{"id":68229,"date":"2026-10-08T04:45:36","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T19:45:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phys-edu.net\/wp\/?p=68229"},"modified":"2026-10-08T04:45:36","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T19:45:36","slug":"the-1300-view-wall-what-middle-schoolers-learned-about-reaching-people-through-short-videos-science-communication-course","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phys-edu.net\/wp\/?p=68229&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"The 1,300-View Wall! What Middle Schoolers Learned About “Reaching People” Through Short Videos (Science Communication Course)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ken Kuwako, Science Trainer here. Every day is an experiment!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

“Make something good, and it will sell.” Sound familiar? I spent six months with five ninth-graders trying to figure out how to bring science to the wider world, and together we learned that this idea is only half right. (The students taught me that the hard way!)<\/p>\n

I ran an elective course called “Science Communication” for half a year. Five students signed up, and together we thought hard about one question: how can we get more people excited about science, whether they’re other students or the general public? It was a busy, thrilling six months.<\/p>\n

Our first challenge: a science poster<\/h3>\n

We started with science posters. A while back, my experiment “Lifting a Desk with Atmospheric Pressure”<\/a> was featured on Science Education News, so I suggested we use that as a model and try making a poster of our own. We ended up with two.<\/p>\n

The topics were dilatancy and the “water cube.” Dilatancy is that weird phenomenon where cornstarch mixed with water turns hard when you punch it, but flows like liquid when you touch it gently. We hung both posters up at school, and we also sent them to the Science Education News editors with a note saying, “We made these. What do you think?”<\/p>\n

We got some kind words, but they didn’t end up using them. Still, I think stepping into the ring to see whether the general public would like our work was a great experience for the students. At school, everyone praises you right away, but out in the real world it’s not so easy, and I hope they got to feel that firsthand.<\/p>\n

Our next challenge: short videos<\/h3>\n

Next, at the students’ request, we made short videos. I offered two topics: the X-Gyro Airplane and the paper cup Gyro Rocket.<\/p>\n

“Gyro” refers to the way a spinning object resists changes in its direction. It’s the reason a spinning top doesn’t fall over. Use this trick, and even paper cups can become airplanes and rockets that fly steadily.<\/p>\n

We started by studying short videos themselves. The students landed on a three-part structure:<\/p>\n

1. Show the finished product
\n2. Explain how to make it
\n3. Show how to play with it<\/p>\n

They also discovered on their own that using music to keep a good rhythm worked well, and they copied that style. We even made thumbnail images, so it took a long time, but in the end we finished two videos.<\/p>\n

Video 1: Mind-blowing! 🔥 The paper cup gyro airplane that got 15-year-olds hooked ✈️<\/h3>\n