Supporting Materials for PBL

Gizmos and Gadgets

Books

Safety Information


Gizmos and Gadgets for PBL

The gizmos and gadgets are sold in kits by Arbor Scientific. For high school, there are two kits:
Kit 1 PK-0100
Kit 2 PK-0110

For middle school, there is one kit: Kit PK-0300

For elementary school, there will be two kits available soon.

The contents of all the kits (including elementary) are shown below.

High School Kits:

The High School Physics Kits support the lessons and experiments found throughout a new book from NSTA: Using Physics Gadgets and Gizmos, Grades 9–12: Phenomenon-Based Learning. Two kits are available and each includes about 25 tools to support lessons in angular momentum, buoyancy, magnetism, pressure, energy, and more.

What’s Included in the NSTA High School Physics Kits:

Kit 1 PK-0100

Pressure
Atmospheric Mat
Pressure Globe
Hollow Prism
Super Bottle Rocket Launcher
Atmospheric Pressure Cups

Laws of Thermodynamics
Reversible Thermoelectric Demo
Elasticity of Gases Demo
Fire Syringe
Drinking Bird
Ice Melting Blocks

Energy
Colliding Steel Spheres
Euler's Disc
Happy / Unhappy Balls
Crookes Radiometer
Magnetic Accelerator
Dropper Popper
Astroblaster

Colors
RGB Snap Lights and Spinner
Quantitative Spectroscope
Primary Color Light Sticks

Resonance
Set of 8 Boomwhackers
Sound Pipe
Music Box Mechanism
Standing Wave Apparatus
Singing Rods w/ Rosin

2D-motion
Vertical Acceleration Demonstrator
Ballistics Car
Introductory Energy and Motion Lab
Air-Powered Projectile
Angle Wedges
Launch Pad

Kit 2 PK-0110

Buoyancy
Solar Bag
Boat & Rock
Galileo's thermometer
Cartesian Diver
Poly Density Bottle

Angular Momentum
Rotating Platform
Extreme Gyroscope
IR-Controlled UFO Flyer
Perpetual Top
Celts
Power Ball Gyroscope

Magnetism
Magnetic Field Model
Clear Compasses
Levitron
3D Magnetic Compass

Electromagnetic Induction
Lenz's Law Apparatus
World's Simplest Motor
Electromagnetic Flashlight
Deluxe Hand Crank Generator
1 Farad Capacitor

More "Cool Stuff"
Mirage
Doppler Ball
Flying Cow
Fun Fly Stick
Energy Ball
Bernoulli's Bag

Middle School Kit:

The Middle School Physical Science Kit is ideal for supporting the lessons found throughout a new book published by the NSTA: Using Physical Science Gadgets and Gizmos, Grades 6-8: Phenomenon-Based Learning. The kit contains about 25 ‘cool tools’ that work in conjunction with the book’s instructional approach, which encourages students to first experience how the gadgets work and then become curious enough to find out why.

Products Included:

Waves
Tuning Forks (256, 384, 426.7, 288, 320 Hz)
Standing Wave Apparatus
Sound Pipe
Music Box
Doppler Ball

Colors
RGB Snap Lights and Spinner
Primary Color Light Sticks
Spectroscope
Giant Prism

Thermodynamics
Radiation Cans
Ice Melting Blocks
Ball and Ring
Drinking Bird
Fire Syringe

Pressure
Atmospheric Mat
Pressure Globe
Super Bottle Rocket Launcher
Atmospheric Pressure Cups

Density
Steel Sphere Density Kit
Boat & Rock
Solar Bag
Cartesian Diver

Force, Motion and Energy
Pull back car
Balancing bird
Inertia Apparatus
Vertical Acceleration Demonstrator
Energy and Motion Lab
Happy/Unhappy Balls

It's Science, not magic
Mirage
Doppler Popper
Bernoulli Bags
Fun Fly Stick
Energy Ball
Levitron

Elementary School Kit:

The Elementary Physical Science Kit is ideal for supporting the lessons found throughout a new book published by the NSTA: Using Physical Science Gadgets and Gizmos, Grades 3-5: Phenomenon-Based Learning. The kit contains about 25 ‘cool gadgets’ that are perfect for Phenomenon-Based Learning, which encourages students to first experience how the gadgets work and then become curious enough to find out why.

