DIY Lab Equipment

First, save recycled materials.  Yogurt cups can substitute for a plastic beaker.  Styrofoam trays are fine for dissections. Soda cans and coffee cups become calorimeters (below).  Raid your house; tea candles can be used to heat solutions.  Use coffee stir sticks, toothpicks, q-tips, and craft sticks for labs.  Cupcake liners replace weigh boats.  Clothes pins can hold small test tubes.  Now, let’s make homemade lab equipment!  

Graduated Cylinder: Make your own graduated cylinder with a soda bottle.  A1/2 teaspoon is 2.5 mL and one teaspoon is five mL. Below are instructions using a syringe.  

DIY Balance Scale: Here are six homemade balance scales using hangers, rules, even an egg carton.  This Homemade Scale is even simpler.  Use coins as weights.  For example a penny weighs 2.5 grams, a nickel, five grams.  Kiddos must do a little math.  A digital scale is fairly inexpensive.  Compare the degree of accuracy.

CD Spectroscope: Make your own spectroscope or this more sophisticated version.

Soda Can Calorimeter and a Coffee Cup Calorimeter: These are the calorimeters I use.  Really.  Teens like to rig equipment; both produce good data.  

Conductivity Meter: This version has more detail and uses pencils, which have graphite.  

Cell Phone Microscope:  The video show you how to make a microscope with a laser pointer and a cell phone.  (Use an old cell phone.) 

This microscope clips on to your cell phone. It’s pretty cheap; the better the cell phone’s camera, the better the resolution.  

Young Explorers Chemistry and Physics: Module 1

 The Young Explorers Chemistry and Physics (YECP) class meets once a week for 75 minutes.  Today we did the rest of the chapter vocabulary, reviewed properties of matter, and did do Try this! exercises.  Last week we weighed a bunch of objects with a digital scale.  (I’m teaching high school Chem, too.  I had cylinders, cubes, marbles, cork, etc for a density lab the high schoolers did.)  We’re recording data in the Notebooking Journal.  I’m working on recording, the title, the names of the objects, and units of measure under the projects section.  The kiddos are learning to take a few notes, how to record data, and following directions.  We also made it through the buoyancy experiment.  The kiddos made aluminum boats and observed how many Pennie’s the boat holds and still floats.  Yes, things were quite wet.  However, the class is very enthusiastic.  I only got one photo.  I’ll work on it!  There are three Co-op classes taking place simultaneously.  I made it clear, the YECP group need my undivided attention.

Sorry this is so grainy.  The twelve year old took the photos while I was helping high school students.   Aaaaaarrrrgggghhhhh.

Claim Evidence Reasoning: Density Bottle

 What is Claim Evidence Reasoning CER?  First, it’s another tool to get kiddos to think. Next week, I ‘m using the density bottle to get kids to make an observation and explain just what is happening. The Density Bottle is an example of a discrepant event.  (I bought mine here.  In fact, I put my original bottle in a safe spot and thought it was gone.  It’s so cool, bottles do walk off sometimes.  Surprise!  Now I have two.)  How does the demo work?  I pull out the bottle, shake it, and let kids watch the beads settle into the middle.  They write down what is happening, based on evidence, and explain their reasoning.  The bottle has salt water and alcohol.  (Here and here are instructions to make your own bottle.  We tried this summer at Maker Camp.  Exactly one bottle worked.  One.  I want to try with distilled water and or higher quality salt.  Here is an explanation about salt water density.)  The clear liquid in the bottle has a mixture of water, alcohol, and salt.  Additionally, the beads are UV Beads and plastic, pony beads.  The beads have a different compositions and different densities.  The Density Bottle is a favorite.  Anything different is good.  Kiddos like to think about a discrepant event! Yes, I work harder to make Chem interesting.  Why?  Chem is hard.  However labs and demos are fun.  I have to achieve a balance to keep the teens engaged.  (Yes, I did use the density bottle with the YECP Middle School class.  They liked it, too!)

Spreadsheets

 The math and science Co-op classes use spreadsheets whenever possible.  My husband, Rob, worked in corporate finance with SAP.  Data, in many forms, was organized in spreadsheets.  The kiddos in Chemistry completed a density lab.  

  After collecting the raw data, students add formulas, correct decimals, learn about accepted values and percent error.  The raw data and formulas all go into the spreadsheet.  (One common error is teens will make simple calculations, such as density, on the calculator, and enter the number.  This is called ‘hard coding’.  Instead students should enter formulas; answers can change if the data changes.)  Initially, this process takes some time.  Anytime you build skills, kiddos need to practice.

