|
Consumables |
Sources |
Approx. cost |
Suggestions for use |
Special Notes |
Checklist |
|
Bulbs |
Electrical suppliers
Scientific suppliers |
. |
Electric circuits |
Ensure that the voltage of the bulb(s) is equal to the total voltage of the cells in the circuit.
Consider using bi-directional LEDs as an alternative. |
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|
MES 2.5 V |
|
$12.40 per 10 |
|
|
MES 3.5 V |
|
$10.80 per 10 |
|
Burners, spirit |
Scientific suppliers |
|
Heat source |
It is advisable to embed the burner in a container of sand (such as an ice cream container) when in use.
A HOT PLATE, ELECTRIC FRYPAN, OR WATER BATH IS USUALLY A SAFER ALTERNATIVE. |
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|
Aluminium |
|
$6.40 |
|
|
Glass |
|
$15.90 |
|
Canisters with lid |
Photo processors (film canisters) |
Free |
Specimens
Mixing
Storage
Model rockets |
|
|
|
Carbon rods |
Old telephone cells or other discharged dry cells
D cells |
Free |
Electrolysis
Electric plating |
Do not cut open nicad or mercury cells. |
|
|
Chopping boards |
Budget retail stores |
$6.95 (plastic, small)
$10.95 (large) |
For protection of surfaces in construction and dissection activities |
Use plastic or cork tiles as an alternative. |
|
|
Clinometer |
Scientific suppliers |
$39.90 |
Measuring heights and angles |
A clinometer can be made from a protractor and a plumb-bob. |
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Coins (5c) |
|
. |
Samples of metals |
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Compasses
Plotting or charm |
Scientific suppliers |
$2.95 |
Magnetic fields |
Compasses can be hired from some advisory or resource centres. |
|
|
Pocket
(as used in orienteering) |
Sports shops |
$39 |
|
|
Conductivity rings |
Scientific suppliers |
$19.80 |
Conduction of heat energy |
Conductivity rings could be borrowed from a secondary school |
|
|
Dishes, petri |
Scientific suppliers |
$5.50 per 20
$34 per 200 |
Growing micro-organisms
Displaying things
Studies of bugs |
Petri dishes can be re-used.
Cheese containers could be used instead. |
|
|
Electric frypans |
Appliance stores
Second-hand shops |
|
Use as a heat source or as an incubator for cultures. |
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|
|
Electric jugs |
Appliance stores
Second-hand shops |
$30 |
For heating purposes |
|
|
|
Eyedroppers / Pasteur pipettes |
Scientific suppliers |
$6.30 per 10 |
|
Pasteur pipettes are plastic, graduated, and inexpensive droppers. |
|
|
Filter Funnels
(plastic, polypropylene,
25 mm) |
Scientific suppliers
Plastic-goods retailers |
$1.70 |
Separation by filtering |
The top third of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) soft drink bottles are a satisfactory alternative. |
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|
Glass samples |
Glass suppliers |
|
Investigations of light and colour |
Ensure that edges of samples are filed or fired. |
|
|
Goggles
(Polycarbonate construction) |
Scientific suppliers
Engineering or
construction suppliers
Hardware shops |
$9.20 |
For safety when heating chemicals
For safety in any impact situations, such as breaking rocks or collision activities |
|
|
|
Hairdryer |
Appliance stores |
|
As a source of heat or wind |
|
|
|
Hotplate or bench oven
Single-hob cooker (solid top) |
Scientific suppliers |
|
Heat source |
|
|
|
Appliance stores |
$190 |
|
|
Jars |
Home |
Free |
Storage
Display
Mixing |
Some jars, such as those containing pasta sauce, often show a measuring scale. |
|
|
Knives, craft |
Educational suppliers
Hardware stores
Hobby and craft shops |
$13.40 |
|
Do not use for cutting PET bottles. |
|
|
Lab coats |
Scientific suppliers
Industrial suppliers |
|
Protective clothing |
Alternatively, use old shirts. |
|
|
100% cotton drill (all sizes) |
|
$46.80 |
|
|
Polycotton |
|
$45.90 |
|
|
|
Consumables |
Sources |
Approx. cost |
Suggestions for use |
Special notes |
Checklist |
|
Lenses
(See also Magnifiers) |
Scientific suppliers |
$21.40 set of 6 |
Investigations of light
Looking at small objects such as plants, animals, or rocks
Telescope |
A magnifying glass is a biconvex lens.
Lenses could be borrowed from a secondary school. |
|
|
Opticians |
|
|
|
Magnets |
Scientific suppliers
Electrical repair shops |
|
Magnetism
Earth science - model of Earth
Electromagnets and motors |
Store away from computers and computer disks.
Store with the keepers provided to protect the magnetism.
