[Phys-L] Re: First Day Activities or Demos

[jbellina at SAINTMARYS.EDU (jbellina)]

Before we talk about content, I'd like to suggest the process that you
might use...its related to the interactive lecture demonstration (ild)
work, and the think, pair, share method.

Show them something, and talk about what you are going to do.
Ask them to think about what will happen and why they think that for a
few minutes.
Then ask them to discuss their ideas with a neighbor or their group if
they are in groups.
Then have a brief whole class discussion.  You can summarize ideas on
the board.
Then do it...and it is best if it is something that will surprise them.

For example
Drop two small objects of significantly different weights.
        you will get a mix of predictions...you may have to repeat the
experiment several times
Then drop two sets of paper plates, with 1 plate in one set and 10 in
the other.
        so sometimes heavier objects do fall faster
Then a pingpong ball and a pingpong ball wrapped in al foil...use
something to the ball sticks to the tape.
        the wrapped ball is heavier, but the fall the same
Then open the foil up and drop the two again.
        now the heavier object falls slower!!!

I don't like the faith in physics examples because it begins a pattern
of the teacher knows and students have to find out, rather than we all
work together to make sense of our experience.  The former is a teacher
centered activity, and latter is a student centered activity.

cheers,

joe



On Aug 10, 2005, at 7:31 AM, A. Marie Pool wrote:

> I need something to catch my students attention the first day of
> school.
> Suggestions?
>
> Marie
Joseph J. Bellina, Jr. Ph.D.
Professor of Physics
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN 46556