Spreadsheets are just another tool.  Google Workspace has spreadsheet tips.  While Rob really prefers Microsoft Excel, the pricing is out of control.  (Another subscription?!?  Booo!)  The result is Google Sheets.  Try using a spreadsheet.  Ask around for help!  Keep adding tools your kiddo can use now and in the future.

Measures

Measures or measurement can be its own unit, adaptable for your family.  

Elementary: NSTA has a sample, How Big is a Foot?, from More Picture Perfect Science Lessons.  I like lessons which include books, especially for kiddos.  Look at all of the Measures Books and easy lesson ideas.  For example, read How Far Can a Kangaroo Jump? and then measure how far your kiddos can jump.  

Middle School: Make your own Balance Scale and coins as weights.  You’ll need to do a bit of math.  The Volume Lab requires a graduated cylinder.  There are four parts to the lab, including the classic rainbow lab.  Human Body Ratios is another fun lab.  Set your own Body Benchmarks.  For example, the width of a child’s finger is often close to one centimeter.

High School: Typically, students are taught how to use the lab equipment during measurement labs; Equipment Measurement Lab is one example.  Introduction to Measurement uses pennies for several activities: direct measurement, mass, volume by displacement,  density, and includes significant figures, estimated digit, and precision.  Even in high school Chemistry and Physics Co-op classes, we review measures.  HST offers Apologia’s Module #1 Measurements and Units (Chemistry 2e)  Two experiments, Comparing Conversions and Density are in Apologia’s Physics (2e) textbook, too. See why I like Apologia?  This book and answer key comprise an excellent assessment of measurements.

Reinforce measurements all the time!  Use Body Benchmarks to estimate lengths.  (We do this all the time; my husband’s foot is about 12 inches, perfect for measuring rooms and rugs.)  How much fertilizer do you need to make a solution for the tomato plants?  Weigh the apples.  How many pounds do we need for the apple sauce recipe?  What if we want to double the recipe?  How much sugar, cinnamon, and apples will we need?  Calculate the car’s average mileage.  Measures is likely one of the most practical STEM lesson you can teach.

Biology: Dichotomous Keys

 Apologia refers to Dichotomous Keys as Biological Keys.  All three editions have one biological key experiment.  My teens need more trials before they can understand how to key out species.  

1.  Here are two easy keys with answers.  One has candy.  Do the Jelly Bean Classification next.  Classic Jelly Belly flavors work well for the activity.

2. Pamishans (Key) and the Button Family are classics.  My kiddos get bags of button to learn how to make their own keys.

3.  Here are more sets to use to practice.  My teens usually need about four activities to master the concept.  The quiz is usually another key.  Mollusk Dichotomous Key has a few keys to use for a quiz.  Start with the Teacher’s Guide.  I think the Pasta Types and Key is a good quiz.  The goal of a quiz is to check for understanding, especially if your kiddo seems to get the concept.

Bicycle Science!

This school year let’s do more science!  What do kids like?  They like to ride bikes!  Kiddos might want to know why professional cyclists hunch over their bikes in a race.  My husband, Rob, uses a bike to explain gears.  Do your children know how to maintain their bikes?  What are the parts called?  What do they do?  So much science!  Let’s get started.

Gears: I bought LEGO Gear Bots kits for my Chemistry and Physics class this fall.  We need to understand gears and gear ratios.  Here is a LEGO lesson about gears to use as an introduction.  Teach Engineering has a good Gears slide deck.  HST has Gears, both a lesson and an activity.  Cut out and play with styrofoam gears.

Bike Parts and Bike Safety: Bike Parts Race is a grab and go lesson with a labeled bike diagram, traffic lesson, and helmet safety.  Combine the lesson with Bicycle Safety Activity Kit, which has coloring and connect the dot activities for younger kiddos.

Science of Cycling Aerodynamics is an article from The Exploratorium; the article has an embedded calculator to measure aerodynamic drag.  Teach Engineering has Design a Bike Helmet.  Here is a teachers webpage with examples the class made to use as inspiration.

Don’t let the cost of a microscope deter you from buying a microscope for your Biology course. I have ideas!

