Featured Teacher

Steve Tomecek

aka “The Dirtmeister™"

Stephen M. Tomecek (a.k.a. "The Dirtmeister™") is the Executive Director and founder of Science Plus, Inc., a company that develops science curriculum and provides science enrichment and staff development programs for schools and museums throughout North America. Steve is a geologist (yes, he’s a real scientist!) specializing in soils, hence the name “Dirtmeister™".  Steve has written more than four dozen science books including Soda Bottle ScienceTeaching Science: Yes, You Can, and Dirtmeister’s Nitty Gritty Planet Earth. His first book, Bouncing & Bending Light, won the American Institute of Physics 1996 Excellence in Science Writing Award.

Below are featured printables by this author. To see all of this author’s resources, please click here.

How does the lens in your eye focus light? With just zipper-style sandwich bags, simple instructions, and a few household materials, students conduct a hands-on experiment and learn about life science.

Which type of seed will germinate the fastest under given conditions? With just zipper-style sandwich bags, simple instructions, and a few household materials, students conduct a hands-on experiment and learn about life science.

What types of materials produce the most static charge? With just zipper-style sandwich bags, simple instructions, and a few household materials, students conduct a hands-on experiment and learn about physical science.

How can matter undergo a physical change? With just zipper-style sandwich bags, simple instructions, and a few household materials, students conduct a hands-on experiment and learn about physical science.

Kids investigate how a simple polymer is formed. With just zipper-style sandwich bags, simple instructions, and a few household materials, students conduct a hands-on experiment and learn about physical science.