Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Common Mistakes in Science & Mathematics

1. Asking children who is first in a race when they are shown a drawing of a few kids finishing a race. (How does one tell who is first?! One can predict but cannot tell for sure.)

2. Using line graph to show the results of voting for their favourite colour. (What graph is more apporpriate? Why is line graph incorrect?)

3. Things sink because it is big. (Small marble siks but large piece of foam floats!)

4. A drinking glass is put over a burning candle placed on a tray of water. Water level rises. Why? (It is not because oxygen is used up and the water level rises to take the space used to be occupied by oxygen.)

Finally, why is the adding vinegar to baking powder model not a good one to show volvanic eruption? See video.

Sunday, April 1, 2012