THE GLOW, SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 1989    PAGE 8 SEPTEMBER -DECEMBER 1989 1 Science Search for Outstanding Improvised Secondary School Science Equipment by: Mr. Rodrigo Tacay Light from Plastic Sawdust Our motherland the Philippines, whose natural resources are very useful, provides a better economy to benefit the people. Likewise, there are many discarded materials or rather materials from such resources which are very useful for the improvement of one's knowledge. It is hard to reach for something but it's quite interesting. Viewing Philippines as our motherland, I might say that it is rich in natural resources but its bounty would only continue to progress depending on the person who's handling it. We are all Filipinos but obviously, we don't really know what things are to be discarded and what things provide us the basic materials for the continuance of what we say progress. WHY DON'T WE START NOW) For this reason, the author as researcher decided to work on light from plastic and sawdust. The author further worked on a more specific objectives of the study which are: To provide "Light from plastic and sawdust" modelled from the candle :To be able to use the discarded materials around us; and to be able to gain more knowledge in the field of Science. Sawdust and plastics are oftentimes discarded but they can be Corn is known as one of the major staple foods in the country especially among Cebuanos. Its stalks are being made into paper and the juice is a medicine for kidney trouble. It also has the following products: charcoal, filling material and ethyl alcohol from the grains. However, no attempt has been made to utilize discarded stalks which could be processed to form sugar. The researcher had once tried chewing corn stalks just like sugar cane and had found it out to be sweet which lead to this investigation of its sugar content. The materials used in the study were bottles, plastic containers, platform balance,• graduated cylinder, funnel, filter paper, extract, water and sugar crystals. useful as both can be formed into a candle which provides brightness in times of darkness.. At home we can use this method as a substitute for the candles we buy from the market. The price is even cheaper compared to the candles as it comes from the discarded materials. The materials needed for the study are: 25 grams sawdust; I can (big); 4 plastic cover (could be the plastic co\e r from Nescafe or Blend 45) 80 mi. kerosene,,.banana leaves; thread no. 20. The materials needed are prepared. Dirt being mixed in the sawdust are gathered. The plastic covers with 80 mi. kerosene are melted. Take it from the fire when the plastic covers are already liquified. The sawdust by scattering it on the banana leaves are prepared. A small amount of the liquified plastic covers are put on the top of the sawdust then the white thread no. 20 is placed on top of the plastic and sorne sawdust again are added. The mixture on the banana leaves , are rolled to form a candle-like shape. The same procedure for the remaining liquified plastic is done. The results of the study shown were in three trials : Trial 1, I To page 12 please) In handling the raw materials, the corn remains after harvest were gathered and cleaned. They were placed off the rind. The pulps were chopped and pounded for easy extraction. The proportion of 1:1 water to pulp were soaked into water and heated so that the juice soluble in water will dissolve easily. In sugar making, the following procedures were followed. The procedure in raw material handlings presented before was followed. The extract was filtered after the extraction to get rid of the solid substances. The mixture was heated in a beaker until it gets super saturated, then the heat was turned off and cooled. The extract was let to stand for a week or more to crystallize. Based on the results of the (To page 2 please ) The Search for Outstanding Improvised Secondary School Science Equipment is open to all Secondary School Science Teachers in both public and private schools teaching any/all of the following subject areas : Integrated Science, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The competition seeks to give due recognition to outstanding contributions made by Science teachers in advancing Science instruction in the area of Improvised Science Equipment. A. Projector A lamp house was constructed with dimension as shown in the diagram. An opening of 7 x 91/2 cm. was provided at the other end of the box. A number of holes at the bottom for ventilation was made. A receptable was screwed for a bulb (100 watts) and a pair of plane-convex lenses was set up to concentrate the light from the projector lamp through the transparency. These lenses may be secured from a toy-three dimensional viewer. A concave mirror or reflector plate of headlights was placed at the back of the lamp assisted by reflecting light that would otherwise be lost in the rear of the lamphouse ' The slide is placed between the F and 2F of the objective lenses. For objective lenses, hand lenses which are available in the supply office may be used. These lenses are attached to a piece of wood 1/2 " x 2 x 2' which can be drawn back and forth for focusing. This piece is attached at the lower side of the lamphouse and is secured by a wing nut which slides in a groove. This piece of wood or holder is also provided with a joint for tilting when mirror is