Magnets can be obtained from fridge doors, microwave ovens, and old speakers. |
|
|
Bar magnets (plastic coated, ceramic 80 x 20 x 10 mm) |
|
$8.50 each |
|
|
Block magnets (ceramic, high field strength, 80 x 22 x 10 mm) |
|
$9.50 |
|
Horseshoe magnets (100 mm length) |
|
$11 |
|
Magnetic strip |
|
$12.60 |
|
Ring |
|
$1.65 (small)
$5.50 (large) |
|
Magnifiers
Folding |
Scientific suppliers |
$4.50 |
|
Store in a closed box to prevent them causing fire. |
|
|
Single lens with handle |
Scientific suppliers |
$9.80 |
|
|
|
Budget retail stores |
|
|
Maps
(geological, star) |
Observatory
Geological society |
$5 - 15 |
Identification of:
- land forms
- rock types
- stars
- constellations.
Field trips |
|
|
|
Marbles |
Toyshops
Budget retail stores |
$2 per bag |
Projectiles
Pinball-type experiments
Fair testing |
|
|
|
Material Safety Data Sheets |
Scientific suppliers |
$50 |
These sheets contain safety information and properties of substances. |
Request data sheets when purchasing chemicals. The supply companies are obliged by law to supply them (refer to Safety and Science, pages 38 and 39). |
|
|
Measuring cylinders
(plastic) |
Scientific suppliers |
|
Measurement of liquids
Making solutions
Cartesian divers
Density measurements
Fair testing |
Measuring jugs will do the same job. |
|
|
100 mL polypropylene |
|
$7.25 |
|
|
100 mL TPX/PMP |
|
$11.30 |
|
250 mL polypropylene |
|
$10.50 |
|
Measuring jugs |
Plastic-goods retailers
Supermarkets |
$3.50 - $15.75 |
|
|
|
|
Measuring spoons |
Supermarkets
Pharmacies
Plastic-goods retailers
Budget retail stores |
$1.99 - $3.99 |
Measuring liquids and solids
Fair testing |
|
|
|
Metal
(scrap) |
Scrap metal dealers
Sheet metal workshops
Science resource centres |
|
Heat expansion
Rusting
Oxidation
Mass
Weight
Plumb-bobs for pendulums
Electroplating
Making batteries |
|
|
|
Meteorological instruments |
Garden suppliers
Ship chandlers
Stock and station agents |
|
Weather |
Meteorological instruments can be borrowed from a secondary school or from people in the community. |
|
|
Barometer |
|
$80 |
Air pressure |
|
|
|
Hygrometer |
|
$34 |
Humidity |
|
|
|
Maximum-minimum thermometer |
|
$21.50 |
Temperature |
|
|
|
Rain gauge |
|
$28.50 |
Rainfall |
A rain gauge can be made from a PET bottle. |
|
|
Wind speed meter
(in km/h, with conversion table) |
|
$50 |
Wind speed |
|
|
|
Metre rulers |
Hardware shops
Scientific suppliers |
$3 - $7 |
For measuring length |
Metal tape-measures can also be used and are often more robust. |
|
|
Microscopes |
Scientific suppliers
Universities or secondary schools |
|
Binocular microscopes (low magnification) are most useful for looking at small animals, plants, fabrics, crystals, paper, etc.
Monocular microscopes (high magnification) are used for looking at thin sections and prepared slides. |
Microscopes can be borrowed.
A class requires at least 2 - 3 microscopes for convenience.
These should be low-powered binocular microscopes (up to 20X magnification is adequate), easy to use, and durable.
Microscopes are a good project for PTA funding. |
|
|
Binocular
(stereo) |
|
$250 - $900 |
|
|
Monocular |
|
$250 - $900 |
|
Microscope slides |
Scientific suppliers |
$2.50 (box 50) |
Holding specimens for examination |
Slides can be made using sticky tape instead of cover slips.
Microscope slides are also useful for observing crystallisation. |
|
|
Microwave
(access only) |
|
|
Heating, drying, and cooking |
|
|
|
Mirrors, Plastic
Plane (150 mm x 100 mm)
Convex (100 mm) |
Signwriters
Glass shops
Scientific suppliers |
$25.00 per 10 |
Light investigations
Reflection, translation, and rotation
Periscopes |
Alternatively, use plastic mirror tiles and strips from bathroom supplies or signwriters. |
|
|
Nails |
Hardware stores |
Various |
Testing hardness of minerals
Rusting and corrosion
Metal testing (different types of metal) |
Use brass, steel, and galvanised nails. |
|
|
|
|
Consumables |
Sources |
Approx. cost |
Suggestions for use |
Special notes |
Checklist |
|
Paint-mixing trays |
Educational suppliers |
|
Collecting
Testing acidity or starch
Small-scale experiments |
Ice cube trays are a suitable alternative. |
|
|
Perfume bottles
(empty or full) |
Homes |
|
Scent
Diffusion
Storage |
|
|
|
Photographs
(old) |
Homes
Newspaper offices
Museums |
|
To show changes in land use |
|
|
|
Prisms, glass
(equilateral, 50 mm) |
Scientific suppliers
Display agents
Signwriters |
$5.80 |
Light and colour
Refraction |
|
|
|
Probes |
|
|
Investigating rocks
Testing hardness of minerals |
Old dental probes may be obtained from dentists.
