My Happy Aquarium

MY HAPPY AQUARIUM

“MY HAPPY AQUARIUM” is created in order to explain several science concepts. This toy can be a very useful teaching aid that can be placed in a classroom where teacher can demonstrate and apply certain concepts in science to show to the students where most of the toys were develop based on Secondary Curriculum Syllabus and range from a very basic science concept to the integrated one.

“MY HAPPY AQUARIUM” composed of five components: Periscope, Turbo-dash Submarine, Cute Water Lily Pot, and Automatic Fish Feeder. This aquarium applied Biology concept which focus on biotic and abiotic elements within an ecosystem.

PERISCOPE

Rationality

Periscope is the optical instrument used in land and sea warfare, submarine and elsewhere to enable an observer to see the surroundings while remaining under cover, behind amour, or submerged. Through this periscope, students can apply science concept with respect to light reflection to real life situation.

Science Concept

Light reflection

A periscope includes two mirrors or reflecting prism to change the direction of the light coming from the scene observed: the first deflects it down through a vertical tube; the second diverts it horizontally so that the scene can be viewed conveniently. The type of reflection is the regular reflection of light which is the light will reflect in the regular pattern because we had use the smooth surface.

                                        

                               

Educational value

It is easier for a student to understand and memorize science concepts when they are able to experience it themselves or through the application itself. In textbook, most of the science concept can be demonstrated with a little effort by teacher and students. Through this periscope, students can increase their understanding on the reflection of light and its application where it can stimulate student’s critical and creative thinking in terms of the using of knowledge in real life situation. The learning itself will be much fun rather than just reading it from the book.

TURBO-DASH SUBMARINE

Rationality

The Turbo-dash Submarine was created to show the students the real concept of elastic potential energy and buoyancy in the classroom.

Science Concepts

The twisting rubber band stores elastic potential energy. Elastic potential energy is the energy stored in elastic materials as the result of their stretching or compressing. If the stretch is released, the energy is transformed into kinetic energy. More force put on the rubber band, more rotation done by the propeller and more distance travelled by the bottle.

Buoyancy is the phenomenon (discovered by Archimedes) that an object less dense than a fluid will float in the fluid. More generally, Archimedes' principle states that a fluid will exert an upward force on an object immersed in it equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object. With more or mostly air inside, the sub has positive buoyancy and will float on top of water. With half of air inside, the sub has neutral buoyancy and will stay in the water. With little or no air inside, the sub has negative buoyancy and will sink under water.

Educational value

Many science concepts can be applied in this toy. Students can play and gain knowledge at the same time. It is more effective for the student’s understanding when they can see what the theory meant to be. By using all sense such as seeing, listening and touching, students can develop further understanding where most of it comes with long term memory. Learning can be a fun process instead of reading and listening to teacher’s explanation only. As teacher use this turbo-dash submarine as a teaching aid, it can helps to capture student’s attention and stimulate their know-how inquiry where learning would be more meaningful.

CUTE WATER LILY POT

Rationality

This cute water lily pot can be used to explain the science concept of hydrotropism, phototropism and geotropism in plant. It also can be used to relate the concept of osmosis that contains in Form 4 and Form 5 Biology syllabus.

Science concept

Plant response to stimuli is called tropism. Tropic responses in plant:

a) Phototropism     -Movement or growth of shoot towards light

b) Geotropism         - Roots grow away from light or movement or growth of root downwards    in     the direction of gravity.

c) Hydrotropism     - Movement or growth of roots towards water.

Educational value

This cute water lily pot can be a fun learning process for students where they can continually observing the growth of the plants from the seeds. They don’t need to conduct such experiment in the lab but simply conducted it in their class. This may enhance their understanding on plants reaction towards stimulus such as light and water. Without being in the lab, they can keep observing the growth of the plant everyday and no barrier for them to do so. It also can develop sense of love towards plant and build noble values in students such as caring attitude and responsibility towards nature.

SMART FISH FEEDER

Rationality

The smart fish feeder is an automatic fish feeder. It will feed the fish every 12 hours automatically. This innovation is the solution for the pet lovers who can happily travelling without worry about their pet to starving.

The main components used for the innovation of the smart fish feeder are a conventional alarm clock and a motor (obtained from the Racing car). A little modification is done to the alarm clock to ensure the motor can be functioning whenever the alarm ringing. Most of the clock component are remain and not changed.

Science concept

The theories related in this project are:

1.     The gear theory

2.     The electromagnetic theory

3.     The electrical circuit

Educational value

In order to modify the circuit in the alarm clock, students have to explore and really understand the component inside the clock before modified it. This step will provide the student an experiential learning and stimulates their creativity. They will understand more on the topic gear, electromagnetic and electrical circuit if they experience the real and safe exploration. This small scale experience will give major impact on their understanding on the huge scale of the gear in their car, electromagnetic power in power plant, and electrical circuit in their house.

They have to be critically thinks on how to do the modification on the present clock circuit. The thinking strategy in this innovation is based on how to add something on the clock to make it more worthy without disturbing the present conditions. The other thinking strategy applied in this project is on how to combine two elements (toy car and alarm clock) to be one interesting and beneficial “Smart Fish Feeder”

The students also need to instil the scientific noble values to complete their project. Working with the circuit need the students to be patient and focus with their works. The best way to explain the challenge in modified the circuit can be describes by the 1000 trial done by Thomas Edison before successfully invent a light bulb.