Low cost equipment for general science demonstrations

Abstract

Scope of Study: The teaching of general science courses in many public schools is confined solely to text book work. The failure to use laboratory equipment for student experimentation and teacher demonstration may be blamed, in part, on the high cost of such equipment. Many pieces of equipment may be improvised from readily obtainable materials. Such improvised equipment is both inexpensive and useful and the ability to construct and use such apparatus is invaluable to the general science teacher.

Findings and Conclusions: Some of the best sources of materials are drug stores, hardware stores, war surplus stores, automobile parts stores, variety stores, salvage yards, school shops, and radio repair shops. The student body is another useful source.

Certain basic equipment is deemed necessary for the general science classroom. Ring stands, burners and heaters, a water source, flasks and bottles, stoppers, tubing, and electrical wire are indispensable. Some of these items may be constructed by the teacher, others must be bought.

A series of demonstrations from each of several broad areas of science are included in the report. Each demonstration was selected by applying the following criteria: A scientific principle must be involved; some equipment must be used; the equipment must be of a sort easily constructed from simple materials; and construction work must be simple and short. Complete lists of materials, instructions, and, in some cases, drawings are given for ea.ch demonstration.