RADMASTE TEACHING AND LEARNING RESOURCES IN SUPPORT OF THE CAPS – PHYSICAL SCIENCES

4The Grade 10 Physical Sciences   Modular Pack for CAPS	4Equipment for Chemistry
4Equipment for Physics	4Chemicals for Chemistry      Activities
4RADMASTE CAPS Grade 10 Teacher   Guide	4Advantages of the Physical   Sciences Modular Pack
4Enquiries, orders and sales	4Download a PDF brochure - click     here

It is now common knowledge that the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) will be implemented across Grades R – 12 by the Department of Basic Education. At the FET level, the CAPS started in January 2012 with Grade 10. For teachers and HODs of Physical Sciences, this period could be one of panic and apprehension with the realization that their schools lack the necessary resources and finances to put the Grade 10 CAPS into action.

The RADMASTE Centre, however, has developed a unique teaching and learning tool that offers the best possible combination of microscale and traditional equipment to overcome these problems, as well as meeting all the objectives and purposes of the Grade 10 CAPS for Physical Sciences.

 RADMASTE presents………..

THE GRADE 10 PHYSICAL SCIENCES MODULAR PACK FOR CAPS

The Grade 10 Physical Sciences Modular Pack (PSMP10) has been designed to address all of the Knowledge Areas of the new CAPS Chemistry and Physics curricula for Grade 10. RADMASTE is releasing the PSMP10 with the aim to make available to schools all the equipment, chemicals and written materials for the Grade 10 CAPS in 2012.

The Physical Sciences Modular Pack for Grade 10 consists of the following components:

• Equipment for a class of 40 to 50 learners working in groups to carry out all of the Prescribed and Recommended Practical Activities for formal and non-formal assessment, respectively, as well as selected Practical Activities as suggested in the CAPS for Grade 10.  This equipment comprises a clever combination of microscale kits and conventional (macro-) apparatus to ensure maximum coverage of the Physical Sciences syllabi. The advantages of microscale practical activities in science have been described previously by many educators and scientists in many countries, and locally the GDE Mathematics, Science & Technology Education Improvement Strategy, 2009-2014 advocates this approach. The conventional teacher demonstration kits allow for topics, such as Waves, to be addressed where microscale equipment cannot be used.

• Chemicals in the form of a Grade 10 CAPS Microchemicals Kit (CC0800).

• A Grade 10 CAPS Teacher Guide (MT3000), authored by RADMASTE.

The components of PSMP10 are explained in greater detail below.

EQUIPMENT FOR CHEMISTRY

Advanced Microchemistry Kits

There are Advanced Microchemistry Kits which allow for learners working in groups of 4 or 5 to perform Prescribed, Recommended and selected other Practical Chemistry Activities for the Grade 10 CAPS. Formal and non-formal assessment is therefore possible for all of the CAPS Grade 10 Chemistry practical work.

Molecular Teaching Kit (MTK)

The Molecular Teaching Kit or MTK contains RADMASTE™ Molecular Stencils for the drawing of several common atoms, ions and molecules. It also contains modelling components to enable 3D visualization of atoms and molecules. The Molecular Teaching Kit therefore addresses all of the molecular modelling activities embodied in the topics of Matter & Materials and Chemical Change. The kit also caters for learners working in groups of 4 or 5.

Digital Pocket Scale (DPS)

This portable, lightweight balance with accuracy to two decimal places can be used by learners for activities involving Conservation of Mass, and Molecular and Formula Masses. It should also be used by teachers where no weighing apparatus is available for preparing chemical solutions from the stock chemicals in the Chemicals Pack.

Thermometers

The thermometers for group work can read temperature and temperature changes between 0 and 100 °C, which is especially necessary for the Prescribed Practical Activity: Heating and Cooling Curve of Water.

Chemical Preparation Kit

The Chemical Preparation Kit has been included to enable teachers to prepare all the necessary chemical solutions from the solids and liquids provided in the Physical Sciences Chemicals Pack. This kit takes advantage of the variety of plastic (unbreakable!) resources available for preparing solutions. It is based upon the use of microscale activities, and therefore takes into consideration the need to prepare much smaller volumes of solutions (50 ml, 100 ml). Plastic bottles are also supplied for safe storage of the solutions. These can be washed and re-used.

EQUIPMENT FOR PHYSICS

Basic Microelectricity Kits and Multimeters

The RADMASTE™ Basic Microelectricity Kits and digital multimeters will help learners to complete all Prescribed and Recommended Activities for the topic of Electricity and Magnetism. There are also several other CAPS Practical Activities that are covered by this apparatus. Using the microscale kits, learners will encounter circuits and circuit components, such as resistors, cells and bulbs as well as learn about current, voltage and resistance in a much more interactive way than if conventional apparatus were used.

Teacher Demonstration Kits and Power Supply

It is evident that not all Physical Sciences topics can be addressed using microscale equipment. For this purpose, the RADMASTE™ Modular Pack for Grade 10 CAPS includes two conventional scale teacher demonstration kits, namely:

• The Forces, Motion and Dynamics (FMD) Demo Kit: contains all resources required for the topic of Mechanics.

• The Waves, Sound, Light and Optics (WSLO) Demo Kit: includes apparatus for all activities on different kinds of Waves.