4 - Materials and Equipment

The ASE Materials and Equipment booklet provides lists of equipment and materials compiled from what primary teachers at the time (1966) found met the needs of their own classes as they developed investigations. It reassured teachers that a large collection of equipment was not necessary before investigations could begin, but should be built up gradually from what was found to be needed.

The book provides addresses of sources of equipment of different kinds. In addition some instructions are included for constructing certain pieces of equipment for the children's use, such as insect cages and pond nets which it is suggested could be done by teachers. It includes photographs of displays of plant and other natural material improvised from items found in the classroom.

Contents
* Introduction
* Apparatus for general use

* General Experience of Exploration out of Doors Equipment Used for Gathering Data and Making Collections:
- General
- For collecting specimens
- For measuring and surveying
- For aquatic work
- For bird-watching
- For investigation of rocks and soils
- For transport of living creatures from field to classroom

* Equipping School Grounds:
- Natural features that should be preserved if they occur on the site
- Planned features
- Borders and planted areas
- Provision for attracting and observing wild birds
- For observing the weather
- An experimental plot
- Equipment to aid further close observation of specimens

* Equipment for Maintenence of Living Material and Further Observation in the Classroom:
- General
- For aquatic material
- Materials for constructing cage for insects
- Wormeries
- Equipment for study of plant growth
* Equipment for Display of Discoveries in Living and Preserved States
* Material for Class Museum Collection

* Material for Physical Science:
- Apparatus for weighing and for the study of forces
- Apparatus for heating and for the study of heat and temperature
- Air and water
- Sound
- Light
- Magnetism
- Electricity
- Useful addresses for supply of equipment for physical science

* Tools:
- Adhesives
* Chemicals and Perishable Materials
* Materials for Recording

* Appendix:
- Wormery
- Formicarium