DOUGLAS D. SMITH
Chemical Education Conference-1978 "Ideas by the Kilogram"should have been the theme of the CEC-1978 conference held a t the Beaver College in August. Everyone who left carried away more than 10 kg of ideas in the form of presentation notes, samples of available free material, magazines, and teaching tips. Art Breyer of Beaver College and Harold Ferguson of Rosemont, Pennsylvania, led a team that organized an outstanding experience and called it a conference. Using a format similar to the successful CHEM ED meeting a t the University of Waterloo, they brought together outstanding people from all science disciplines to excite, inform, motivate, and share.
For the high school chemistry teachers it was a time to go to meetings that presented material on all aspects of science teaching, demonstrations, learning theory, lab exercises, audio visual reviews, use of humor, class organization techniques, and refreshing of knowledge. It is this author's opinion that more of these conferences should be planned in various regions of the continent. In the meantime,we suggest that you-consider the CHEM ED '79 conference by writing to the Chemistry Department, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1 and receiving information for their August 1979 meeting.
Ideas from CEC-'78-Humor Humor oresents that chanse - of Dace . which will varv a routine or make a classroom a little more interesting. A number of nresentations shared ideas of how humor is used. But bewke, these teachers were condensing ideas used in a school year to a 20-min presentation, and they all agree with Herbert Bailey, Jr., who has written "It's a scientific fact that with repeated stimulation, the funny hone gets numb." Recommended material includes:
7) "What's So Funny About Science," Sidney Harris, American Scientist
"Space Puzzles," Martin Gardner, Simon and Sehuster "Science Puzzles," Martin Gardner, Viking Press "Science Brain Twisters," Christopher Jargocki, Scrihner "Butter Side Up! the Delights of Science," MagnusPyke, Sterling Press 5) "Where Do We Go From Here," Issac Asimov. Faweett World 6) "Random Walk in Science," Robert L. Weber and R. L. Weber, Crane Russack Co.
You may also wish to explore a new publication whose purpose is "to present many different aspects of physics in an interesting, amusing, and useful way." Although Photon is for physics teachers, much material can be used with chemistry students. The orice is $3 for ten issues. and it can be ordered by writing 1var: Peterson, Trinity college School, Port Hope, Ontario, Canada, LIA 3WZ.
1) 2) 3) 4)
Plus the following, which are no longer in print but may be in a nearby library. 1) "Miller: Games I," Julius Sumner Miller 2) "Human Side of Scientists," Ralph Oesper, University of Cin-
cinnati 3) "Physics for Entertainment," X Perlman
Balloon Piercing submitted by "Doc the Clown" Good magic holds a fascination for everyone, and if chosen carefully, can be used with inquiry sessions. The following has been used in science classes from grades 9 to AP chemistry. Phenomena:
1) A balloon is inflated and tied off.
Extra Assignment:
2) A &in. needle with yarn at one end is
Source: Timine:
pushed through the bottom and pulled out the top without breaking the balloon. 3) The balloon is then tossed into the air and touched with the end of theneedle which bursts the balloon. Every magic store carries this complete "demonstration" with instructions for less than $8. In chemistrv it is used aftera minimum of a since the last discussion of week has macroscopic bonding and forces between
Please.. .
molecules. It is quite effective to do the demonstration just before the period ends so that the balloon bursts as the hell rings toend the period. The instructions do not tell you, but it is possible to run the needle through the balloon in any direction, besides from the top-tobottom. You must, however, do some extra preparation, in other words add something to the surface, in order for the needles to go through the x, y, or z axis. I have enough needles so that three needles are in the balloon at one time. do not tell the accepted answer. My Show-hiz friends figure that the magic is to entertain and that by having the audiences know the secrets make the performances less interesting. Volume 56, Number 3. March 1979 / 185
