Product Reviews

The following is a list of products and materials with photos and descriptions that we have used.  We have noted the strengths and limitations.  Please remember these are our opinions.

Talking Tape Measure

Strengths:  Can do American (inches and feet) and metric (millimeters, centimeters, and meters) measurements.  Allows students with no useful or low vision to independently measure with accuracy. 
Limitations:  Keeps talking when you do not want it to.  Only has an automatic shut off.  Pricey.
Order info:  LS & S  

 

Braille and Tactile Rulers and Meter Sticks

Strengths:  Many varieties and vendors.  Allows students to measure independently. 
Limitations:  Not very precise.  May be possible to accurately measure .5 centimeters or .25 inch.
Ordering info: Many commercially available.  Adapted rulers and meter sticks available from APH.  It may be easier, but time consuming, to adapt your own to meet student needs. 

 

Trundle Wheel

Description:  An easy and quick method to measure meters.  Roll the wheel along the ground and listen for the click.  After one complete turn of the wheel a click will sound to signify one meter has passed.  
Strengths:  Audible click for every meter traveled.  Great way to measure long distances.  
Limitations:  Short handle can be a problem for taller students.  Difficult for student to use cane at the same time, therefore would need to trail wall or use a sighted guide.  Accuracy to one meter. 
Ordering info:  Available in most science catalogs.

Talking Scale

Strengths:  Can do American (ounces and pounds) and metric (grams) measurements to the nearest tenth of a unit.  Allows students with no useful or low vision to independently measure with accuracy. 
Limitations:  Is sensitive to touch, so it’s necessary to teach students to place something in the tray and quickly take their hands away to get an accurate measurement.  The scale has a display that will show measurements smaller than 5 grams but the voice won’t announce any mass under 5 grams.  It only measures to the tenth of a unit so may not be suitable for more precise measurements.
Ordering info: Purchased from Independent Living Aids, Inc.  @ $39.95 each  http://www.independentliving.com 

Electric generator

Strengths: This hand-held generator is moderately priced and provides a great example of the change in energy from mechanical to electrical. It can be attached to a light, a motor, a doorbell or a buzzer. Its shape resembles a reel on a fishing pole and the handle is easy to turn.
Limitations: Attaching the wires to a light, or other items, requires excellent fine motor skills.
Ordering info: Available in a variety of science supply catalogs, including Delta Education at http://www.delta-education.com

Thermoworks Talking Digital Thermometer with probe

Strengths:  Can measure degrees to the nearest tenth of a unit.  Allows students with no useful or low vision to independently measure with accuracy.  The thermometer has a repeating loop so students can hear a measurement more than once without resetting it.  The probe is long enough to safely measure chemicals or liquids from a distance.   
Limitations:  Only measures in Fahrenheit!!
Ordering info:  www.thermoworks.com  

Science First Density Cube set

Strengths:  One of our favorite teaching tools! Set includes 10, 1-inch cubes of various materials (metals, woods and plastics).  Students can use these cubes to explore density.  This set reinforces the concept that density is a ratio between volume and mass. All the cubes are exactly the same size but vary in weight.  These cubes are also useful in younger grades to explore sinking and floating.  The set comes with well-described characteristics of each cube, as well as suggestions for teaching activities.  We have also used these cubes to teach students to tactually identify various materials and sort materials into various categories.
Limitations:  It would have been helpful if the information sheet had included color photos of the cubes for identification. It would be useful to have a set in cubic centimeters to assist with math calculations for density.
Ordering info:  www.sciencefirst.com

Periodic table of the Elements and reference booklet

Strengths:  This reference packet from APH comes with a backpack -sized, laminated large print, periodic table labeled in Braille, a Braille reference booklet and a large print reference booklet.  This extremely useful booklet has 6 different tables enabling the student to access information about the elements in various ways including by atomic number, by symbol, and by element name.  Tables also organize information about an element’s state of matter, electronegativity, electron configurations, boiling point and melting point. This is a wonderful tool for all students!

Limitations: Some students benefit from additional tactile adaptations to the table.  Tracking across the first three periods or rows is difficult. A line of puff paint, Wikki Sticks™ can help a beginning student find the right side of the table. Having the row numbers added as an extension to the right side of the table is also helpful.
Many textbooks include a periodic table labeled with the cation and anion charges in the chapter where those are discussed. We adapted the APH table by adding the charges in Braille at the top of the appropriate columns.    
The picture shows the model as it comes from APH.
Ordering info: American Printing House for the Blind, Inc, 2005. www.APH.org  Available using APH quota funding.

Hot Hands

Strengths: We have used mitts similar to these to safely remove hot items from the microwave. Recently we saw them in a science catalog and decided to try them out. These work better than anything else our students have tried for safely handling hot beakers in the lab.
Limitations: It is very difficult to get tactual feedback through the mitts.
Ordering info: Hot Hand® Scienceware® Bel Art Products, Pennacock, New Jersey 07440