attached to it for overhead projection. B. Microprojector A box was constructed with dimensions as shown in the diagram. One side of this box is attached to the main body of images. This provides opening and closing of one side of the box for manipulation of the assembly and the microscope. One end of the box is half-opened for the installation of the screen. To assemble this microprojector, a microscope and a projector are needed. The eyepiece is removed from the microscope or better yet the draw tube. The objective lenses are also removed from the projector. The light is focused from the projector, such that the beam of light just filled the mirror of the microscope. The concave mirror is used. The mirror is adjusted until a spot of light shows at the inside top cover of the box. The specimen is focused, using the low power objective. A pocket mirror is changed at 450 angle as shown in the diagram to throw the image forward the screen which is located at the other end of the box. The screen may be made out of translucent paper, tracing paper can be used, which is tacked or taped at the opened half end of the box. The flaps of a box can be tacked around the screen to act as shadow shield. This box can be placed on the teacher's table with screen facing the class. C. Overhead Projector The projector is positioned such that the front end faces upward. A mirror is attached to the holder. The holder is provided with a joint for tilting the mirror to an angle. Transparencies may be made of clean sheets of plastic or pieces of glass on which overlays or sketches are made. Marking pens or Higgins ink maybe used to make transparences. IMPROVISATION/INNOVATION DONE The developer of this equipment uses materials and simple equipment such as hand lenses which are available at the school supply office to assemble a type of projector The National Science Develop. ment Board, Taguig, Metro Manila, sent out to the barangay sectors the "Philippine National Formulary" - a compilation of the literature of the different medicinal plants including their indications and directions for use as well as their constituents. It is, therefore, in this aspects that the researchers conducted studies on possible products which can be obtained from "loko-loko," considering the active constituents found in all parts of the plants so as to encourage the use of locally secured materials which are as effective as those bought from the market. The materials to this study: Preparation of Toothpaste : 50 mi. cone. of "loko-loko" extract, .2 g. ash from beetlenui, I tablet NaHCO 31 10 mi. cone. decoction from "loko-loko" seeds, 5 g. chalk-dust, flavoring (optional), a dash of sugar. Mouthwash .200 mi. decoction from "loko-toko" leaves and roots, 100 mi. ashwater from bettlenut, 50 mi. cone. decoction fiom "lako-loko" seeds, 20 grams. of NaHCO 3, flavoring (optional), filter medium. Cleanser (liquid): for toilet which is multipurpose in nature. The developer also uses the lenses from a toy viewer as condensing lenses. This equipment can be used as slide projector or an overhead projector. At times sufficient number of microscopes are not available due to lack of funds. And sometimes it is desirable to demonstrate to the class as a whole just which organism or portion of the slide should be studied. A microprojector is useful in such circumstances. The entire class can see a fairly large image at the same time. LIMITATIONS OF THE EQUIPMENT The equipment when used as an overhead projector can project a limited portion of the transparency due to the size of the condenser lenses. As a microprojector, it can only be used for clear or semi-transparent specimens due to the low intensity of the projector. However, this can easily be remedied by using a projector lamp or a lamp of high wattage and a force ventilation of the lamphouse. TEACHING-LEARNING ACTIVITIES As a projector, it can be used with lessons which require slides and transparences. As an overhead projector, the sketches and overlays made by students on transparency add dimension to a lesson. As an optical instrument it can be used to demonstrate lessons about images through convex lenses where real inverted images can be shown to the students by placing a screen behind F1. (To page I I please) bowls, floor (concrete, titles. wooden or made from bamboo, working tables, kitchen, etc.) - 1 gallon decoction from "lokoloko" 100 mi. bleaching ageint, 4 tbsp. detergent, 10 mi. cuticle remover. Toilet Deodorizer: 400m1. cone. "loko-loko" extract, 200 mi. 50% CaO aqueous solution ;Aromatic Bath as Body Conditioner and Refresher. 1 gin. decoction from "loko-loko" leaves and roots, 1 tbsp. NaHCO 3, favorite scent as desired. The experiment involved (3) parts . Part 1 includes the prepare-ion of materials and solutions First, decoction from "loko-loko" (leaves and roots, flowers and seeds). Loko-loko leaves and roots from 10 matured plants were washed thoroughly with water. These were boiled in 1 gallon of water in an earthen container (palayok) for 10 minutes. The "loko-loko" fraction was left to soak in water for 30 minutes and then strained. The same methods were used in preparing the decoction of 30 grams of seeds in 200m1. H90. (To page 5 please) Sugar from Cornstalks Products from Is Ocinum Santum' The Glow, September-December 1989. Official Publication of CNCHS - Cabatuan National Comprehensive High School Cabatuan, Iloilo, Panay Island, Philippines