COSEE NOW

I’ve had trouble trying to post for awhile. Don’t know what is different today…
Sounds like everything went swimmingly.
Are y’all done now?

Bonny

If you’re doing invasive species–do you have a map of the world to show the tracks followed in migration to our waterways? I’m a map freak. Laminate one, mark basic information with a permanent marker, and then use dry-erase markers for notes as you talk with people. Erase short-term notes as people leave so you [...]

Whoa! Tsunamis would be a bIg interest-grabber! Can you shift the tectonics of the ocean bottom?

Looks good–and an important concept to get across!

I think what would draw people in is a huge tank of water. Then interest them in the topic of tides by getting them to predict how much water could be added before the boat cannot pass under the bridge. The farther away the two are, the farther off their predictions will be. There would [...]

I need further instructions on how to view lesson plans. I can’t seem to get the TIDE up one to view! I’m new to this format, and technologically challenged anyway

Make your landforms out of plaster, so it won’t disintegrate with water on it? Keep it shallow and plan to be ablet ot remove the water or shower it off somehow and start with fresh water each demo? Pepper is another handy pollutant–as are the dots of paper treated with a hole punch. If you [...]

Be sure to have an attention-grabber for each section. Visual, sound, olfactory(?) and ACTIVITIES!

Again, remember your activity, if it is an informal presentation a la Liberty Science Center will need to grab passers-by and hold them, or pass them through from one segment to another, which you want them to WILLINGLY do. I can’t testify much to the science, but I can testify to the short attention spans [...]

I don’t understand what they are supposed to be building. Several tanks would be a good idea. Various levels of depth? Height beyond the water? This is unclear.

1. I suggest waterproof smocks for the participants–like primary painting smocks. 2. I’ve seen similar things done with dirty water, and studnts using various tools to try to get the water to look drinkable (at which point it still isn’t, but…!) 2. Coffee filters, strainers, paper towels, soap, etc are fine. The more the better. [...]

If this is an activity to be presented over and over again, like I see many presenters do in an informal setting like the LIberty Science Museum, you need to plan for the effects of your first trial. If you’re using dye to show the leakage of species form one place to another, what happens [...]

I can’t find the original lesson plan to comment on, so I’m commenting based on the comments I read. 1. Be clear what your focus is. Density? For middle-graders, use it back and forth with “weight” to be sure they’re on the same page. THe clowns-in-a-VW alanogy is good! 2. Displacement is cool. Kids like [...]