The Year 3 topic of light is a great way to introduce the use of data loggers, why not get pupils to design an experiment where they have to measure the light. A great idea comes in the form dealing with the everyday problem, such of blocking out the light from the window. You could talk about the daylight that creeps in now that mornings are getting lighter, linking nicely with the forthcoming Year 5 topic on space. Pupils should be set the task of finding out which is the best material to make curtains, again covering vocabulary from other topics such as materials with words like opaque and transparent. The data loggers could be used to record results, these could be used merely as a way of gathering data and creating a table or graph by hand. However, to push IT skills further pupils could use the data recorded to create graphs using the software which comes with some data logger, such as the Data Harvest EasySense Vu Pack. From here pupils can discuss and compare results and talk as a class about their findings, I would certainly emphasise that taking recordings in this way is how scientists work and that making graphs is a great way to spot anomalous results. |
Instead of using a data logger to record sound there are apps for the iPad which can also be used. Below is an image of the app Decibel 10th, an app which gives an accurate reading of sound like a sound meter would. The sound is measured in decibels and allows the children to record results for an experiment on sound, for example here we were looking at which of children had made an instrument which made the loudest sound.