University of Iowa Physics and Astronomy Lecture Demonstrations (video clips): Mechanics coefficient of restitution

Activity 22. Electrical Circuits: Promoting Learning Communities

All About Electricity: Online text: DC circuits

Cooperative Learning Center at the University of Minnesota (Roger Johnson and David Johnson)

Doing CL

Flash Animations for Physics

Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation

PhET Interactive Simulations: DC circuit construction kit

A Science Odyssey: Simple circuits, electromagnets and Morse code

Spark!Lab: Invent Your Own Light Bulb

Success for All Foundation (Robert Slavin and cooperative learning)

Surfing Scientist: Nine pages of lessons (e.g., simple circuits and conductivity tester)

University of Michigan Physics Demonstrations: Electricity & Magnetism

University of Virginia Physics Department: Conductors and Insulators (how a light bulb works) and Series and Parallel Circuits Hands-on Explorations

Virtual Circuit Simulator/Lab

Activity 23. Eddy Currents: Learning Takes Time

Changing Minds: Questioning Techniques (19)

Exploratorium Snackbook: Eddy currents

HyperPhysics: Faraday's and Lenz's laws

Molecular Expressions: Interactive Java Lenz's law tutorial

Nondestructive Testing Resource Center's (NDT): Lenz's law applications

Demonstrations

PBS Teachers Resource Roundups: Developing scientific thinking

PhET Interactive Simulations:

University of Iowa Physics and Astronomy Demonstrations (video clips): Electricity and magnetism

University of Michigan Physics Demonstrations: Electricity & Magnetism

University of Victoria: Bloom's Taxonomy

University of Virginia Physics Department: Experiments with electromagnets

Wikipedia:

Activity 24: Cognitive Inertia: Seeking Conceptual Change

American Educator

Ask a Cognitive Scientist column: Daniel Willingham
Access other articles:
- Practice makes perfect—But only if you practice beyond the point of perfection (Spring 2004)
- Why students think they understand—When they don't (Winter 2003-04)

National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST): Research matters to the science teacher

North Carolina Science Teachers Association: The Science Reflector: 10 Inertia experiments and demonstrations

Sprott's (online book; see Chapter 1, "Motion"):

University of Iowa Physics and Astronomy Lecture Demonstrations (video clips)

Mechanics (seven demonstrations on inertia of rest)
Mass and string "magic" demonstration

University of Michigan Physics Demonstrations: Mechanics: Newton's First Law

University of Wisconsin-Madison Physics Lecture Demonstrations (large sample of Newton's first law)

Wake Forest University: Newton's laws videos: Tablecloth pull and toilet paper

Wikipedia:

Activity 25. Optics and Mirrors: Challenging Learners' Illusions

American Educator

Ask a Cognitive Scientist column: Daniel Willingham
- How praise can motivate or stifle (Winter 2005–06)
- Should learning be its own reward? (Winter 2007-08)
- Caution: Praise can be dangerous (Spring 1999)

University of Michigan Physics Demonstrations: Optics

Wikipedia:

Activity 26. Polarizing Filters: Examining Our Conceptual Filters

Austine Studios Polarized Light Art

Brigham Young University Physics Computer Resources: select Optics: Polarize

Exploratorium Science Snackbook:

HowStuffWorks: Sunglasses

University of Iowa Physics and Astronomy Lecture Demonstrations (video clips): Optics

University of Michigan Physics Demonstrations: Optics: Polarization

Wikipedia:

Activity 27. Invisible Gases Matter: Knowledge Pours Poorly

American Educator

Ask a Cognitive Scientist column: Daniel Willingham
Access other articles:
- Students remember what they think about (Summer 2003)
- Why don't students like school? Because the mind is not designed for thinking (Spring 2009)

Constructivism and Learning Theories: Supplemental readings for teachers

Activity 28. The Stroop Effect: The Persistent Power of Prior Knowledge

Neuroscience for Kids

NOVA Online Adventure: Shockwave Demonstration version (as well as a static version)

Scientific American Frontiers

Discovery, chance and the scientific method

Duit, R. (March 2009 update): About 8,400 entries related to "misconceptions": Bibliography of STCSE (Students' and Teachers' Conceptions and Science Education)