Books Supporting PBL

What student—or teacher—can resist the chance to experiment with Energy Balls, Ice Melting Blocks, Vertical Acceleration Demonstrators, Fun Fly Sticks, and other fun gadgets? The experiments in the Phenomenon-Based Learning series cover topics such as pressure, gravity, energy, velocity, and many more. The phenomenon-based learning (PBL) approach used by the authors—two Finnish teachers and a U.S. professor—is as educational as the experiments are attention-grabbing. Instead of putting the theory before the application, PBL encourages students to first experience how the gadgets work and then grow curious enough to find out why. Students engage in the activities not as a task to be completed but as exploration and discovery. The idea is to help your students go beyond simply memorizing physical science facts. Using Physical Science Gadgets and Gizmos can help students learn broader concepts, useful thinking skills, and science and engineering practices (as defined by the Next Generation Science Standards). And—thanks to those Energy Balls and Fun Fly Sticks—both your students and you will have some serious fun.

Links to PBL books in the NSTA Store

High School Book

Middle School Book

Elementary School Book (available in September 2014)

All PBL Books

Safety Information

Doing science through hands-on, process- and inquiry-based activities/experiments helps to foster the learning and understanding of science. However, in order to make for a safer experience, certain safety procedures must be followed based on legal safety standards and professional best safety practices. Throughout the PBL books, there are a series of "safety notes" which help to make it a safer learning experience for students and their teachers. In most cases, eye protection is required. Safety glasses and/or safety goggles noted must meet the ANSI Z87.1 safety standard. When doing other recommended activities found on-line at the end of each chapter, make sure appropriate safety precautions are taken. For additional safety information, check out NSTA's “Safety in the Science Classroom”.

References

·      Bobrowsky, M., 2007, The Process of Science...and its Interaction with Non-Scientific Ideas, American Astronomical Society, Washington, D.C. http://aas.org/education/The_Process_of_Science

·      Champagne, A.B., Gunstone, R.F., & Klopfer, L.E. 1985, "Effecting changes in cognitive structures among physics students," in H.T. West & A. L. Pines (Eds.), Cognitive structure and conceptual change. Orlando, FL: Academic Press.

·      Chi, M.T.H. & Roscoe, R.D  2002, “The Processes and Challenges of Conceptual Change,” in Reconsidering Conceptual Change: Issues in Theory and Practice, M. Limón and L. Mason, Editors. Kluwer Academic Publishers: Boston.

·      Crouch, C.H. & Mazur, E. 2001, “Peer Instruction: Ten Years of Experience and Results,Am. J. Phys., 69, 970.

·      Dale, E. 1969, “Audio-Visual Methods in Teaching,” Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.

·      Donivan, M. 1993, “A dynamic duo takes on science.” Science and Children, 31(2), 29-32.

·      Enger, S.K. and Yager, R. E., 2001, Assessing Student Understanding in Science: A Standards-Based K-12 Handbook, Corwin Press, Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA

·      Jacobs, H. H., Ed., 2010, Curriculum 21 Essential Education for a Changing World, ASCD, Alexandria, VA

·      Meadows, Donella H., 2008, Thinking in Systems – A Primer, Chelsea Green Publishing, White River Junction, VT

·      McTighe, J. and Wiggins, G., 2013, Essential Questions – Opening Doors to Student Understanding, ASCD, Alexandria, VA

·      National Research Council, 2011, A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas, National Academy Press, Washington, DC

·      National Research Council, 2000, Inquiry and the National Science Education Standards:  A Guide for Teaching and Learning, National Academy Press, Washington, DC

·      National Research Council , 2000, How People Learn – Brain, Mind, Experience, and School, National Academy Press, Washington, DC

·      P-16 Science Education at the Akron Global Polymer Academy
http://agpa.uakron.edu/p16/btp.php?id=wait-time



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