You flip the light switch and hear a crisp pop. The room remains dark, which can mean only one thing. It is time to replace the light bulb.

“Mom, I am getting a new bulb out of the closet,” you announce to your mother.

“Let it cool down,” your mother calls back.

She knows you have changed many light bulbs over the last few years. You learned long ago that light bulbs get really hot when they are on.

Imagine a light bulb that seems to last forever. A typical incandescent bulb may only last a few years. There is one bulb in a California firehouse that has broken all the records. It has stayed lit for over 100 years. In fact, it has been burning bright since 1901. The bulb supports the phrase, “they don’t make them like they used to.” But do they? The answer to that is a little complicated.

Until just a few years ago, most light bulbs that were sold were similar to the one in the firehouse. This was called an incandescent bulb. These bulbs emit light as electricity is passed through a carbon filament.

As electrical current passes through the filament, it gets really hot and emits light. You can clearly see the filament in the centennial bulb.

Electric current enters a light bulb, passes through the filament, and then travels back out. This loop through the lightbulb completes the circuit. This allows the bulb to light. When the filament in a bulb breaks, it opens the circuit and electric current will not move. 

These old bulbs had much thicker filaments than more modern bulbs. This thick filament is what has kept this bulb burning so long.

The problem with this type of light bulb is they produce a lot of heat. Things that emit light also emit heat. These old bulbs produce a lot more heat than light.

That’s why newer bulbs are made with thinner filaments. This is also why it’s important to let the bulb cool off before you try to replace it.

Producing more heat than light wastes energy and electricity. Older light bulbs used 90 percent of their energy to produce heat. To conserve electricity, new light bulbs were developed that were more efficient. Many people now are replacing their light bulbs with another new version of the light bulb, LED bulbs. LED is short for Light Emitting Diode. These bulbs are very efficient and extremely long lasting. They do not overheat and burn out as incandescent bulbs do. By using LED bulbs, families can conserve energy and save a lot of money. 

As you open the closet door, you see the box of bulbs. You carefully remove one from the box. You return to your room. Your mother has brought the step stool for you to stand on. You check the old bulb to make sure it has cooled enough to touch. You unscrew the old bulb and replace it with the new bulb.

You flip the light switch and hear a crisp pop! The room remains dark, which can mean only one thing. It is time to replace the light bulb.

“Mom, I am getting a new bulb out of the closet,” you announce to your mother.

“Let it cool down,” your mother calls back.

She knows you have changed many light bulbs over the last few years. You learned long ago that light bulbs get really hot when they are on.

Imagine a light bulb that seems to last forever. A typical incandescent bulb may only last a few years but there is one bulb in a California firehouse that has broken all the records.  It has been illuminating light for over 100 years.  In fact, it has been burning bright since 1901. The bulb supports the phrase, “they don’t make them like they used to.” But do they? The answer to that is a little complicated.

Until just a few years ago, most light bulbs that were sold were similar to the one in the firehouse. This type of light bulb is called an incandescent bulb. These bulbs emit light as electricity is passed through a carbon filament.

As electrical current passes through the filament, it gets really hot and emits light. You can clearly see the filament in the centennial bulb pictured.

Electric current enters the light bulb, passes through the filament, and then travels back out. This loop through the light bulb completes the circuit,  allowing the bulb to light. When the filament in a bulb breaks, it opens the circuit and electric current will not move. 

These old bulbs had much thicker filaments than more modern bulbs. This thick filament is what has kept this bulb burning so long.

The problem with this type of light bulb though is it produces a lot of heat. Things that emit light also emit heat and these old bulbs produce a lot more heat than light.

That’s why newer bulbs are made with thinner filaments. This is also why it’s important to let the bulb cool off before you try to replace it.

Producing more heat than light wastes energy and electricity. Older light bulbs used 90% of their energy to produce heat so to conserve electricity, new light bulbs were developed that were more efficient. Many people now are replacing their light bulbs with another new version of the light bulb: LED bulbs. LED, is short for Light Emitting Diode. These bulbs are very efficient and extremely long lasting because they do not over heat and burn out as incandescent bulbs do. By using LED bulbs, families conserve energy and save a lot of money.

As you open the closet door, you see the box of bulbs. You carefully remove one from the box and return to your room. Your mother has brought the step stool for you to stand on. You check the old bulb to make sure it has cooled enough to touch, unscrew the old bulb and replace it with the new bulb.

Introduction

Scientists use many tools with their investigations. Astronomers use telescopes. Telescopes help us look at far away objects. Other scientists use microscopes. Microscopes help us look at very small objects. Chemists use lots of tools when mixing, heating, or even applying pressure to chemicals. When a piece of equipment is made for a specific purpose, it is called apparatus. Some of these tools may be familiar, while others will be new to you.

