TABLE OF CONTENTS

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

This is chronological, starting with the latest. 

11/17/24    Duck on a Slide

7/18/23      Physics 101 !!!

6/3/23        LEAFLET:  PHYSICS WITH PIZZAZZ, Part A

6/3/23        LEAFLET:  PHYSICS WITH PIZZAZZ, Part B

11/6/22      LEAFLET:  PHYSICS OF VOLLEYBALL

8/31/22      (nonscience entry)   Substance Abuse Prevention:  Proactive Training:  A Proposal

8/29/22      (nonscience entry)   Cocoanut Grove Fire, Boston November 28, 1942

 6/29/22     Inertia 

 4/24/22     LESSON PLAN – FINDING SCIENCE IN STORIES 

                  Deputy Dan and the Bank Robbers … jumping 

 2/27/22     Proposal: New Approach to Preventing Substance Use/Abuse 

 1/29/22     Proposal for the Reuse of Quincy’s Early Childhood Center: 

                  A Theme School Based on Gateway to Science: Sports and Games 

1/29/22     April 24, 2021 Proclaimed Dr. Fred Calef III Day in Quincy 

12/19/19   The Science of Christmas 

 5/9/19     Science of Basketball. A Multifaceted Program in Dallas. 

 5/9/19     Science of Baseball Teacher Training in Oklahoma 

 4/28/19    Lacrosse Physics, Illustrated Introduction 

 4/24/19    Article in the Patriot Ledger at the 5th Science Festival 

4/24/19     Article in Boston Globe announcing 5th Science Festival 

3/25/19     Science Festival V, Saturday 4/13/19 

 11/3/18    LEAFLET: SCIENCE OF SKIING 

 6/30/18    LEAFLET: FOOTBALL 

 6/10/18    LEAFLET: PLAYGROUND SCIENCE 

 5/20/18    South Shore Science Festival IV, 4/21/18 

12/16/18   Planning SSF IV for 4/21/18

 12/29/17    Edgerton Center at MIT: Laser Mazes 

 11/28/17    NFL Football Exhibit, Boston Museum of Science 

 11/25/17    Needed: Science Fair Projects on Sport Science 

 9/21/17     What If Teachers Were Treated Like – Pro Athletes?! 

                  Think of it! Readers Digest article 

9/13/17      Basketball Math and Geometry from WikiHow 

5/4/17        LESSON PLAN: TORQUE Science Week 2017, St. Agatha School, Milton

 

4/25/17      Report on South Shore Science Festival III. The song. 

12/31/16    Planning SSSF III for 4/22/17 

12/30/16    Arizona … 

                  Where They’ve Got It Together To Help Kids Learn the Science of Sport!                                    Sciencesport.org 

12/17/16    Introduction: Science of Sport – a Comprehensive Program 

12/17/16    LA Galaxy … Science of Soccer 

12/16/16    San Francisco 49ers STEAM Education Program

 

11/3/16      Some Fantastic Feats on Video from People Are Awesome 

10/9/16      A Football Really Rising on Its Tippity-Toes?! 

9/10/16      LEAFLET: PHYSICS OF SWIMMING 

9/10/16      POWER OF TEN lists, revised 9/26/17 

7/2/16        Rare Metals Used in iPhones by David S. Abraham 

6/27/16      LESSON PLAN, Science Week: STRING-CAN PHONES … vibration 

5/29/16      LEAFLET: BASKETBALL BACKSPIN 

5/2/16        Science Week 2016, Visiting St. Agatha School, Milton 

3/29/16      LESSON PLAN (brief): 

                  THE RAINBOW FISH, white light refracting into colors 

3/27/16     SSSF II – W.A.V.E.S. 

2/19/16     COLLISION ! What’s That? Learn about it with an egg toss or water balloon game. 

2/19/16     Proposal for a Legislative Resolution 

2/2/16       LEAFLET: SCIENCE OF SKIING 

11/2/15     LEAFLET: CHUNKIN’ PUMPKINS 

11/29/15   FanFest at Boston College, 2015 

9/13/15     Website: Stoked About Physics 

9/2/15       Message to Parents from National Science Teachers Assn. 

7/20/15     Bicycle Electrical Power at Arizona Diamondbacks AND MNS Power. 

                 Electrical power in a special soccer ball, too. 

