Homemade science is a collection of classroom tested ideas, suggestions, projects, and experiments that I have used in teaching physical science for the Annville-Cleona school district in central Pennsylvania. I am currently in my 39th year of teaching. My intention is to share these ideas with other teachers or anyone who has an interest in science. I have found that designing and building my own equipment has taught me more than any course that I have ever taken. I hope that you consider trying this for yourself.. I also share and show some of these ideas at workshops, science conferences, or inservice presentations.
Show less
Part two: Static electricity charging by induction and conduction are compared through a variety of demonstrations. This is a part of a series of experiments that can be used in a classroom settin...
Part One: Several examples of static electricity are shown in this first part with a concentration on explaining the basis of inducing a static change on insulators verses conductors.
REPOSTED WITH VOLUME ADJUSTED Make "music" with a carpenter saw, produce frequency patterns on easy to make Chladni plates, AND make your own violin type bow to use with both activities. Science ...
Updated collection of musical instruments made by mIddle school physical science students as part of our study in sound, waves and energy. In this case, students are asked to make and present a ...
The Sound Visualizer and the Chladni Bucket are used to show how vibrations from sound waves are able to create some very beautiful patterns using a few simple pieces of equipment. As compress...
The speed of sound can be measured with reasonable results by measuring the time of an echo. A couple blocks of wood for clapping together, a stopwatch, and a calculator are the equipment was us...
Capturing the movement of pendulums using light and a camera can be an easy and beautiful method for students and adults to learn a bit about the harmonic motion. The movement of the light is ca...
Sand pendulums are an easy and beautiful method for students of all ages to learn a bit about the harmonic motion. These devices are easy to build and can be adjusted to give a variety of patterns...
Adding a metal soda can dome to the top of a Fun Fly Stick will considerably increase it's voltage allowing for some additional demonstrations that can be done with it, sort of supercharging it. T...
Here is another look at the popular demonstration of the fan cart and what happens if you try to blow into your own sail. A great demonstration for Newton's 3rd law and balanced forces. I run a ...
Calculating the Tumble Buggy horsepower. These cars are very popular in the physical science classroom, they are cheap, sold by several outlets and hold up fairly well with a bit of care. As ...