Data Logging

We have a class set of data loggers for children to explore.  This workshop involves children measuring light, sound and temperature before coming up with their own questions to investigate, such as, ‘how does the temperature change over the course of the day?’  This workshop can be shortened and combined with the ‘energy island’ or ‘habitats’ workshop.

Learning objective: to make systematic and careful observations and, where appropriate, taking accurate measurements using standard units, using data loggers (LKS2, science, working scientifically).  

Typical plan:

10.00am – 10.45am – welcome / tour / health and safety

10.45am – 11.15am – Explore data loggers – children test who has the loudest voice, the warmest hands etc.

11.15am – 11.45am – support children, in groups, to come up with their own questions which can be investigated over the course of the day (observation over time).  These are likely to include questions such as, ‘how warm is the bucket of water over the course of the day?’, ‘how does the temperature in the shade compare with the temperature in the sunshine over the course of the day?’ and ‘how bright does the sun get over the course of the day?’.

11.45am – 12.45pm – lunch to include s’mores cooked over the fire

12.45pm – 1.15pm – Carry out a ‘snapshot’ investigation.  Likely to be: Which material is the best for a pair of sunglasses.  Use data loggers to take snapshot readings of lux (light) when the sensor is covered with different coloured cellophane.

1.15pm – 1.45pm – look at data logger results together

1.45pm – plenary and walk back to bus

Data logger results / graphs can be emailed back to school.

Contact details : edu.howshammill@gmail.com