Glow in the Dark Water Experiment
Key concepts Chemistry Water Light Fluorescence Energy Ultraviolet light Background Tonic water is a carbonated beverage that has a chemical called quinine dissolved in it. Quinine is made from the bark of a tree and has been used for centuries as a treatment for malaria. Quinine not only gives tonic water a characteristic bitter taste (which is offset today by... Read More
College Tuition: A Political Debate
College is becoming less and less affordable to more and more families rising up the socioeconomic ladder. “As tuition and other fees have climbed and state funding of public institutions has failed to keep pace with rising costs and growing enrollment, a college education is being priced out of the reach of middle-class and even upper-middle-class families.” In the article,... Read More
Olympic Arts and Crafts
Watching the opening ceremonies to the Olympic games made me want to jump up out of my couch and dance along with the athletes and performers. It is a time when all politics and global contention is set aside and the world comes together for two weeks to compete in sports. I find it an amazing time of the year... Read More
Dealing with Defiant Kids
Defiance, makes any parent unhappy. As parents we feel that we are always in charge of our kids but sometimes our kids get the better of us and then they are in charge of us. The key is to stay calm and not to overreact to their insolence. Remember, the more attention that is given to bad behavior the more... Read More
Teaching Strategies for Students with EBD
Teaching students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) can be a daunting task. Trying to include social growth and academic achievement together can be a challenge . Typically, educational programs for students with emotional disturbances need to include attention providing emotional and behavioral support, as well as, helping them master academics. Social development also needs to be addressed along with... Read More
Raising Teens
Reminiscing my teen years, I have vague memories of torment and moodiness towards my parents. When I had my own teens, the tide shifted and I was always on the receiving end of the eye rolling, angst and moodiness. I often wondered what happened to my sweet children I worked so hard at raising and that loved me back unconditionally... Read More
Kid’s Chromatography
Key concepts: Colors Solutions Molecules (and their polarity) Chromatography Primary colors Introduction: During my lab sessions in undergrad, I always wanted to find a way to allow children to get a more hands on experience in learning science activities. I tried to devise simple tasks at home that would get them to learn in a similar way that I learnt... Read More
How to Raise Grateful Kids
Gratitude is one of the most powerful emotions that you can practice in your everyday life. Adopting an attitude of gratitude helps us to thrive in this world, and for that, we need to be able to take time out to count our blessings more times than just once a year. Also, to remember to give back to those... Read More
Octopus Craft Project
Since summer is here and the weather is warm many of us make our way to the beaches and the seas. Children often find sea life intriguing. This is a delightful activity you can do with your kids to get them excited about marine life. Supplies you will need: Purple cupcake liner (or whichever color you choose) Blue sheet of... Read More
Teachers Assess Common Core Writing
Teachers feel that the Common Core standards can help students with their writing, however they also find great deficiencies with the standards, as well. A national survey by Michigan State University scholar, Gary Troia, is the first study of its kind. The study took into account teachers’ perceptions of writing and language standards portion of Common Core. Forty-four out of... Read More