Advent Calendar 2010
It’s Christmas Eve, and Christmas is upon us. We all like to get Christmas presents, so here is a list of free DVDs, posters and much more – perfect for science teachers.
It might be hot cocoa on a cold winter day, or perhaps some egg nog during a party, or some Christmas punch… At this time of year we consume a wide variety of drinks. But, do we know how these drinks are made? Or the science behind them? Are they good for us or not?
Christmas traditions and Christmas meals vary a lot across Europe and the rest of the world. One thing that seems to be constant, though, is the quantity – too much! Food and eating is of course a huge topic and one that can be used in many ways in the classroom. Here are a few ideas.
Games and fun are traditional at this time of year. Board games are tremendous fun (see day 12), but so are interactive online games. Why not suggest some of these Christmas and science games to your students to play at home? Or, even better, use them to inspire your students in the classroom.
At this time of year, we hear the word ‘ice’ all the time, as icicles form on the windowsill and we find a sheet of ice on the windscreen or even on the road. Ice, of course, can be used in the classroom to explain the states of matter, optics, insulation and much more. Here are some ideas, videos and articles about ice and how to use it in the classroom.
To combat the icy chaos in the street, we often use salt. For a fun activity with ice and salt, see: www.csiro.au/resources/salt-ice-activity.html
In this cold weather, why not curl up on the couch and enjoy a film while it snows outside? There are many entertaining science films that can also be used to explain complex scientific concepts or to reinforce scientific knowledge. You could watch them in the classroom or have your students watch them over the winter holidays. Then, have them think about the science in the film. Is it accurate? Why / why not? Is what the scientists are doing in the film ethical? Engage your students in a scientific debate about their favourite science-based films. Here are some ideas for films that you can use.
According to the Christmas story, Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus shared their shelter with an ox, a donkey and other farm animals. What might those animals have thought about what they saw? Indeed, how much do we know about what animals see and think?
For a fun end-of-term activity, how about getting your students to answer some riddles? All of the answers relate to science and all of them can be found in Science in School articles. And if you take the first letter of each answer, it will spell a scientific word!
Christmas is drawing near now, so we at Science in School wish you all a happy holiday and all the best for the new year. To help you celebrate, here’s a Christmassy science word-search.
According to the Christmas story, the three kings brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh the baby Jesus, to represent his status as king, god and sacrifice. These are powerful symbols, but the substances themselves are also powerful – used scientifically in many ways.
For centuries, alchemists attempted to create gold – without success. Where does gold come from, then? See:
Christmas is often associated with opening parcels – parcels that contain presents. But what if we open Pandora’s box instead? London’s Science Museum has developed a classroom activity about genetic testing in which students receive a box of information. Should they get themselves genetically tested, thus opening the box? Once it’s been opened, it cannot be shut again. What would you do? See: www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/educators/classroom_and_homework_resources/
resources/do_you_want_to_know_a_secret.aspx
According to the Christmas story, the three wise men followed a star to find the baby Jesus in Bethlehem. Could this really have happened? Examining the astronomical records of the time may not provide the ultimate answer, but it's certainly a fascinating scientific exercise. See: www.suite101.com/content/the-science-of-the-christmas-star-a9687
Many of us associate Christmas with games and fun – and there’s no reason why the fun should stop at the classroom door. In the run-up to Christmas, you could try creating your own science games: can your students use their knowledge of science, their creativity and their investigative skills to devise some exciting games to help them learn? Here are some ideas for science games to help make science lessons even more enjoyable.
Christmas is a time for sweet things, homemade or bought. They flow of out of Christmas stockings, they fill the tables and the biscuit tins. Who doesn’t enjoy baking and eating during the holidays? Cooking is really an artistic variation of science. With it, you can explain chemical reactions and nutrition to students. Try out some of our suggestions for some fun, science-filled and yummy activities.
From carol singers on porches to choirs performing Handel’s Messiah, this time of year is traditionally celebrated with music. Music can also be a fun, interactive topic for introducing the science into the classroom.
Whether you spend the holidays curled up next to the fireplace or barbecuing on the beach, fire and warmth are holiday essentials. They’re also great for starting discussions about the science of heat in the classroom.
What would traditional Christmas be without snow, fairy lights, wreaths, candy canes and Christmas trees? These decorations make Christmas all the more special. Before the winter holidays, why not get your students to make festive decorations for their homes while experimenting and learning science?
The 6 December is St Nicholas Day. St Nicholas, a 6th century saint, is also the original Santa Claus. Familiar as a rotund, jolly man with a white beard and a warm red suit, he could also be an ideal way to introduce science into your science lessons.
The first snowfall has reached most of Europe – causing chaos in many countries – so this would be a good time to look at snowflakes…
Christmas is a great time of year, when we get presents from our closest friends and family. Finding the perfect gift can be difficult and frustrating. So why not make it yourself?
Towards the end of term, there can be time to relax the curriculum a little bit and have some fun, maybe tell some (science-related) jokes. Perhaps your students could have a competition to find (or invent) their own science jokes or poems, or give a stand-up comedy (science) show to the rest of the school. Here is small selection of our favourite science jokes.
In many countries, Christmas is traditionally associated with drugs: perhaps a glass of mulled wine on a cold evening, some sherry left out for Santa, maybe even a cigar after Christmas dinner. Alcohol and nicotine are, of course, legal drugs in many countries, but what about other, more controversial drugs? How can they be responsibly discussed in lessons, and what about the science behind drug use and abuse?
Santa Claus’s red clothes, a green Christmas tree, golden Christmas tree decorations – we associate particular colours with Christmas. Perhaps now is a good time to investigate the science of colour in lessons?
For many of us, Christmas is associated with a pile of wrapped parcels lying under the Christmas tree. What could be inside them?
In the run-up to Christmas, why not design your own mysterious parcels – not presents, but ‘black boxes’ in which something is hidden. Can your students use their knowledge of science and their investigative skills to work out what’s inside?
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