One of the perks of working at an informal science institution is access to really fun supplies. At all of the places I’ve worked, my fellow educators and I have tried to use novel and interesting materials to engage students while at the same time being cost-effective. Since back to school time has arrived, I thought I’d use this post to share a few of my favorite things.
Sodium polyacrylate: A super-absorbent polymer, sodium polyacrylate allows baby diapers to absorb all that moisture. You could of course use it to talk about polymers, but I like to use it as an inquiry starter. When dry, it is a white powder, but when you add water, it turns into this cool-looking gel. You could place it in front of students and ask them to figure out what the mystery substance is and what it can be used for, or ask them to make predictions about how much water a certain amount of powder can hold. The possibilities are endless. Students are baffled by how much water a tiny amount of this stuff can absorb, and they love working with this material. You can buy sodium polyacrylate off of a science supply website, or just buy diapers and cut into them.
Parafilm: The first time I saw Parafilm it blew my mind. It looks like packing tape, but you can stretch it and stretch it so that a tiny square of Parafilm can cover huge beakers or seal other large containers. Younger students sometimes have trouble with the stretching because you need to be gentle, but once I model how to use this material, kids catch on quick. Parafilm costs more than tape, but if used properly, a little Parafilm can go a long way. Also, it gives the classroom a cool, science lab feel.
Crayola Bath Tints: I’m not even sure how to describe these. They look like Sweet Tarts, and when you drop them in water, they fizz and turn the water different colors. Interestingly, the color of the tablet doesn’t always match the color of the water so it is fun to have students make predictions. You could also use it to disguise different substances if you’re trying to get students to observe with other senses in addition to sight. We use it to teach about colors, but I’m sure that there are other uses for such a cool product.
These are just a few of my favorite things, and I’m always looking to add more materials to this list. What have you been stocking up on in your classroom? What materials do your students love?
