Power House provides an engaging introduction to regenerataive energy sources while teaching basic concepts and principles in physical science. The kit focuses on the heat and light energy from the sun, the energy from the wind, as well as with electrochemical and plant energy. You will learn how to transform and use these forms of energy.
The thoughtfully designed series of experiments was developed by physicist Uew Wandrey. Professor Wandrey creatively integrated physical science and technology lessons with the adventures of building a home and living on a remote island. The manual is organized around the story of a group of island dwellers who must learn to live sustainably using the resources available to them on their small island. As you read their journal entries and learn of their projects and experiments, you build models of the same projects and conduct the same experiments alongside them. To survive, you must learn how to harness the power of the sun and the wind as well as tap the energy of other physical forces. The story line follows the experiments in a stepwise fashion. Easy-to-follow activities make it fun to build models and use them for your experiments.
Power House includes a 96-page full color manual with 70 experiments and 20 building projects, organized into nine chapters:
The Heat Trap- construct and experiment with a greenhouse.
The Sun Collector - collect the sun's rays to heat water
The Sun Burners - make a solar cooker whie learning about the principels of light
The Water Vampire - desalinate water, plant watercress, produce sauerkrat and make chewing gum
The Heat Absorbers - learn how heat of evaporation provides cooling, conduct experiments about air, humidity; build a hygrometer and test a refrigerator
The Energy Converters - extract electric current from sunight and metals in acid, build a light telephone, galvanize a nail and split water into hydrogen and oxygen.
The Forces of Magnetism - generate electric current with magnetic fields. Build a current indicator, electric and solar motors, a transfer switch, and a crane. LIft pencils with the sun and learn about levers. Build an electric car.
Wings in the Wind - build a sail car and learn how wings and sails transform energy. Learn to sail with the wind, by the wind, and against the wind and examine a mixed energy vehicle.
Awards: Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Award 2003; The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval 2003
