Measuring Our Way Through the Streets of Philadelphia
What better way to spend the days leading up to the U.S. Independence Day than to do some data-logging throughout the city where our government was born? As host of the 2015 International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference, Philadelphia provided us with an excellent background for data collection.
We grabbed a few of our MultiMeasure® sensors and took to the streets of Philadelphia. It’s amazing how much data you can collect with just 2 sensors! We had the Humidity/Temp/Dew Point Sensor and a Temp/Light/Sound Sensor connected with Airlink2s to our SPARK Element.
First stop in the City of Brotherly Love is of course the LOVE statue in JFK Plaza.
It’s always sunny in Philadelphia and this day was no exception. It was a comfortable 27.2 oC (or 81 0F) and even near the fountain, the humidity was only around 50%.
Next up, we wanted to hear the sound of freedom, so we made out way to the Liberty Bell.
The sound measurements were off the charts! Okay, the sound measurements never made it on the chart since the Liberty Bell actually cracked shortly after it was first rung in 1776. But, we did use the Sound Sensor outside the Liberty Bell to capture the commotion around Independence Hall.
While the sound from the bell might have left us disappointed, it is loud and clear that our sensors can still pick up the sounds of people excited to see the symbol of liberty!
We worked up quite an appetite walking around town, so we had to try the signature Philadelphia meal— a cheesesteak (wit’ wiz).
Being the science phanatics (go Phillies!) that we are, we also had to collect some data. Once we knew it was the perfect temperature— and we assured the vendor that we weren’t from the health department—it was time to dig in!
We had a great time in Philadelphia soaking in the people, the sights, and the culture. And the conversations we had with educators at ISTE were a great reminder that students love science, and they love it even more when they can really interact with the data they’re collecting.
While our data collection might not be the basis of your next science lesson, it’s a great reminder that you can quantify everything around you to increase student inquiry and help you become a champion of STEM!
