A great deal of effort went into the selection and development of measurement tools for use by students with disabilities in the SAVI/SELPH program. The following list of equipment includes the measurement tools that were developed. Some of these equipment items also found their way into the Full Option Science Program (FOSS) and are also available from Delta Education. These equipment items are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Beaker, 100 ml, modified

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Balance, SAVI/SELPH and FOSS*

This specially modified balance includes a tactile indicator and holes in the balance pans, allowing use of removable plastic cups. Students use gram pieces and mass sets for weighing. The balance is also modified for use in The Force activity from the Magnetism and Electricity Module.

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Beaker, 100 ml, modified

The 100-ml plastic tripour beaker has been modified with a hole punched at the 100 ml level. A student can dip the beaker into a larger container of water and let the excess drip back to get an accurate 100-ml measurement.

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Beaker, 1000 ml, modified

The 1000-ml (1 liter) plastic tripour beaker has been modified with slot punched at the 1000 ml level. A student can fill the beaker to the brim and allow the excess to drip into another container or tray to obtain an accurate 1000-ml measurement.

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Funnel stand, SAVI/SELPH*

The SAVI/SELPH funnel stand provides a stable tool for all students to use in the Mixtures and Solutions Module. The three wooden legs are removable, and the plastic funnel is easily cleaned.

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Graduate, 50 ml, with float

This 50-ml graduate includes a tactile floating scale for use by students with visual impairments. The cylinder is used with the 50-ml syringe to measure small volumes of liquid. Students add liquid to the cylinder, and the float is dropped in. By pinching the scale at the spot where the scale intersects the cylinder rim, pulling out the scale, and then counting down from the top notch (0 mark) to the pinch spot, students can measure liquid volume to the nearest 2 ml.

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Gram pieces, 100/set*

The gram pieces (or centicubes) are used with the FOSS balance and mass set. They are introduced in the Measurement Module and used for measurement in many other investigations, both in SAVI/SELPH and FOSS.

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Histogram board

This tactile histogram board is introduced in the Structures of Life Module. Students use rubber dots to record numbers of seeds in fruits and vegetables. The board can be used by visually-impaired students for other math-related activities.

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Mass set, 35 square plastic pieces*

These mass pieces are used with the FOSS balance and gram pieces. They are introduced in the Measurement Module and used for measurement in many other investigations, both in SAVI/SELPH and FOSS.

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Meter tape, plastic, SAVI/SELPH

The flexible plastic meter tape includes large-print and Braille numbers. It is introduced in the Measurement Module and used for measuring length in many other SAVI/SELPH Modules.

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Sorting tray

The SAVI/SELPH sorting tray allows students with disabilities to organize their workspace more effectively. The tray measures 40 X 25 cm and includes six round compartments, each 3 cm deep. It has many uses, including as a planter tray or organizer for cups of liquids. It is used in several SAVI/SELPH Modules, including Mixtures and Solutions and Structures of Life.

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Syringe, 50 ml, with stop

The 50-ml syringe has been modified with a metal stop so that when the plunger is pulled all the way to the stop, exactly 50 ml of liquid has been measured. By pushing down on the plunger from the 50-ml position until the notch in the middle of the plunger reaches the top of the plunger, 25 ml of liquid is measured. This syringe is introduced in the Measurement Module and is also used in a number of other SAVI/SELPH and FOSS investigations requiring liquid measurement.

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Syringe, 50 ml, modified for Acid Test

This syringe was specifically developed for The Acid Test investigation in the SAVI/SELPH Kitchen Interactions Module. It is also used in the FOSS Food and Nutrition Module. Note the differences between this syringe and the 50-ml syringe with stop. This plunger in this syringe is removable. There are also measurement notches on the plunger to assist students in determining how much gas was created by an acid and baking soda reaction. The top notch allows students to accurately measure 5 ml of acid for the experiment.

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Thermometer, SAVI/SELPH, Celsius

The SAVI/SELPH thermometer includes both a Braille and large print scale for measuring temperature in degrees Celsius. It is introduced in the SAVI/SELPH Measurement Module to measure the temperature of water. The thermometer can be calibrated. Tabs are included along the rim to mark temperatures for comparison.

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Volume tube, SAVI/SELPH

The volume tube is used in the SAVI/SELPH Kitchen Interactions Module. A similar version of this volume tube is used in the FOSS Food and Nutrition Module. Students investigate how much gas is created by the interaction of yeast with several different foods, including animal crackers. The volume tube is used to measure the volume of gas.