 Just like the other expensive lab equipment or kits,  parents balk at buying a microscope. Some families sketch the image from an online image. Noooooo! Yes, decent microscopes can be run hundreds of dollars.   I think kiddos should have the experience of focusing and sketching slides—not just looking at the image online.  There are affordable solutions!

Does your library have a microscope?  They might!  Ours does!  They may or may not have microscope slides.  You may need to use the microscope at the library.  BTW I don’t think you have to use the specific slides recommended by Apologia.  It’s more important your kiddo gets a microscope experience.  A set of 25 prepared slides has enough variety for a high school Biology course.  (Sure, I’ve invested in microscope slides for Co-op.  But the first year, we used a set of 25 Amscope slides with borrowed microscopes.)

Another option is a clip-on or zoom lens for any cell phone.  Do you have an old cell lying in a drawer?  Use it!  Clip-on microscopes are around $10-20.  Your kiddo will get the experience of focusing, taking a screenshot, and sketching the image.  

Another choice is a USB Microscope, which runs about $20-30.  They attach to a laptop or a Chromebook.  Again, teens focus the microscope, snap a screenshot, and sketch the image.  I have a box of these microscopes.  Kiddos bring their devices.  Some brands work better with a laptop; others interface with a Chromebook.  I can’t get any to connect with an iPad.  

Do I use traditional microscopes?  Yes!  Typically, we set up every variety of microscope and have teens use all of them.  I have an adapter for a traditional microscope which allows students to position their cell phone and capture the image.  My favorite brand is Amscope.  The one immediately below is around $100 and includes a few slides.  Yes, we use kiddie microscopes, such as My First Microscope, too.  I can’t recommend buying a used microscope at eBay or Good Will. Have I tried?  Oh yes!  It’s been a very

mixed bag.   If you have a microscope slide, test any used microscope from the thrift store.  

Can you tell I am passionate about this topic?  Don’t blow your budget!  Do sketch microscope slides!  Her’s hoping your library has one you can borrow!

Unusual Electives: ORISE’s Harnessed Atom and AI and Us

 ORISE is the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education. They have loads and loads of lessons.  (Be sure to take a look at the Oak Ridge History Museum.  Oak Ridge was once a ‘secret city’.)  Their middle school nuclear program is the Harnessed Atom—which is the program I use in Chemistry, if we can get to nuclear chemistry.  Do a mini-unit about nuclear energy.  ORISE is also offering AI and Us, an introduction to AI.  Here is the guide.  Explore AI as a family.  Try different versions of AI.  Have a deep discussion about AI and cheating.  I’ve taught professionally in private and public schools, as well as at a small college. Cheating is a huge issue which seems to be getting worse and worse with AI.  Let’s examine AI as a family and make it another interesting elective.

Yes, even more ways to infuse more science into your curriculum: 250th!

 Are you planning a field trip?  Just add science!  For example, I bet you’re planning some history tours in honor of the Semiquincentennial.  Virginia 250 has a long list of places to visit. Visit a mill.  (Read this article about children and mills from NPS or gristmills.)  Learn more about the archeology of a site such as Alexander Archeology Museum.  Whenever possible, see if there’s a docent!  Ask about the archeology. Try to visit when the park, museum, or historical site has reenactors.  These folks have done a ton of research before assuming their roles.  Talk to the blacksmith about his tools and craft.  What happens to the metal at each stage when he makes a knife?  How does he maintain even temperatures?  Ask the reenactor in the kitchen to explain how women kept a fire going.  How did they start a fire?  Could they show you?  How did women capture wild yeast for their bread?  See?  There is loads and loads of science in history.  When you document your field trip for your portfolio, make a note that it was cross-curricular.  BTW you’re going to make some docent’s day with your insightful questions.

See an ad—find the lab! Remote Control Aluminum Cans

 Have you seen Chemistey ads on Instagram.  Below is a screenshot of one of the chemistry labs with an aluminum can and balloons.  

First, what is the lab?  It the same lab as Exploratorium’s Remote Control Roller.  Basically, the lab is about static electricity.  The Physics Classroom has a Think Sheet about charges.  Here are additional materials about Static Electricity.  In Chemistry reactions are all about sharing or exchanging electrons, which are part of atoms but located outside the nucleus of an atom.  

BTW Remote Control Rollers is a favorite at Science Camp.  Pick a day with relatively low humidity; the best time is a cold, dry day in the winter.  The next time you see an ad, take a screenshot and do a Google search.  Let’s not spend hundreds of dollars on experiments which have been around forever.