On your mark, get set: Science!

Some of the best scientific experiments are the simplest. Think of Galileo dropping lead balls from the Leaning Tower of Pisa, or Archimedes working out the principle of specific gravity while lounging in his bathtub.

The noble tradition lives on with Linda Paparella, a sixth-grade science teacher from Harlem’s Opportunity Charter School in New York City. Ms. Paparella works frantically over a collection of orange halves, wires, metal plates, and a stopwatch. Next to Paparella, three other young teachers — Woody Smith, Chris Baker, and Saber Khan — fuss with their own bizarre concoction involving a watermelon, lemon cake batter, and an ammeter (a device that measures electric current). These four teachers, along with four others, are competing in front of an audience for the coveted title of "Iron Science Teacher." The teachers are given everyday objects and asked to create a science activity for students — in about 10 minutes.

By Pamela S. Turner, The Christian Science Monitor

Full Story: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2006-07-19-iron-science_x.htm