7/18/15    SCIENCE OF BASKETBALL from sciencebuddies.org 

7/5/15      SCIENCE OF CHEERLEADING 

7/2/15      VIDEO: SCIENCE OF BASKETBALL 

6/8/15      GLIDERS GALORE! thanks to A World in Motion 

6/8/15      South Shore Science Fun House (actually South Shore Science Festival I) 

1/27/15    Announcing South Shore Science Fun House April 25 

11/10/14   WHAT’S ALREADY OUT THERE in terms of learning physics through sports? 

11/9/14     Great Site: connectamillionminds.com 

10/27/14    About Kids: Just Three Things 

10/15/14    What’s in a Name? 

10/11/14    VIDEO: Visit to Isaac Newton’s home 

10/11/14    VIDEO: Dr. Baseball explains “The Wave” 

9/23/14     CARTOONS 

8/8/14      LEAFLET: PHYSICS OF SKATEBOARDING – DOING AN OLLIE 

7/20/14    PHYSICS OF FOOTBALL. Aerodynamics. Instructions for a Styrofoam glider. 

7/10/14    Good News, Especially for Parents of Young Kids 

7/7/14      PHYSICS OF BASEBALL: “You can observe a lot by watching” 

7/7/14      SCIENCE OF SOFTBALL 

6/30/14    K   E   Y 

6/26/14    TORQUE: Jump rope rhymes on torque / marching chants 

6/19/14    LEAFLET: PHYSICS OF JUMP ROPING 

6/19/14    National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and a gift that I won 

6/5/14      LEAFLET: PHYSICS OF HULA HOOPING 

5/15/14    Proposal: Science Games Fair / Carnival 

5/24/14    Bike Rodeo, Quincy, Mass., Saturday, May 24 

5/12/14    LEAFLET: BIKE PHYSICS (from angelfire.com) 

5/7/14      Proposal: Quincy Day at Cambridge Science Festival 2015 

5/6/14      An Invitation 

5/5/14      Khan Academy – Wonderful science instruction resource 

4/27/14    POPPING A WHEELIE – DO YOU KNOW THE PHYSICS? 

4/14/14    SCIENCE FUN week up to & including April vacation week 

4/9/14      GADGETS & GIZMOS – 2 physics books about having fun 

4/1/14      More Cambridge Science Festival suggestions 

3/16/14    DOPPLER EFFECT & Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 

3/17/14    Cambridge Science Festival 2014 – Science Carnival April 19 

3/6/14      Episode 2, Gateway to Science, Quincy Access TV 

2/15/14    My Story: The Sled: A Matter of Some Gravity 

2/13/14    Episode 1, Gateway to Science, Quincy Access TV 

11/22/13     Would love your feedback! 

8/22/13     THINGS I LIKE TO DO – an “interest inventory” 

8/22/13     ESTABLISHING A PHYSICS & GEOMETRY GAME CLUB 

8/22/13     IDEAS FOR SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS IN SCHOOL 

8/31/12     Learn the Laws of Motion (to the tune of The Loco-Motion) 

8/10/12     Update – and The Gravity/Energy Team March 

3/31/11     An Unforgettable Experience 

2/21/11     WELCOME! How a DRY GULCHER at BC led to this idea 

2/20/11     American Education 

2/11/11     Racers … POTENTIAL ENERGY 

2/10/11     Outline: Power Point Slides 

1/24/11     HELP WANTED! 

12/12/10   Short Science Lesson: ENERGY !

DUCKLING ON A SLIDE!

Cute illustration of:

the energy it takes to climb up the steps of a slide against the pull of gravity 

THE WHEW! FACTOR

vs. 

gravity doing all the work for you sliding down -- 

THE WHEE! FACTOR 

https://www.timesnownews.com/videos/viral-videos/little-girl-goes-down-slide-with-baby-duck-viral-video-is-just-cuteness-overload-watch-video-104042711

Physics 101 !!!

This is a link to a concise and visual introduction (and one I find appealing) to the overall field of physics, with cartoon-type illustrations.  Thought it might help!

Dominic Walliman of Domain of Science uses a "map" approach to a lot of science areas.

youtube.com/watch?v=ZihywtixUYo

LEAFLET: Physics With Pizzazz! Part A

 

DID YOU KNOW THAT

YOU CAN LEARN PHYSICS

THROUGH SHOWMANSHIP?

Start to learn about some basic science involved in doing

demonstrations that are fun –

Physics With Pizzazz!

Part A

We look at the following questions:

 ·        How do I find the center of mass?

·        What is the 1^st law of motion about, known as inertia?!