The Tools of Science

There are three important things to consider when learning about these tools of science. First, it is important to learn the names of the tools you will be using. Next, it is just as important to know what tools to use when doing an investigation. Last, you will need to learn how to use these tools correctly.

Tools can be similar. But they may have different purposes. Improper use of tools can result in imprecise data. Imprecise data may keep a scientist from forming a good conclusion. You should become familiar with the lab apparatus you will use. Then, you will be able to choose the best tool for the job.

For example, both a beaker and graduated cylinder can be used to measure the volume of a liquid. If you were looking for an approximate amount, a beaker may be appropriate to use. If you needed an exact amount, it would be best to use the graduated cylinder.

A hand lens and a microscope can both be used to take a closer look when making observations. A microscope uses light to look through objects. Materials you cannot see through, like a seashell, are better observed with a hand lens. Learning about lab equipment is also for staying safe.  Some of the tools in science can be dangerous if not used correctly. Knowing the tools and how to use them will help everyone stay safe.

Types of Lab Apparatus

There are two basic types of lab apparatus. One type will help measure. The other type will help in the process for collecting data. Think of a time you worked at home. Maybe your mother asked you to dig a hole to plant a new flower plant she bought. You used a shovel to dig a hole for the plant. You used a tape measure to make sure the hole was deep enough. One tool was for measuring. The other tool aided you with a process.

You may have heard of tools such as a thermometer, meter stick and a balance. These tools help measure temperature, length, and mass. In other words, they are data collection devices. They collect the evidence for scientists. This evidence will later help them draw conclusions.

Other tools help influence the science inquiry. For example, a Bunsen burner may be used to heat up items. Tools may be used for mixing, heating, cooling, and even applying forces. There are many types of tools and devices being created daily.

Using equipment to gather data must be done with care. Tools are only as accurate as the person using them. Human error makes up a lot of the measuring errors found in science. Many tools are capable of great precision in the hands of an expert. With practice, you will become an expert.

To be a scientist, you must be curious. To find answers, you must look carefully. Measurements must be taken in a careful and precise manner. All the looking in the world may not reveal the answer. The point to be made is superior analysis starts with data collection. The quality of this data is based on the care and precision in which you use the tools of science.

Conclusions

For now, it is important to listen to your teacher. They will explain the instructions in the lab. And they will tell you tools you will use. As you spend more time in the lab, you will better learn the names of some basic apparatus. You will learn how to properly use the equipment. By learning how to use the equipment, you will be able to collect good data and be safe at the same time. You will become a great scientist and an expert in the use of scientific tools.

Introduction

Scientists use many tools with their investigations. Telescopes are used by astronomers to look at far away objects. Other scientists use microscopes to look at very small objects. Chemists use a variety of equipment when mixing, heating, or even applying pressure to chemicals. When a piece of equipment is designed for a specific purpose it is called apparatus. Some of these tools may be familiar, while others will be new to you.

The Tools of Science

There are three important considerations when learning about these tools of science. First, it is important to learn the names of lab apparatus you will be using. Being able to explain to a colleague what tools were used to obtain your data is very important. Second, it is just as important to know what equipment to use when doing an investigation. Last, but certainly not least, you will need to learn how to use these tools correctly.

While tools may sometimes be similar, they may be used for different purposes. Improper use of tools can result in imprecise data. Imprecise data may keep a scientist from forming a good conclusion. By becoming familiar with the laboratory apparatus, you will be in a better position to choose the correct apparatus for the job.

For example, a beaker and a graduated cylinder could both be used to measure the volume of a liquid. If you were looking for an approximate amount, a beaker may be appropriate to use. If you needed to be very accurate, you would choose to use the graduated cylinder.

A hand lens and a microscope can both be used to take a closer look when making observations. A microscope uses light to look through objects. Materials you cannot see through, like a seashell, are better observed with a hand lens. Learning about lab equipment also relates to the importance of staying safe.  Some of the tools in science can be dangerous if not used correctly. Knowing the science tools and how to use each tool will help everyone stay safe.

Types of Lab Apparatus

There are two basic types of lab apparatus: those that measure and those that aid in the process of collecting data. Think of a time you worked at home. Maybe your mother asked you to dig a hole to plant a new flower she bought at the garden center. You needed a shovel to dig a hole for the plant. You used a tape measure to make sure the hole was deep enough. One tool was for measuring, while the other aided you with a process.

You have probably heard of tools such as a thermometer, meter stick and a balance. These tools are used to measure temperature, length, and mass. In other words, they are data collection devices. What they collect is the evidence that scientists use that will later help them draw conclusions.

Other tools of science are used to help influence the science inquiry. For example, some tools like a Bunsen burner may be used to heat items. Tools can also be used for mixing, heating, cooling, and even applying forces. These examples are only a small set of the long list of science equipment. There are many different tools and new devices being developed daily.

