Nexus Research Group - FUN! Science activities and technology projects

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FUN! Science Activites and Projects

Astronomy/Geology
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Students success
Pedagogy / Learning
Technical/equipment
Science Fair

Welcome to the training room for young scientists.

Many activities are based on PREDICT, OBSERVE, EXPLAIN strategies to get students engaged, while others are technical or Science Fair projects we have been involved with.

Many of the projects below have won prizes at Science Fair

Astronomy

(Planet Earth and Beyond)

Bill Pickering - A Kiwi at NASA - read about Dr Sir William Pickering
Data logger substitute - Black Box data logger replacement - a PICAXE chip to record data anywhere, then download to your PC
Data logger substitute - a computer mouse data logger replacement - save hundreds of dollars by teaching your mouse a new trick
Data logger substitute - use a digital mutimeter as a data logger replacement - add any of these sensors to carry out great geology or atmospheric investigations!
Data logger substitute - RIGEL - the Real-world Interative Games and Electronics Link; the ultimate data logger and games system for teachers and students
Designing experiments a template for fair testing and the scientific method
Electronics Manual for Science, Maths and Art. Year 9 to Year 13 introductory PICAXE manual with simple circuits to make and example PICAXE codes.
Enviropower - New Zealands energy conservation and renewable energy pilot project
Fake fossils - make your own "dinosaur bones"
Lightning machine - and build a static electricity detector/ alarm!
Lunar Lander game - use nothing but air to steer a spaceship to safety
Microbiology experiments - the tiniest life on Earth gives clues as to life on other worlds
Micro-meteors collect shooting stars
Rocket models that fly! there are two different types here to make
Scientific Journalism winner - Do the benefits of science outweigh the risks? As printed by the Royal Society
Sensors from voltage dividers - make your own sensors for weather and astronomy experiments
Solar System model - Make planets that float in mid-air!
Stalagmites - create artificial limestone caves!
Sun Gun - shoot the closest star to Earth with this telescope adapter
Volcano model - make an eruption in your living room!
The interactive pages...arrange the planets of our solar system
The interactive pages...uncover the hidden secrets of each planet

Biology

(Living World)

The nature of science... What should 'doing science' look like in our classrooms?

Bacteria / plant symbiosis isolate your own culture of Rhizobium bacteria
Data logger substitute - Black Box data logger replacement - a PICAXE chip to record data anywhere, then download to your PC
Data logger substitute - a computer mouse data logger replacement - save hundreds of dollars by teaching your mouse a new trick
Data logger substitute - use a digital mutimeter as a data logger replacement - add sensors to carry out great biology investigations!
Data logger substitute - RIGEL - the Real-world Interative Games and Electronics Link; the ultimate data logger and games system for teachers and students
Build your own Mouse sensor save hundreds of $$ by teaching your mouse a new trick
Caulobacter a medically important bacterium found in New Zealand waterways?
Caulobacter student research - our research presented at Otago University, November 23rd 1999
Crime Scene Investigation our award winning CSI course requires some applications of biology
Designing experiments a template for fair testing and the scientific method
DNA extraction - use our original protocol to extract human DNA in minutes!
DNA fingerprinting - use our original protocol to seperate a mixture using electricity.
Environmental isolation of Protozoa (these single celled animals are fun to watch, a great High School project.
Electronics Manual for Science, Maths and Art. Year 9 to Year 13 introductory PICAXE manual with simple circuits to make and example PICAXE codes.
Electron Microscope - Photo Gallery Close up views of viruses, cells, and the UGLIEST creature on this site...the Stem Weevil!
Lethal lunch boxes - another winning science fair project using a temperature sensor to monitor food spoilage
Microbiology experiments - safer than growing unknown organisms! Lots of good ideas and techniques.
Microscope from junk - recycle old school left-overs and see a whole new world!
Micrograph viewer - share the microcope view with a friend...
Visit the National Center for Biotechnology Information to download GenBank genetic sequences.
Nitrogen fixation in New Zealand pastures - free fertiliser?
Oil spill bacteria -that degrade oil (hydrocarbon bioremediation)
Rhizobium - isolate your own nitrogen fixing bacteria
Safe micro-organisms to use in schools
Scientific Journalism winner - Do the benefits of science outweigh the risks? As printed by the Royal Society
Sensors from voltage dividers - make your own sensors for biology experiments
Swine Flu in New Zealand: symptoms, treatment & pandemic planning
Tissue culture - try the technique similar to the one used in cancer research and in cloning
Webcam Microscopy - use time lapse to watch cells grow and move
The interactive pages...discover how a microscope works

Chemistry

(Material World)

The nature of science... What should 'doing science' look like in our classrooms?

