MATERIALS
Sources
LA STEM Stories relies on commonly available materials that one can find at a dollar or discount store, a hardware store, or large variety store. We choose materials that are inexpensive, safe, and often recyclable. Purchases that support local community are also encouraged. The use of household items, especially those that are often part of our trash or recycle bins helps students learn the value of raw materials that we so readily discard in our society. There is no need in LA STEM Stories to order materials from a catalog or online source.
Disposition of Materials After Use
In the lessons, we suggest how the used materials can either be reused or recycled or, if required, disposed. Our value system honors the careful use of natural resources so encourages the cleaning, re-use or recycling of materials. For chemicals expended or in cases where materials are either ruined or spent, we offer suggestions about disposal.
SafetyWe believe that using materials that are commonly available make these LA STEM explorations approachable and familiar. Specialty science ware may communicate something about STEM generally, but is often expensive and is often "plastic" in nature and in reality unlike actual laboratory application. In this way, it can mislead students rather than familiarize them with the tools of a STEM professional.
While the material and explorations we suggest are safe, unsupervised or unwise use of any material can be a problem. We urge prudence in handling chemical materials of any kind by teaching students safe practices and establishing rules such as hand washing and use of gloves and eye protection when needed for safety. We mark these explorations with three levels of risk. Low risk indicates that in most any case of a supervised exploration there is a very low probability that an injury could result and therefor no added safety feature is recommended. Some risk that in a rare case if materials were used unwisely or without supervision some injury could occur. Moderate risk indicates that specific safety procedures and materials are recommended.
