Looking for innovative ways to use Vernier technology in your
science and math classes? Customers from around the world delight
us with their ingenuity and creative lab ideas. We enjoy sharing
these ideas, as well as other exciting things happening with
science education. So read on and discover fresh laboratory ideas,
new videos, and award-winning technology.

1. High CO2 Levels Putting You to Sleep?
2. Lizard Lounge: Perfecting a Reptile Enclosure
3. Investigating Periodic Trends
4. LabQuest Wins International Worlddidac Award
5. Featured Vernier Activity: Air Resistance
6. Vernier Purchasing Guide

1. High CO2 Levels Putting You to Sleep?
Roland Stout, Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University
of North Carolina at Pembroke, challenged his environmental
chemistry class to use a CO2 Sensor to find an environmentally
significant carbon dioxide source or sink. One student observed
that some of the older members of his church frequently fall
asleep by the end of the service. Jokingly, he wondered if it was
boring sermons or high CO2 levels, and decided to test it
for himself.
http://www.vernier.com/e-news/2008-11-18/high-co2/

2. Lizard Lounge: Perfecting a Reptile Enclosure
Last year, Kenmore East High School senior Michael Starr worked
with biology teacher, Robert O'Connor, to modify a reptile
enclosure to accommodate a black and white tegu, a lizard native
to Argentina. Mike, not wanting to leave the safety of the tegu to
chance, developed a method to test and adjust the environmental
conditions within the enclosure. Knowing that a traditional
thermometer would not do, Mike turned to Vernier technology
to get the job done.
http://www.vernier.com/e-news/2008-11-18/lizard-lounge/

3. Investigating Periodic Trends
We recently challenged Vernier consultant Jacklyn Bonneau, teacher
at the Massachusetts Academy for Math and Science, to create a
chemistry activity using LabQuest that had students investigate
trends in the physical properties of the elements. Not only did
Jackie create an activity you can use with your students, she also
created a Logger Pro file with all of the data.
http://www.vernier.com/e-news/2008-11-18/periodic-trends/

4. LabQuest Wins International Worlddidac Award
The Worlddidac Award was presented to Vernier Software & Technology
for the LabQuest on its innovation, quality, pedagogic value,
ease of use, and overall value.
http://www.vernier.com/e-news/2008-11-18/worlddidac/

5. Featured Vernier Activity: Air Resistance
Are you looking for a good physics lab on air resistance and
terminal velocity? If so, you will want to check out Physics with
Vernier Activity 13, Air Resistance. In this experiment, students
measure terminal velocity as a function of mass for falling coffee
filters, and use the data to choose between two models for the
drag force. You can download the activity and watch a 4-minute
video, which includes tips for doing this experiment, all for free.
http://www.vernier.com/e-news/2008-11-18/videos/

6. Vernier Purchasing Guide
Whether you are purchasing just for your classroom or for your
entire district, you will want to check out the Vernier Purchasing
Guide. This interactive, web-based application guides you through
the selection of curricular materials, interfaces and sensors,
accessories, and software, letting you customize recommendations
as you go. Once you have a personalized recommendation that fits
your needs, you can make a purchase, request a formal quote, or
save your recommendation as a PDF. You can even save your work and
come back later if you want. This is a great tool to use when you
are working within a budget.
http://www.vernier.com/e-news/2008-11-18/purchasing-guide/


Special thanks to Roland Stout, Robert O'Connor, and Jackie
Bonneau for submitting their innovative uses. If you have an
innovative use of Vernier technology you would like to share, send
your idea to innovativeuses@vernier.com. If we publish your
activity in our newsletter, you receive a $100 gift certificate
for Vernier technology.

Christine Vernier
Vernier Software & Technology
13979 SW Millikan Way
Beaverton, OR 97005-2886
toll free: (888) 837-6437
phone: (503) 277-2299
fax: (503) 277-2440
info@vernier.com