 

  http://sportscience-kathy.blogspot.com

GATEWAY TO SCIENCE:

SPORTS AND GAMES

Quincy, Mass.

Page 2

INTRODUCTION

Do you like to perform for people?

Try this!  A little showmanship goes a long way in this approach that leads people to physics in a fun way.   Here’s a script to get you started. 

 YOU:  THIS IS PHYSICS WITH PIZZAZZ!  Today we’ve got some games – a few challenges – for you!  Well, you may say, all I see are everyday objects.  You are right.  All it takes is everyday objects to help you understand physics.  Let’s go!

 You Need:  broom, spoon, pen, etc.

1st Challenge, can I balance this broom in its center with my finger?  Ask:  Who will show me the center of the broom?  (Volunteer points to center.)  Try to balance it – It’ll fall!

Explanation:  What I need to do now is find the CENTER OF MASS.  What is MASS?  Well, I think “stuff” is a good word for MASS.  Everything is made of some kind of stuff.  Everything  has  MASS,  whatever material it’s made of.  This broom   has more MASS at the brush end. 

Page 3

Find the place a little closer to that end where  you can balance it with your finger.  (Let the volunteer do it.) 

This is the CENTER OF MASS.  It’s also called the CENTER OF BALANCE or the CENTER OF GRAVITY. 

Do the same with the spoon, etc.

 

Next, You Need:  a chair with arms

YOU:    Now, let’s find the CENTER OF MASS in something else  –  You!    I need a volunteer  to  come  and  sit in this chair.  (The person is seated, arms on the armrests and feet next to each other on the floor.)   Press your finger on their forehead, and say,  “Stand up.”   (They will try to  but cannot.)

Explanation:  While sitting, our CENTER OF MASS is directly above our seat (demonstrate).  To stand up, we need to move our head forward first, and thus move forward and change our CENTER OF MASS.

Page 4

2nd Challenge,

You Need:  8x11 paper and e.g., an empty mug, measuring cup, toy car, tape dispenser, bottle of vitamins

YOU:  Notice these objects on the table resting on a piece of paper.  (Name them.)

I will pull out this paper, and nothing will fall down.  Do you think I can?  

(replies  of  Yes  and  No!) 

(Pull it out >>> Everything stays in place;  NOTE: you may need to practice doing this.) 

Explanation:   INERTIA (in-er-sha)  – there’s a big word! – is the tendency of an object at rest to stay at rest.  Those objects are resting, and they want to stay this way! 

This is Newton’s 1^st law of motion.

 (Explaining the technique), Here’s how you do it:  Pull the paper out at a slightly downward angle, and do it quickly and smartly! 

(Your  audience  will be impressed.  Let more volunteers try it.)  

Challenges like these … are just one of endless ways to gain an understanding of physics and geometry.I hope this leaflet introduces you to seeing things you never saw before –    or wondered about but just didn't know where to start.

Physics and geometry  come into play in every activity and event going on around us.

Knowing how things work can add to your performance and to your fun.  So give it a try.  How?

•        Start with the information here

•        You  may  not understand  everything  in it right away, but for  now,  use  what you do understand

•        Do an online search of your own

•        See  what  books  or  videos  your library  has

•        Share them  with friends,  your class, your team, your scout troop

•        Read my blog and tell others:

                     sportscience-kathy.blogspot.com

                                                 Thank you!  

                                                                    Kathy Hogan

LEAFLET: Physics with Pizzazz! Part B

 

DID YOU KNOW THAT

YOU CAN LEARN PHYSICS

THROUGH SHOWMANSHIP?

Start to learn about some basic science involved in doing

demonstrations that are fun – 

Physics With Pizzazz!

Part B

 

We look at the following questions: 

·        How can I speed up and slow down a rotating chair with friction?

·        How can a football spinning on the ground stand up on its end –   

in other words, how can it change its axis of rotation?

  http://sportscience-kathy.blogspot.com

GATEWAY TO SCIENCE:

SPORTS AND GAMES

Quincy, Mass.

Page 1

INTRODUCTION

Do you like to perform for people?  Try this!  A little showmanship goes a long way in this approach that leads people to physics in a fun way.  Here’s a suggested script to get you started.

YOU:   THIS IS PHYSICS WITH PIZZAZZ!  Today we’ve got some games – a few challenges – for you!  Well, you may say, “What’s the big deal about a chair and a football?”  Well, let’s find out!