Alternatively, use sharpened nails. |
|
|
Pulleys |
Stock agents
Hardware shops
Ship chandlers |
|
Toys
Machines
Forces
Motion
Construction
Lego Technic |
Sturdy pulleys are required for primary students. These can be hired from some advisory or resource centres. |
|
|
Rock and mineral kits |
Geology Department at Otago University
Science Resource Centre at Dunedin College of Education |
$50 - $100 |
Growing crystals Fossils
Jewellery
Earth Science, e.g., volcanos, erosion, weathering, stones, history of the earth |
Rock and mineral kits can be hired from some advisory or resource centres. |
|
|
Rocks |
Geology Department at Otago University
Science Resource Centre at Dunedin College of Education |
|
Classification and grouping
Making comparisons and observations |
|
|
|
Rulers and tape measure |
Stationers
Budget retail stores
Educational suppliers |
69c - $1.50 |
Measuring
Making telescopes |
Use tape measures or graduated bamboo stakes. |
|
|
Scales
(kitchen, diet) |
Sport shops
Budget retail stores |
$2.99 - $9.99 |
Measuring mass
Cooking and making food
Predicting and estimating |
|
|
|
Scissors |
Stationers
Budget retail stores |
$1 - $2.50 |
Construction |
|
|
|
Sieves |
Plastic goods retailers
Budget retail stores |
$6.99 (large)
$3.99 (medium) |
Straining
Filtering
Separating mixtures |
Use net curtains or pantyhose. |
|
|
Skateboard |
Sports shops
Budget retail stores |
|
Friction
Safety
Motion
Fair tests |
Students can provide their own. |
|
|
Slag hammers |
Hardware shops |
$10.45 |
Breaking soft rocks |
Wear safety goggles.
Do not allow mass destruction of geological samples or sites.
For safety reasons, do not use carpentry hammers for breaking rocks. |
|
|
Spoons
(wooden spoons and teaspoons) |
Supermarkets
Budget retail stores |
|
Stirring |
|
|
|
Stoppers
(rubber, cork) |
Scientific suppliers
Supermarkets |
|
|
Stoppers can be rubber or cork.
Wine-bottle corks may be used. |
|
|
Stopwatches |
Electrical suppliers
Sports shops |
$30 |
Timing, e.g., animal studies, pulse rates, fair tests, speed |
Stopwatches could be borrowed from secondary schools. |
|
|
Tarpaulin |
Budget retail stores
Garden centres
Paint shops |
$19.99 - $29.99 |
Use for all science activities. |
Spread on floor to protect carpet.
Plastic sheeting can also be used. |
|
|
Telescope |
Scientific suppliers
Camera shops |
$800 - $2000 |
Astronomy
Lenses |
Binoculars are more useful for stargazing.
Make your own telescope or binoculars with a ruler and lenses. |
|
|
Test tube holders |
Scientific suppliers |
$2.75 each |
For holding hot test tubes |
Alternatively, use a folded paper strip or bent wire. |
|
|
Test tube racks |
Scientific suppliers |
$7.10 |
For storing test tubes safely |
|
|
|
Test tube brushes |
Scientific suppliers |
$2.75 each (medium size) |
For cleaning test tubes |
|
|
|
Test tubes
(25 mm x 150 mm with rim) |
Scientific suppliers |
$79 pkt 100 |
Holding substances
Heating and mixing |
Test tubes are available from a university glass blower.
Polypropylene test tubes may also be available. |
|
|
Thermometers
(red spirit, 300 mm) |
Scientific suppliers |
$3.65 each |
Measuring temperature |
Do not use for stirring.
Do not use over a naked flame. |
|
|
Torch |
Budget retail stores
Appliance stores |
$8.99 with batteries |
Light
Shadows
Electric circuits
Models of the sun |
|
|
|
Tubing
(PVC non-toxic, black, thin wall-tube) |
Scientific suppliers
Hospitality industry suppliers
Pet shops
Garden suppliers |
. |
Construction
Models
Animal studies |
|
|
|
30-m coil, 3.2-mm internal diameter |
|
$9 |
|
|
30-m coil, 5.5-mm internal diameter |
|
$16.60 |
|
Tuning forks |
Music shops
Scientific suppliers |
$47.60 |
Sound |
Use a length of metal rod held at the centre instead. |
|
|
Tweezers and forceps |
Pharmacists
Scientific suppliers |
$3.35 |
Examining things
Dissections
Picking up small objects |
|
|
|
Vacuum cleaner |
Homes |
|
Source of an air current |
Use school vacuum cleaner. Check that the vacuum cleaner will actually blow out air. |
|
|
Wheels, plastic |
Educational suppliers |
|
Motion
Friction
Forces
Fair tests
Construction |
Use 4.5-mm cane skewers as axles.
Kebab sticks and plastic milk bottle lids are an effective substitute. |
|
|
Wires
(plain, nichrome, copper, fuse, florist's) |
Budget retail stores
Electrical suppliers
Science suppliers
Radio wholesalers
Auto electricians
Electrical suppliers
Electricians |
|
Electricity
Cutting ice |
Do not allow children to strip wire with their teeth. |
|
|
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