Of all the resources on show at the ASE meeting, the tarantula on the Big Bug Show stand probably drew the most attention. Also on the stand, for those with a strong stomach, were chocolate-coated crickets. The Big Bug Show posse offer hands-on motivational roadshows for schools and the tarantula is one of many invertebrates they take in.
Another exhibit of the multi-legged variety were triops from Pied Piper Educational Resources. These tiny, three-eyed, 140-legged aquatic creatures are freshwater crustaceans that were around long before dinosaurs. In the wild, they are found in desert areas where they inhabit pools of water formed after storms. As the pools are temporary, their lifespan is limited to 20 to 90 days.
For pound;7.50 plus VAT you get the Triops World box kit containing triops eggs, a tank, food, sand and a set of instructions. All you have to do is add distilled water and the eggs will hatch within 36 hours. Triops go through several stages before reaching full adult size, and because of their short lifespan they won’t become a long-term burden. Teachers’ notes (pound;2 plus VAT) are also available.
Of the non-living exhibits, the Undercover book series from Philip Harris (pound;8.50 each) looks like it could make a lighthearted addition to a primary science collection. The books are a hybrid of animal model and traditional book, and provide plenty of nugget-sized chunks of information. Each book has a cut-out running through the centre filled with a plastic model of the featured animal. As you turn the pages to find out more about the creature, so the the models change to match the text.
With Bats Undercover, for example, you get a model of a bat on the front page. As you move into the book, you get a model detailing the musculature, and on the final pages there is the model of a bat skeleton. Other titles in the series include Frogs Undercover and Sharks Undercover.
Understanding Energy, the educational company funded by some of the major power suppliers, unveiled the start of a project to make its CD- Rom titles and paper resources available free on the web.
The project is in its early stages, but teachers can download four pdf files with materials suitable for foundation up to key stage 4. Younger children can try out a few online games. For further information, visit the site at www.energy.org.uk Yolanda Brooks The Big Bug Show, tel: 020 8302 7898Pied Piper Educational Resources, tel: 01304 820 089Philip Harris, tel: 0845 120 4520; website: www.philipharris.co.ukUnderstanding Energy,tel: 020 7963 5839; website: www.energy.org.uk