You Need:   a swivel chair  (one with no arms is preferable)

1st Challenge. Who would like to go for a spin on this swivel chair?  (Ask a volunteer to sit on the chair.)

Ask:  Does anyone think that this chair can speed up or slow down when it rotates?  And I mean speed up or slow down without any help from me.

(Optional:  If anyone says Yes, see if they can explain it.) 

Then have the seated volunteer place their hands on their lap.  Feet should rest on the base of the chair, not on the floor (see illustration). 

Give the seated person a good push. 

Then tell them to put out their arms >>>  slow down.

Tell the person to bring in their arms >>>  should speed up.

Explanation:  First of all, contact  of one  OBJECT  with another OBJECT produces friction.  (Demonstrate rubbing your hands.)

In this case, contact of an OBJECT with an outside FORCE produces friction, too. 

Air resistance is a FORCE caused by air.  (Blow on your hands.) 

Friction slows down things in motion.  So, putting the arms out gives more surface to be in contact with the air, and this increases the friction    (slows things down);

Bringing in the arms gives less surface in contact with air, and this decreases friction (speeds things up).

That’s why birds and airplanes – and footballs – have an aerodynamic shape.

Page 2

2^nd Challenge.

 You Need:  a football – a proper football was found to work better than a small spongy toy football

YOU:  Speaking of footballs, I am challenging you to spin this football  on the floor so fast that it stands up on its pointed end.   Can you do it?

By doing this, you change the axis of rotation from a short one (when it’s lying flat) to a long one (when it’s standing up on its “toe”).  

# GEOGRAPHY REVIEW #

Remember how we say the Earth spins on its axis of rotation 

(an imaginary line through the center of the planet)?  Same idea!

Page 3

Challenges like these are just one of endless ways to gain an understanding of physics and geometry.      I hope this leaflet introduces you to seeing  things  you never saw before –    or wondered about but just didn't know where to start.

 Physics and geometry  come into play in every activity and event going on around us.

Knowing how things work can add to your performance and to your fun.  So give it a try.  How?

 •        Start with the information here

•        You  may  not understand  everything  in it right away, but for  now,  use  what you do understand

•        Do an online search of your own

•        See  what  books  or  videos  your library  has

•        Share them  with friends,  your class, your team, your scout troop

•        Read my blog and tell others: 

                        sportscience-kathy.blogspot.com

                                                                      Thank you! 

                                                Kathy Hogan

 

LEAFLET: Physics of Volleyball

 P. 1 cover

DID YOU KNOW THAT

YOU CAN LEARN PHYSICS

THROUGH VOLLEYBALL?

It looks at the following questions: 

What 2 forces help the ball go up?

What 2 forces help the ball go down?

What’s the physics of jumping?

What are parabola and trajectory, and

what do they have to do with volleyball?

 

  http://sportscience-kathy.blogspot.com

 

GATEWAY TO SCIENCE:

SPORTS AND GAMES

Quincy, Mass.

P. 2 inside left

What are the 3 laws of motion?

How do they apply to volleyball?

   

1^st Law – Inertia

The tendency of a moving object – like a volleyball – to stay in motion, until acted upon by another object or a force (like gravity or friction).

 

 

2^nd Law – Force

F = m × a    or   F = m · a    What does it mean?

 

The ball is made of mass.  The amount of Force depends on how hard you hit the mass of the ball and how fast it accelerates –   

The Action

 

 

3^rd Law – The Reaction

Every Action has an equal and opposite Reaction.

The pace of the game usually depends on the Force (the Action):

↓

Slower pace means less Force is used.

Faster pace means more Force is used.

P. 3 inside center

WHAT KIND OF FORCES ARE INVOLVED IN THE BALL GOING UP AND DOWN?

 

This shows you how 4 forces work on the ball – in pairs and against each other.

__________________

 D. FRICTION  aka  DRAG                C. GRAVITY           

Force that slows ↓ the motion             Force that pulls things down ↓   

 of things                                   It is always present!  

                                                                                                   

A. THRUST ↑                                                 B. LIFT    ↑

Uses the force of your energy         Upward force that opposes pull of gravity   

  

___Source:  Ref. 2, Van Voorst___

P. 4   inside right:

What are parabola and trajectory – and what do they have to do with volleyball?

 

Θ Part of a circle is called an arc, the shape of the path that the ball takes as it travels through the air.

 

Θ We also use the word parabola to describe specifically the shape made by the ball.  Both arc and parabola are words used in geometry, focusing on shape.

