• Science activities should take into account a variety of learning styles.brightly colored science test tubes image by Steve Johnson from Fotolia.com
  
  The sciences have traditionally been taught in a lecture, lab or test format, in which the instructor hands out information and the student is expected to process and make sense of it. Because there are so many different types of learning styles and such great differences between the subcategories of science, such as chemistry, biology, physics and earth science, this is not necessarily the best way to impart information to students in every situation.
  
  

The Overhead Projector as a Teaching Tool

• In the age of technology, the overhead projector may seem a bit dated. Often used in conjunction with special clear slides, an instructor may use it to present outlines of notes or graphs and charts. The overhead projector, however, can be used in many other ways.
  
  

Teaching Temperature Scales

• There are three basic temperature scales used in modern times. The Fahrenheit scale is used by U.S. citizens, the Celsius scale is used most commonly around the rest of the world, and the kelvin scale is used most often by scientists. Teaching this concept and the relevant conversion factors can be difficult. Using thermometers or slides of thermometers can provide a visual representation to students that relates the temperature scales to each other. The overhead projector's ability to enlarge the images and place them on a screen for a class to view allows the teacher to explain the scales, complete practice questions and eliminate the need for hands-on labs to teach the material.
  
  

Demonstrating Acid Base Indicators

• The overhead projector is a useful tool for chemistry teachers for demonstrating chemical reactions where color changes occur. A good example would be the titration of an acid with a base using an indicator solution such as phenolphthalein to create a color change when neutralization occurs. In a neutralization reaction, an unknown concentration of acid can be poured into a beaker with indicator solution. By placing the beaker onto the overhead and slowly adding a known concentration of base to the solution, students can observe the gradual color change that occurs until neutralization is reached and the color change is permanent.
  
  

Quiz and Test Review

• The overhead projector is also an excellent tool for quiz and test review in any discipline of science. A "Jeopardy"-style board can be created and projected on a screen to facilitate review for a test. A list of vocabulary words can be projected and definitions read by the teacher for a match-up review. Diagrams for labeling can be projected, such as a human skeleton used for a timed contest involving naming the bones of the body.