process
As you go through your activities each week, you will answer and reflect upon the following Essential Questions:
- What is electricity?
- What is the difference between natural electricity and man-made electricity?
- What is a simple circuit?
- What parts are needed to make a simple circuit?
- How did the discovery of electricity, alternating current, and the invention of the light bulb impact life in America?
- What is the difference between a series circuit and parallel circuit?
- How do I construct a simple series or parallel circuit?
Week 1:
You are to investigate electricity as it is found in nature and in man-made circuits. You will also investigate the history of electricity and the first circuits ever made. Finally, you will learn about the contributions of Thomas Edison and Lewis Latimer to the successful invention and distribution of light bulbs. Please use the template provided below to document your information.
Electricity Research Template
Use these links to find research for your template:
You are to investigate electricity as it is found in nature and in man-made circuits. You will also investigate the history of electricity and the first circuits ever made. Finally, you will learn about the contributions of Thomas Edison and Lewis Latimer to the successful invention and distribution of light bulbs. Please use the template provided below to document your information.
Electricity Research Template
Use these links to find research for your template:
- Static and Current Electricity: https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/circuit3.htm
- History of the light bulb: https://www.bulbs.com/learning/history.aspx
- Information on Thomas Edison: https://www.ducksters.com/biography/thomas_edison.php
- Information on Lewis Latimer:
Watch the following video to learn a brief history of electricity:
Here is a video that I created to demonstrate how a light bulb closes a circuit:
Here is an additional video about Nikola Tesla and his contribution to the modernization of electricity:
https://www.brainpop.com/science/energy/nikolatesla/
https://www.brainpop.com/science/energy/nikolatesla/
On Friday, you each need to reflect on what you learned this week for this project using 4 or more sentences in your science journal.
Week 2:
Before we begin the design of your circuit, please take out your science journals from last week so that we can discuss what you learned.
Now is the time to draw a preliminary design for your simple circuit. You will also begin collecting materials for the components of your electric circuit. Use the materials sheet provided below:
Materials for components
Please watch the video below to learn a little more about how electric circuits work.
Please watch the following video that will explain the difference between a series circuit and a parallel circuit. This will aid you in your decision of what type of circuit you would like to construct for your prototype.
On Friday, you each need to reflect on what you learned this week for this project using 4 or more sentences in your science journal.
Week 3:
Before we begin this week's activities, please take out your science journals from last week so that we can discuss what you learned.
Before beginning construction of your circuit prototype, please take a moment to try this interactive web activity in which you will be presented with the components to build a virtual circuit before using your own materials. Keep in mind that as you go through this process, you may feel the need to reflect and change elements in your design.
*Note: Try adding multiple light bulbs and watch the brightness of the bulbs as you construct a series circuit.
Challenge: Try creating a parallel circuit with multiple light bulbs and observe what happens.
Before we begin this week's activities, please take out your science journals from last week so that we can discuss what you learned.
Before beginning construction of your circuit prototype, please take a moment to try this interactive web activity in which you will be presented with the components to build a virtual circuit before using your own materials. Keep in mind that as you go through this process, you may feel the need to reflect and change elements in your design.
*Note: Try adding multiple light bulbs and watch the brightness of the bulbs as you construct a series circuit.
Challenge: Try creating a parallel circuit with multiple light bulbs and observe what happens.
You will now take your design, your components, and your new knowledge to create your circuit. Once you have successfully completed your circuit, you will use the provided iPads to video a demonstration of your circuit providing power to at least one light bulb. You will then upload your video from the iPad onto the class's See Saw account. Each person will respond to 2 other designs using their See Saw account by the end of the week.
On Friday, you each need to reflect on what you learned this week for this project using 4 or more sentences in your science journal.
Weeks 4 and 5:
Before we begin this week's activities, please take out your science journals from last week so that we can discuss what you learned.
Now that you have successfully created your prototype, it is team to gather your team to write up a report showing your expertise. It would be a good idea to divide up the work for this report to where each team member is responsible for one paragraph. In your report, you will answer the following questions in paragraph form:
*Upon completion of your report, please upload it to your OneDrive account and share it with your teacher.
Before we begin this week's activities, please take out your science journals from last week so that we can discuss what you learned.
Now that you have successfully created your prototype, it is team to gather your team to write up a report showing your expertise. It would be a good idea to divide up the work for this report to where each team member is responsible for one paragraph. In your report, you will answer the following questions in paragraph form:
- Paragraph 1:
- What did you learn about the difference between static electricity in nature versus how man has harnessed electricity?
- What did you learn about important figures that have contributed to the success of man-made electricity, electric circuits, and their components?
- Paragraph 2:
- What influenced your decisions in how you collected components for your simple circuit?
- What components served as good conductors?
- What did you use as insulators, and why were they necessary?
- Paragraph 3:
- Explain step-by-step how you created your series or parallel circuit. Be as detailed as possible.
- Include a sketch of your final design in this section.
- You may draw this out on paper and scan with the document camera or make your drawing using Doodle Buddy on the iPad or computer.
- Paragraph 4:
- Reflect upon your successes with the design and construction of your circuit.
- What obstacles did you encounter?
- What you would do differently in the future?
*Upon completion of your report, please upload it to your OneDrive account and share it with your teacher.