 

Θ There’s another word that’s also about shape, but more than that, it’s about motion too. That word is trajectory.  Trajectory is the path taken by a moving object  –   a ball that has been thrown.

Θ  Here are other -ject words:  project – object – reject – eject – inject

P. 5  back, left

MORE QUESTIONS! 

Trivia Question

Who invented volleyball?

Answer  

William G. Morgan, an American, invented volleyball  in  1895.  He  raised a net used for tennis, and players used their hands to volley the ball back and forth over the net. 

(Ref. 1, Doeden)

Question

When  you  jump up and down,  how  does  the 3rd law of motion apply to this?

Answer 

Remember:  

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.  When you jump,  you apply force to the ground with your feet.  The ground returns the force,  and  you  are  pushed into the air.

The harder you push,

the higher you jump!

(Ref. 2, VanVoorst)

____________________

Sports and games are the 

gateway to science, 

and YOU hold the key!

 

P. 6    back, center

Volleyball …  

is just one of endless ways to gain an understanding of physics and geometry.         

I hope this leaflet introduces you to seeing  things  you never saw before – or wondered about but just didn't know where to start.

Physics and geometry  come into play in every activity and event going on around us.

Knowing how things work can add to your performance and to your fun.  So give it a try.  How?

 

•        Start with the information here

•        You  may  not understand  everything  in it right away, but for now, use what you do understand

•        Do an online search of your own

•        See  what  books  or  videos  your library  has

•        Share them  with friends,  your class, your team, your scout troop

•        Read my blog and tell others:

 

sportscience-kathy.blogspot.com

 

             Thank you!  Kathy Hogan

 

REFERENCES

(1)           Volleyball by Matt Doeden, Amicus Publishing, Mankato, MN, 2016

(2)          STEM in the Summer Olympics: The Science Behind Volleyball  

             by Jenny Fretland-VanVoorst, Pogo Books/Jump!, Minneapolis, MN, 2020

SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION: PROACTIVE TRAINING -- A PROPOSAL

 

SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION:  PROACTIVE TRAINING

HOW TO SAY NO TO WHAT I CALL THE “DREAM-KILLERS”

 

Kathy Hogan, Quincy, Mass.

kathydulleahogan@aol.com

PROPOSAL:    

Teach kids how they can say no to drink and/or drugs with conviction and confidence.  Because drink and drugs can be dream-killers.

ANALOGIES:  

DRIVING         We learn to drive by taking lessons to drive safely, studying rules of the road, and taking a driving test before being issued a license to drive a potentially dangerous vehicle.  However, drink and drugs are dangerous, yet young people are not normally given the same kind of preparation. 

PLAYING TEAM SPORTS            Sports teams consist of offense and defense.  Defensive players are trained to play defense.  However, we do not train kids to play defense when it comes to dealing with this offense:    an offense in which drink and/or drugs are offered.

RATIONALE:    In childhood, kids do things that make them happy, that excite them, or that they simply enjoy – yet drink or drugs are not part of this.  Later on, when young people are invited to try drink or drugs, they’re often persuaded it will make them feel good.   Remind kids they already know how to find pleasure in life in a natural way.   Let’s train them so they have something to draw upon – experience saying ‘no’ and a response in which they have conviction – when faced with persuasion.  Other reasons to say no can be explored – such as the undesirable prospect of being kicked off their sports team!  

NOTE:    How well this will work with children who’ve been abused, with mental health problems, or with parents who have substance abuse problems themselves is not clear.     By itself this might not be a cure-all, but I think it is worth trying,  if for no other reason than to keep the good times in the forefront of their minds.  At its best, it could be the saving grace.

In addition, curiosity plays a big role. 

How to deal with it?  I don’t have the answer.  Do you?

 

PROCEDURE STAGES

First:                Brainstorm things that as a child you enjoy, excite you, make you happy, or just bring you contentment.

Second:           Brainstorm things someone may say to you to get you to try a drink or drug.

Third:  Keep in mind you’ve had experiences that bring you pleasure, and brainstorm responses you can use to say no.  Explore various reasons.  Be aware that bullying reactions can follow as well as peer pressure; need to prepare the children for this, too.

Fourth:            Role play in pairs, the first person acting as the person offering something, the second person as the one being offered something.  Then take turns and reverse roles.

Fifth:                Members of the whole group share with each other.

TO FOLLOW:  Develop Lesson Plans/Training Plans for each stage.