A chemical rainbow - a rainbow in a jar
Butter making in 1 easy step!
Crime Scene Investigation our award winning CSI course requires some applications of chemistry
Copper plating - turn everyday objects into jewellery by elctroplating
Data logger substitute - Black Box data logger replacement - a PICAXE chip to record data anywhere, then download to your PC
Data logger substitute - a computer mouse data logger replacement - save hundreds of dollars by teaching your mouse a new trick
Data logger substitute - use a digital mutimeter as a data logger replacement - add any of these sensors to carry out great chemistry investigations!
Data logger substitute - RIGEL - the Real-world Interative Games and Electronics Link; the ultimate data logger and games system for teachers and students
Designing experiments a template for fair testing and the scientific method
Dyes and indicators make your own acid/base indicator solution
DNA extraction - use our original protocol to extract human DNA in minutes!
Electrophoresis -use our original protocol to seperate a mixture using electricity.
Electricity from Lemons discover the power in fruit
Electronics Manual for Science, Maths and Art. Year 9 to Year 13 introductory PICAXE manual with simple circuits to make and example PICAXE codes.
Lethal lunch boxes - another winning science fair project using a temperature sensor to monitor food spoilage
Fire extinguisher and learning about burning things
Glass making
How the Chemical Elements got their name
Invisible ink write secret messages for your friends
Magic bottle that will amaze your friends!
Another magic bottle
Microbiology and nano-technology -the tiniest life forms hold fantastic chemical secrets
Milk Glue is amazingly strong stuff!
Mystery putty it bounces and stretches! Polymerisation at play
Oil spill bacteria -that degrade oil (hydrocarbon bioremediation)
Periodic Table: I like this one because it forces the students to learn the names and symbols of the elements. Microsoft Word format. Download
Proteins a simple demonstration of the composition of proteins
Rayon - a polymer carry out a polymerisation reaction
Rechargable cells build your own rechargable "battery"
Saline Cell Toys - a twist on getting electricity from fruit...get electricity from the power of playdough!
Scientific Journalism winner - Do the benefits of science outweigh the risks? As printed by the Royal Society
Sensors from voltage dividers - make your own sensors for chemistry experiments
Sherbet and acids - acid you can eat!
Tea ink another of the 1001 uses for tea
Testing for acids using ingredients from the kitchen pantry
Volcano model - make an eruption in your living room!
Webcam Microscopy - use this system to video crystals growing on a slide
Wonderful Copper plating - make leaves and flowers into metal plated earings and necklaces
The interactive pages...identify these pieces of lab equipment
The interactive pages...weird metals and gases hide in this Periodic Table

Physics

(Physical World)

The nature of science... What should 'doing science' look like in our classrooms?

Air pressure Is the bottle half empty or half full? Maybe it's never empty...
Air Track save money by building your own frictionless track!
Bending light you don't have to be Superman to do this demonstration
Bike Indicator - A Primary School student puts a PICAXE on her bike
Bill Pickering - A Kiwi at NASA - read about Dr Sir William Pickering
Build a cell or mobile phone signal detector
Crime Scene Investigation our award winning course requires some applications of physics
Classroom noise meter - Safe Sound Indicator is the commercial version produced by the NFD
Data logger substitute - Black Box data logger replacement - a PICAXE chip to record data anywhere, then download to your PC
Data logger substitute - a computer mouse data logger replacement - save hundreds of dollars by teaching your mouse a new trick
Data logger substitute - use a digital mutimeter as a data logger replacement - add any of these sensors to carry out great physics investigations!
Data logger substitute - RIGEL - the Real-world Interative Games and Electronics Link; the ultimate data logger and games system for teachers and students
Designing experiments a template for fair testing and the scientific method
Electricity from Lemons discover the power in fruit
Electronics Manual for Science, Maths and Art. Year 9 to Year 13 introductory PICAXE manual with simple circuits to make and example PICAXE codes.
Enviropower - New Zealands energy conservation and renewable energy pilot project
Floating - how can concrete float?
Heavy skies how heavy is the sky?
Laser Wars! - Play a combat game in broad daylight instead of in the dark! See the Terminator!
Lethal lunch boxes - another winning science fair project using a temperature sensor to monitor food spoilage
Lightning machine - and build a static electricity detector/ alarm!
Lunar Lander - use nothing but air to steer a spaceship to safety
Seeing magnetism in a bottle reveal the invisible "strings" that pull magnets together!
Microbiology and nano-technology -the tiniest life forms build gears, motors and fantastic machinery
Microscope from junk - recycle old school left-overs and see a whole new world!
Mighty Mouse - Light follow/avoid modes, line follow mode and only 8 legs away from evolving into a Cyber Spider!
Mini-submarine - this model is fun to make
Mission: Impossible stunts in the classroom!
Mission: Impossible game - Operate a nuclear reactor in this GameMaker simulation
Motors and Generators learn to build your own in this award winning article!
New Plymouth Observatory - visit their website here
Physics experiments - Determine the value for g, the acceleration due to gravity on Earth. PDF format.
PICAXE chips - cheap, easy to program chips with almost limitless potential
Physics labels - you will never use!
Rainbows make your own at will by using mirrors
Radiometer - a curious toy for your window sill
Rechargable cells build your own rechargable "battery"
Robots - build a Dalek, learn about Cybot Bob, ALIS and the new PICAXE controller chips
Rocket models that fly! there are two different types here to make
Saline Cell Toys - a twist on getting electricity from fruit...get electricity from the power of playdough!
Scientific Journalism winner - Do the benefits of science outweigh the risks? As printed by the Royal Society
Sensors from voltage dividers - make your own sensors for the data logger or your PICAXE robot
Seperating mixtures with an electric force field
Simple Speaker - a musical motor!
Solar System model - Make planets that float in mid-air!
Static electricity sensor - build a static electricity detector/ alarm!
Sun Gun - shoot the closest star to Earth with this telescope adapter
Toys for teaching teach simple concepts about electricicty and circuits while students make toys from spare parts...

