SCIENCE LESSONS USING
xSCItED
TECHNOLOGY
1. POCKET UV METER LESSON
$21.95 For SchoolsA class set of 10 UV meters would be great, but I have done this on a budget with just one or two meters.
Warm-Up Lesson
This is a great chance to introduce or review the em spectrum. I like to emphasise the differences between mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves particularly in terms of wave speed, wave source and relationship between wavelength and frequency. Emphasise that ultra means beyond violet towards the high frequency end of the em spectrum. Therefore UV is a high frequency, short wavelength colour (v = f λ). It's UV that burns the skin, but a UV burn is a lot slower to notice than a thermal burn and is therefore quite dangerous as you can spend a few hours in the sun, only to notice the burn later.
Practical Lesson
Take the class outside and measure UV around the school at various locations, such as in the direct sun, in the shade, under trees etc. Measure UV through various barriers, such as glass, plastic etc. Find a plastic that lets UV through, then coat it with a sunscreen. Use this to test the claims of various brands of sunscreen. This could be taken up by individual students for a research project.
This is a great chance to introduce or review the em spectrum. I like to emphasise the differences between mechanical waves and electromagnetic waves particularly in terms of wave speed, wave source and relationship between wavelength and frequency. Emphasise that ultra means beyond violet towards the high frequency end of the em spectrum. Therefore UV is a high frequency, short wavelength colour (v = f λ). It's UV that burns the skin, but a UV burn is a lot slower to notice than a thermal burn and is therefore quite dangerous as you can spend a few hours in the sun, only to notice the burn later.
Practical Lesson
Take the class outside and measure UV around the school at various locations, such as in the direct sun, in the shade, under trees etc. Measure UV through various barriers, such as glass, plastic etc. Find a plastic that lets UV through, then coat it with a sunscreen. Use this to test the claims of various brands of sunscreen. This could be taken up by individual students for a research project.
SPECIAL
$185.00 for 10
2. DIGITAL SOUND LEVEL METER
You possibly have a school policy of no digital music players/earphones etc in class, and you probably find it pretty difficult to enforce. I have found this decibel meter fantastic for checking earphone volumes just by placing the earphone on the meter. If you can hear the music whilst the earphones are in the listener's ear, the reading will be most likely greater than 85 dB and possibly above 100. Do a lesson on the harmful effects of prolonged listening at these levels and let them see for themselves that they will be quite deaf in a few years if they keep it up. Just give the facts without being judgemental and they will often make desirable changes to their behaviour themselves.
$41.95 For SchoolsSPECIAL
$370.00 for 10
3. REMOTE CONTROL VEHICLES
We have a lot of these and I have used them all with both junior classes and with Senior Physics.
If you want to get reluctant students, of any age, interested in science, try some of this technology.
Possible Lessons
Transformation of energy ---- Use any of the vehicles to show electrical energy to mechanical in the form of kinetic energy (Ferraris go faster), potential energy (helicopters fly higher/Cars climb hills), sound energy (Apache helicopter really makes a noise and flies above the treetops----have fun getting it down slowly :-) )
Motion/Newton's Laws
I usually do this with a digital camera (15 frames per sec, or preferably 30 frames per sec). You can download images and analyse frame by frame to get excellent real-time results for whatever level of analysis you deem appropriate. I get students to table and graph results.
If you want to demonstrate the effect of friction, try placing some water on a desk or on the floor and then get the little Ferrari to move, or to turn successfully. One demonstration is worth a lot of talking and makes it clear what wet roads and reduced friction will do.
$79.00
For Schools
$19.95 For Schools 
$19.95 For Schools SEE REMOTE CONTROL VEHICLES FOR MORE
Email for school price for items with no school special given and ask for special bulk price for multiple items
4. Wind-Powered Generator Experimenters Kit
THIS KIT IS GREAT! IT TAKES ABOUT HALF-HOUR TO SETUP WITH INSTRUCTIONS THAT ARE AT LEAST FOLLOWABLE WITH A BIT OF IMAGINATION. IF I CAN DO IT, ALMOST ANYONE CAN. IT WORKS VERY WELL. EXTERNAL CIRCUITS CAN BE CONNECTED, SO LIGHTS ETC CAN WORK FROM IT. IT HAS AN INTERNAL RED LED LIGHT AS WELL.
I SUGGEST IT BE USED IN TOPICS RELATED TO ENERGY TRANSFORMATION, ENERGY CONSERVATION, GLOBAL WARMING/GREENHOUSE EFFECT ETC
The wind can
provide us with an invaluable source of renewable energy, and may one day even
be relied upon to supply the main power grid. This wind powered generator kit
is a great way to learn all about this green energy source, and how the
mechanics of wind generators work too. It is supplied in kit form, so you get
to assemble the whole thing before you start learning about how it works. It is
small enough to be powered by a pedestal fan for demonstration purposes if you
don't want to brave the weather outside. It automatically turns to the wind,
with the ability to swivel over 300°. With the ability to supply up to 10VDC @
1mA (depending on wind speed), it is more than enough to drive many
experimental and demonstration circuits. It also features an
on-board 0.33F capacitor so you can store some of the energy for
later use. It is a great project providing hours of educational fun, and is
suitable for children aged 8 and up. Included in the kit is all parts to make
the generator, fan assembly, and pedestal.
$49.95