E&D
Curriculum
Strands and Related Exhibits
E&D
Curriculum
Strands and Related Exhibits
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Soapy Science
Bubble Walls and Bubble Frames When Bubble Meets Bubble
Soap film always attaches by forming the minimum bubble surface from edges of one frame to the other. Explores principle of surface tension, color, and flexibility. Students form soap bubbles and surfaces several feet high through a pulley system. Desktop version is made with drinking straw and coffee stirrer frames for students to experiment with the platonic solids.
Turbulence and Flow Visualization Table Kalliroscope How it Works!
A converted plastic slide where students experiment with shapes to observe resulting wave patterns. Water and soap mixture is recycled through a submersible pump. Using a water table with electrical pump, and Kalliroscope Fluid, students are able to simulate ocean currents, coastal erosion, aerodynamics, and convection. The downscaled acitivity can be done with soap, water and plasticene in dishpans, effectively demonstrating how the Gulf Stream is created and why it flows like it does.
Turbulence Orb
Study of wave patterns in fluids. Spin this large clear polycarbonate sphere on its lazy susan base and observe patterns that might appear on gas planets and weather patterns on Earth.
Giant Lens and Bubble hemisphere
This clear hemisphere is filled with bubble solution for outdoor experimentation. It can easily become a giant magnifying lens, a pond for goldfish, or the biggest bubble solution dipper you've ever tried.
With our kits students assemble large scale models of the platonic solids and a 14 foot diameter dome (out of inexpensive pvc pipe). It illustrates a stable form that needs the minimum amount of surface area (wall space) to enclose the maximum amount of volume (room space). Explorer Gary Shrager has shared many other exciting ideas for this exhibit including inflatable environments. In one of the desktop activities, each student in your class (grades 4 - 12) can assemble models of the C60 carbon molecule called Buckminster Fullerene.
Gary's Dome Instructions part 1
Gary's Dome Instructions part 2
Gary's Dome: Materials & Preparation
This exhibit allows students to develop their spatial skills by putting together a large 3-D puzzle. Six hinged tetrahedrons of PVC pipe can be folded into a cube or many other sculptural forms as the cube is magically transformed. Downscaled with straws, pipe cleaners and tape, or wooden dowels and rubber tubing.
3-D Kaleidoscopes for Reflecting Polyhedra
Study of four and five fold symmetry and natural crystal formations. Watch a triangle become a 3-D icosahedron. Our mirrored plexiglass units are based on a small desk top model. Students easily make classroom models out of foam core and mylar contact paper.
Exploration of Six Point Perspective on Polyhedron - Drawings wrap around oaktag platonic solids. Oaktag drawings become 3-D platonic solids for students to color, cut, fold, and assemble. Great item for mobiles.
Buckyballs - kits that model the C60 carbon molecule available for entire class (model kits designed by Steven Darling).
Environment and Ecology
Our system uses 6 gallon Polar water bottles with clear plexi windows and page magnifiers. Students closely observe the behavior of insects, aquatic creatures, or other small plants and animals within a controlled environment. It connects with our ongoing electronic Field Guide for the Schoolyard. Classroom curriculum comes from University of Wisconsin and involves clear plastic 2 and 3 liter soda bottles. A miniature greenhouse is also available for assembly and use.
Electronic Field Guide for Your School Yard
In this field guide, teachers and students record observations from their natural environment. Images can be scanned or drawn directly. Each year add new entries to the guide and share it with other classes.
Curriculum Guide for The Blackstone River Monument
This superb guide, written by visiting artist Lance McKee, provides educational links and support for our 20' long outdoor solar powered sculpture. It teaches about river technology and history and has an extensive glossary.
Water Power at Sturbridge Village
Learn all about this renewable and ancient energy source. Technology does it again! Clearly and simply illustrated.
We are in the process of organizing a loaning exhibit for classroom use. This links to another site with great curriculum.
Animation Wheel (Zoetrope 'how to make' or the phantasmoscope or magic wheel) 3-D Zoetrope
Based on an early 19th century discovery regarding the effects of both light and movement, a physiological reaction gives the illusion of movement to a series of cartoons drawn between the slots on a large wheel mounted on an easel facing a mirror when the wheel is spun. This demonstrates the phenomenon of persistence of vision, and can be replicated in the classroom using cardboard disks, or by building simple zoetrope.
Based on a small folk toy, our large model operates like a Rube Goldberg machine. Study how energy is stored and transferred from one source to another. A desktop version made with a milk carton and a thread spool replicates the kind of escapement apparatus that Thomas Jefferson used on his clock in Monticello.
Fantastic Sites to Visit for your Museum Classroom