Students never too young to do science...

The nature of science... What should 'doing science' look like in our classrooms?

Bike indicator - at age 7, she was the youngest student to enter science fair and wanted to make riding a bike safer

Classroom noise meter - a 10 year old student's science fair project is being commercially produced by the National Foundation for the Deaf

Gifted Children - support and ideas for teachers and parents, including case studies of interventions that worked very well.

Lethal lunch boxes - another 10 year old student winning science fair project using a temperature sensor to monitor food spoilage

Scientific Journalism winner - Do the benefits of science outweigh the risks? As printed by the Royal Society

A team effort - students of different ages, abilities and interests make a great team for New Zealands school-based research group

Designing experiments a template for fair testing and the scientific method

Teaching / Learning / Pedagogy

(The neXus files)

The nature of science... What should 'doing science' look like in our classrooms?

Primary Science Teacher Fellows Science takes a front seat in the revitalisation of science education in New Zealand

Technical / equipment
Electronics Manual for Science, Maths and Art. Year 9 to Year 13 introductory PICAXE manual with simple circuits to make and example PICAXE codes.
Science Fair download the entry form and the regulations plus heaps of project ideas!
Designing experiments a template for fair testing and the scientific method
Professional looking Science Fair and Conference posters
Gifted Children - support and ideas for teachers and parents, including case studies of interventions that worked very
Science Trivia
Wise Words
What is Science? Does our school version of Science really measure up?
What is the nature of science? What should 'doing science' look like in our classrooms?
Who founded the NRG?

Interactive ICT tools for Mathematics, Science and Robotics - getting the most from Game Maker. Presented at the New Zealand Association of Mathematics Teachers conference, NZAMT 2007
eLearning research report: Authentic learning using mobile sensor technology with reflections on the state of science education in New Zealand
ICT: Interested in Conversations and Thinking - technology is less important than the conversations it permits students to have with their teacher. For the techno-phobic this puts the student in the role of expert technologist but the teacher remains the expert assessor.
School science earns an F. Research by local scientist and Microsoft Innovative Teacher Michael Fenton indicates that the state of New Zealand's science teaching is antiquated and inadequate. What are some examples of 'best practice' when using computers in education, particularly to teach science?
Saving New Zealand Science. Why are scientists meeting to discuss flaws in NZQA science exams? Is it a case of dumbing the curriculum down or scientists being ' too academic' and expecting too much? How does NZQA pressure resource writers to perpetuate errors of fact in books and hence examinations?
Teaching and the f word: From the New Zealand INTERFACE article....putting the fun back into teaching while dealing with the competing tensions of assessment and covering the curriculum. For primary and secondary teachers

Some of the material included here is adapted from:

"Build-it-yourself Science Laboratory" by R. Barrett (1963)

"100 Amazing Make-it-yourself Science Fair Projects" by G. Vecchione (1994)

Taumarunui High School "Practical Science" by M. Fenton (1995-1996)

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