Using equipment to gather data must be done with care. Tools are only as accurate as the person using them. Human error accounts for much of the measuring problems found in science. Many of the tools you will be using are capable of great precision in the hands of an expert. With practice, you will become an expert. 

 To be a scientist assumes you are curious. To find answers requires looking carefully. Measurements must be taken in a careful and precise manner. All the looking in the world may not reveal the answer. The point to be made is superior analysis starts with data collection. The quality of this data is dependent on the care and precision in which you use the tools of science.

Conclusions

For now, it is important to listen to your teacher. They will explain the instructions in the lab and the tools you will use. As you spend more time in the lab, you will better learn the names of some basic apparatus. You will learn how to properly use the equipment. By learning how to use the equipment you will be able to collect good data and be safe at the same time. You will become a great scientist and an expert in the use of scientific tools.

The towel has stripes. 

Claire and Carlos are excited for a day at the beach with their parents. Many activities are planned, and each promises to be fun. 

They arrive early in the morning. The sun is coming up and the tide is coming in. The sun rising and the tide coming in are examples of patterns we see in nature. Together the family unpacks their truck and heads down to the beach. After several trips the family has brought toys, floats, a blanket, and food down to the beach. 

Because the sun was just rising, the water was a little cool. Claire decided it was just windy enough for kites. Dad, Carlos, and Claire run and watch as the kite flies overhead. After Dad gets the kite up in the air, Claire and Carlos take turns flying the kite.   

The sun is now directly overhead. The sun is moving in a pattern across the sky. As the sun rises, the water warms up. Finally, Carlos convinces Mom that the water is warm enough to swim. It’s still a little cool, but not too cold for swimming fun! Claire and Carlos splash and play all morning. 

At lunchtime, Mom and Dad prepare sandwiches, slice fruit, and make freshly squeezed lemonade for lunch. They yell for the children to join them, but they are having too much fun. Finally, Claire and Carlos are hungry enough to leave the water. The sandwiches hit the spot! 

Mom gives Carlos a quick lesson on throwing a spiral with a football. A spiral is another pattern. Carlos hopes to be the quarterback of his team. He needs more practice, but with each throw he improves. 

Dad and Claire have a friendly frisbee competition. The hardest part of frisbee is learning to make it spin. A spin is another pattern. Dad has mastered the frisbee spin, but Claire needs a little more practice. 

Carlos and Claire return to the water for one last swim before the sun sets and the tide goes out. The temperature of the water is even cooler now, but they still enjoy floating.  

The sun cycles through a pattern each day-rising, moving overhead, and finally setting. The tides come in and out. The temperature gets warmer, then cooler. 

Claire and Carlos had a great day at the beach with their family. They cannot wait to return and hope they can bring friends next time. The day was filled with football, frisbee, swimming, and fun!

It is a rainy day in June. Natalia is staying at her grandmother’s house while her mom is at work. 

Natalia has a new puppy named Millie. Natalia is toilet training Millie.  

When it begins to rain Natalia wonders what she will do. If Millie does not go outside, it will cause an accident. Natalie is worried, but she makes a plan.  

Natalia takes Millie outside, but instead of taking care of business she finds the mud. The rain and mud cause Millie to get dirty.

Millie is a dirty mess, but she finally takes care of business. 

Natalia brings Millie back inside. But now she is dirty, and she needs a bath. 

Millie is all clean and the sun is out. The sun affects the mud puddles by causing them to dry out. Hopefully the puddles will dry fast. 

Jeremy splashes his sister and spins in the tube. The tube and Jenna’s bucket have a pattern that is a circle. 

Jenna enjoys building sand castles. Her brother helps her, but it is harder than it looks. 

The Pattersons enjoy sandwiches, chips, and juice for lunch. The sun and tide pattern continues. The sun is now overhead, and the tide is beginning to move away from the beach. 

Jeremy and Jenna snorkel in the shallow water. They look for seashells. Do seashells have patterns? 

As the sun sets and the tide goes out, they see the patterns of the sky and sea. Soon they will see the moon. The Patterson family packs up to go home. It was a great day at the beach! 

This is clay. Look at the shapes.
What shapes are they? Do you see the carrot?
Do you see the heart?
What are some other shapes?

This is clay too! Look at the shapes.
What shapes do you see?
Clay can change shape.
How can we change the shape of clay?

Clay can be smashed.
Clay can be rolled.
We use our hands to make clay into a new shape.
Have you ever changed the shape of clay with your hands?

Clay is not the only thing we can change.
Paper can change too!
How can we change paper’s shape?

This is paper. Look at the shapes.
What shapes are they? Do you see the frog?
Do you see the fox?
Paper can change in many ways.

Paper can be torn. This changes the shape.
The pieces are smaller, but it is still paper.
We can write on the pieces of paper.
Paper can also be crumbled.
It is still paper when it is crumbled.
We can still write on it after it changes shape.