Parametric Graphing

 Using the @casio CG-50 calculator to sketch parametric functions. These are pretty hard to visualise but the calculator makes this a dream to do.

Coulombs Law

Measure the charge on two polystyrene balls with a coulomb meter, then bring them together and measure the change in force on the balance. The students had seen like charges repelling before, but this was the first time they had been able to measure this.

 

Vortex Mixer

 

Dissolving foods in water can be extremely difficult, and then it is hard for the students to get an accurate answer. Using a vortex mixer makes the food easier to dissolve and gives more accurate results.

Explain

 There are many key and command words found in the exam questions for all boards and all subjects. Teaching the students what to do with each keyword is vital to help them get full marks.

Building a working full adder circuit

Creating our own full adder circuit using AND XOR and OR gates to understand how computers work.

 

Life cycle assessments

 Which has the best life cycle assessment?  Do plastic bags or paper do the most environmental damage? The students were horrified that the plastic bag was more environmentally friendly. This sparked a tremendous environmental debate on how to make better paper bags or an alternative.

Wireless Thermometers

 The @pascoscientific thermometers are probably one of the most useful items of kit that we have. Used virtually every day in one experiment or another, they are more unbreakable than the glass analogue ones, and the students can read the values. What is there not to like.