Kind, V. 2004. Beyond appearance: Students' misconceptions about basic chemical ideas: (book; 84 pages)

MOSART: Misconception oriented standards-based assessment resource

Operation Physics: Children's misconceptions about science

Sleights of Mind: (book and multimedia clips)

Wikipedia:

Activity 29. Rattlebacks: Prior Beliefs and Models for Eggciting Science

Encyclopedia of Science: Chapter 14

Toys in Space II (Search for Toys in Space II video resource guide)

University of Iowa Physics and Astronomy Lecture Demonstrations (video clips): Mechanics: (Rotational stability: 1Q60.36—Spinning eggs)

University of Michigan Physics Demonstrations: Mechanics: Work & Energy: Rattleback

Research on Misconceptions in Science:

Duit, R. 2009 update (about 8,400 entries). Bibliographyâ€“STCSE (Students' and teachers' conceptions and science education)
Kind, V. 2004. Beyond appearance: Students' misconceptions about basic chemical ideas (book; 84 pages)

Meaningful Learning Research Group: Misconceptions conference proceedings

Science Hobbyist: Amateur science: Science myths in K–6 textbooks and popular culture

Wikipedia:

Activity 30. Tornado in a Bottle: The Vortex of Teaching and Learning

Constructivism and Learning Theories: Supplemental readings for teachers

Exploratorium Snackbook: Vortex (tornado-in-a-bottle demonstration)

Sophia Learning

University of Iowa's Fluids Laboratory Image Gallery: Vortices

Whelmers: Air Cannon

Wikipedia:

Activity 31. Floating and Sinking: Raising FUNdaMENTAL Questions

American Educator (see also www.danielwillingham.com for other articles and videos)

Critical thinking: Why is it so hard to teach? (Summer 2007)

What is developmentally appropriate practice? (Ask a Cognitive Scientist/Summer 2008)

Concord Consortium (free downloadable simulations): Diffusion

Diffusion, Osmosis and Active Transport

Diving Insect Regulates Buoyancy

Java Applets for Physics: Buoyant force in liquids

Purdue University, Chemical Education QuickTime movies of five density demonstrations

Steve Spangler Science: Mentos Diet Coke Geyser

University of Iowa Physics and Astronomy Lecture Demonstrations (video clips): Heat and fluids

University of Michigan Physics Demonstrations: Fluid Mechanics

Wikipedia:

Buoyancy
Density
Henry's law
Priestley, Joseph (invented carbonated water)
Nucleation
Soda and Candy Eruption
Raisin

Activity 32. Cartesian Diver: A Transparent But Deceptive "Black Box"

Cartesian Diver Java Applet (allows user to control external pressure and diver location)

Diving insect regulates buoyancy

Exploratorium Snackbook: Condiment Diver

Hyperphysics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University: explanations, concept maps and applications: Video/Demo Index: Fluids: Cartesian Diver

HowStuffWorks: Submarines

Purdue University, Division of Chemical Education: Cartesian diver (with QuickTime movie)

University of Iowa Physics and Astronomy Lecture Demonstrations (video clips): Heat and fluids (five demonstrations on density and buoyancy)

University of Michigan Physics Demonstrations: Fluid Mechanics: Statics: Cartesian Diver

Wake Forest University Physics Department: Physics of matter videos: Cartesian diver

Whelmer

Wikipedia:

Activity 33. Crystal Heat: Catalyzing Cognitive Construction

Bizarre Stuff You Can Make in Your Kitchen (Go to Sugar cube tricks: The burning sugar cube)

Concord Consortium (free downloadable simulations): Phase change

Phase change activity

Genie in a Bottle Experiment:

Demonstration Video (decomposition of hydrogen peroxide)
YouTube: Genie in a Bottle
Genie in a Bottle Experiment Instructions

PhET Interactive Simulations: States of matter: Molecular view with temperature, pressure, and volume controls and phase changes for three phases of Ne, Ar, O2 and H2O

Purdue University: Sodium acetate liquid and solid (supersaturation and crystallization demonstration)

University of Michigan Physics Demonstrations: Thermodynamics: Change of State

Wikipedia: