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Show-Biz Science is scripted by popular children's book writer Vicki Cobb. Click to learn more about Vicki or to read a brief synopsis of her philosophy of teaching science. Be sure to visit Vicki's Kids' Science Page for more great science fun, a complete list of her books, and information about how you can invite Vicki to come to your school!

Click on a link below to see related Show-Biz Science showstoppers from Vicki Cobb:

Recent Showstoppers
Physical Science
Chemistry
Life Science
Earth and Space Science
Science and Technology

More Science Topics

Human Body
Nutrition
Weather
Even More Topics

Recent Showstoppers

Yeast Buster
Discover how (and why) anti-dandruff shampoos inhibit yeast production.

Yeast Alive!
Bring yeast to life, and discover how they ferment.

Yes, We Have Ripe Bananas
How can you speed up (and slow down) the way bananas ripen?

A Touch of Deception
Use the sense of touch to teach students about the nervous system.

Diet Coke Geyser
Make a harmless, spectacular explosion with candy and soda.

Unexpected Mirrors
You can turn many different objects into mirrors. It all depends on how you look at them.

A Popping Good Time
Vicki Cobb shares the science lessons in popcorn.

One Sweet Reaction
Discover how chemists test for sugar.

Go Fly a Kite!
Learn a little about aerodynamics by flying a kite and a flying saucer.

Mystery Twist
Use strips of newspaper to create experiments that explore a mystery of mathematics.

Science in a Bag of Potato Chips
Discover how packaging keeps potato chips fresh.

Looney Tuner
Make a tuning fork appear to wiggle weirdly.

A Hard-Surface Cleaner Contest
Which of those cleaners on TV ads is really best?

A Way with Curds and Whey
Teach chemistry and nutrition by making cheese in the classroom.

Breathing Is Nothing to Sniff At
Two amazing experiments teach students about breathing.

Candy Glass Is the Solution
What has candy got to do with a movie actor flying through a glass window?

A Field Trip Fast Forward
A helium-filled balloon moves oddly in a moving vehicle.

To Love Her Is to Smell Her
Kids use their noses to recognize their mothers; learn how the sense of smell is associated with happiness and security.

Where's the Rub?
Discover invisible ridges on a refrigerator magnet.

A Polarizing (Sunglasses) Situation
Discover how polarized sunglasses reduce glare.

A No-Brainer for the Eye
Discover the pupil reflex.

Shaky Odds
A simple experiment teaches about the body's muscles.

See How You Run
Can measurements help you predict a race winner?

A Mystifying Drag Race
A coin and a stamp are tied in a drag race. 

Fruitography
Develop a photograph on an apple!

TV Upside Down
Watch TV upside down on a piece of paper.

Swing Time
A playground swing is really a timing device.

Magic Drop Shot
Teach about properties by passing a coin through a solid.

Ants on a Diet?
See if ants can tell a diet drink from the real thing.

State Secrets
Discover secret markings on license plates.

Physical Science

Diet Coke Geyser
Make a harmless, spectacular explosion with candy and soda.

Unexpected Mirrors
You can turn many different objects into mirrors. It all depends on how you look at them.

A Popping Good Time
Vicki Cobb shares the science lessons in popcorn.

One Sweet Reaction
Discover how chemists test for sugar.

Go Fly a Kite!
Learn a little about aerodynamics by flying a kite and a flying saucer.

Looney Tuner
Make a tuning fork appear to wiggle weirdly.

A Hard-Surface Cleaner Contest
Which of those cleaners on TV ads is really best?

A Field Trip Fast Forward
A helium-filled balloon moves oddly in a moving vehicle.

Where's the Rub?
Discover invisible ridges on a refrigerator magnet.

A Polarizing (Sunglasses) Situation
Discover how polarized sunglasses reduce glare.

A Mystifying Drag Race
A coin and a stamp are tied in a drag race. 

TV Upside Down
Watch TV upside down on a piece of paper.

Swing Time
A playground swing is really a timing device.

Magic Drop Shot
Teach about properties by passing a coin through a solid.

State Secrets
Discover secret markings on license plates.

Strong-Arm Tactics
Discover an arm with bionic strength.

String Along with Me
Discover where string gets its strength.

Karate Payoff
A karate chop with a dollar bill breaks a pencil!

Snow Job
Make snow from a cup of water on a very cold, dry day.

I'm Forever Freezing Bubbles
Bubbles show a few new wrinkles when it's frigid outside.

A Dramatic Easing of (Surface) Tension
Watch a battle as two liquids struggle for supremacy.

Strong Stuff
Balance a sheet of paper on its end , and stand on a soda can without crushing it!

Sweetness and Lite
Discover how "lite" diet drinks live up to their names.

A Matter of Gravity
Discover gravity -- the force that’s always with us.

All Charged Up
Play with static electricity.

Strength of Attraction
Discover the power of magnetic attraction. 

I'm Dreaming of a Bright Holiday
Create a "properties of light" holiday display.

Show-Stopping Dropping
Stop keys from falling to the floor in this amazing feat.

As the World Turns
Discover why we don't feel the earth move.

Super Ears
Use paper cups to improve your hearing.

Odd Ways To Cut It
Learn about Isaac Newton by cutting an apple midair.

A De-Mist-ifying Event
This experiment will help students understand fog "clearly."

Two For The "See Thaw" (Some Cool Science)
A "sweet" experiment teaches about heat.

Rising in the Sun: Stage a "Current" Event
Use the sun to launch a hot-air balloon made from a garbage bag.

Chemistry

Yeast Buster
Discover how (and why) anti-dandruff shampoos inhibit yeast production.

Yeast Alive!
Bring yeast to life, and discover how they ferment.

One Sweet Reaction
Discover how chemists test for sugar.

Science in a Bag of Potato Chips
Discover how packaging keeps potato chips fresh.

A Hard-Surface Cleaner Contest
Which of those cleaners on TV ads is really best?

A Way with Curds and Whey
Teach chemistry and nutrition by making cheese in the classroom.

Breathing Is Nothing to Sniff At
Two amazing experiments teach students about breathing.

Magic Drop Shot
Teach about properties by passing a coin through a solid.

Ants on a Diet?
See if ants can tell a diet drink from the real thing.

A Mysterious Concoction
Do some chemistry magic with cabbage juice.

Sweetness and Lite
Discover how "lite" diet drinks live up to their names.

A Cola By Any Other Name Would Taste…
Results of a blindfolded cola vs. un-cola taste test may surprise you. 

Churn, Churn, Churn
Make butter, with science in mind.

Mayonnaise Have Seen the Glory
Discover the science in mayonnaise.

Spheres of Influence
Oil and water: a mix for learning.

Yeast Buster
Discover how (and why) anti-dandruff shampoos inhibit yeast production.

Yeast Alive!
Bring yeast to life, and discover how they ferment.

Yes, We Have Ripe Bananas
How can you speed up (and slow down) the way bananas ripen?

Fruitography
Develop a photograph on an apple!

Ants on a Diet?
See if ants can tell a diet drink from the real thing.

No Pain, No Gain
Kids use their tongues to test pain endurance.

Dirty, Rotten Play
Discover the true meaning of "biodegradable."

Out! Out! Oh Sprout!
Grow baby plants from all kinds of supermarket seeds.

Now You Smell It, Now You Don't
Learn why you shouldn't hold your nose around garbage.

Measure For Measure (Not By Shakespeare)
You can tell a person's shoe size without looking at his or her foot!

A Matter of Gravity
Discover gravity -- the force that’s always with us.

Spheres of Influence
Oil and water: a mix for learning.

Dirty, Rotten Play
Discover the true meaning of "biodegradable."

As the World Turns
Discover why we don't feel the earth move.

A Polarizing (Sunglasses) Situation
Discover how polarized sunglasses reduce glare.

Strong Stuff
Balance a sheet of paper on its end , and stand on a soda can without crushing it!

I'm Dreaming of a Bright Holiday
Create a "properties of light" holiday display.

Guiding Light
A diamond's sparkle and cable TV have something in common.

More Science Topics

Human Body

A Touch of Deception
Use the sense of touch to teach students about the nervous system.

Looney Tuner
Make a tuning fork appear to wiggle weirdly.

Breathing Is Nothing to Sniff At
Two amazing experiments teach students about breathing.

To Love Her Is to Smell Her
Kids use their noses to recognize their mothers; learn how the sense of smell is associated with happiness and security.

A No-Brainer for the Eye
Discover the pupil reflex.

Shaky Odds
A simple experiment teaches about the body's muscles.

See How You Run
Can measurements help you predict a race winner?

No Pain, No Gain
Kids use their tongues to test pain endurance.

A Cola By Any Other Name Would Taste…
Results of a blindfolded cola vs. un-cola taste test may surprise you. 

Super Ears
Use paper cups to improve your hearing.

Yeast Buster
Discover how (and why) anti-dandruff shampoos inhibit yeast production.

Yeast Alive!
Bring yeast to life, and discover how they ferment.

One Sweet Reaction
Discover how chemists test for sugar.

Science in a Bag of Potato Chips
Discover how packaging keeps potato chips fresh.

A Way with Curds and Whey
Teach chemistry and nutrition by making cheese in the classroom.

Ants on a Diet?
See if ants can tell a diet drink from the real thing.

Sweetness and Lite
Discover how "lite" diet drinks live up to their names.

A Cola By Any Other Name Would Taste…
Results of a blindfolded cola vs. un-cola taste test may surprise you. 

Churn, Churn, Churn
Make butter, with science in mind.

Mayonnaise Have Seen the Glory
Discover the science in mayonnaise.

Out! Out! Oh Sprout!
Grow baby plants from all kinds of supermarket seeds.

Snow Job
Make snow from a cup of water on a very cold, dry day.

I'm Forever Freezing Bubbles
Bubbles show a few new wrinkles when it's frigid outside.

Rising in the Sun: Stage a "Current" Event
Use the sun to launch a hot-air balloon made from a garbage bag.

Even More Topics

Mystery Twist
Use strips of newspaper to create experiments that explore a mystery of mathematics.