| This task is designed for all junior students
(grade 4-6) for the 2007-2008 school year. It is the first
junior division science project of a proposed three-year cycle
and focuses on the topic: Electricity and Electrical Devices.
The goal is to bring teachers and students within a division
together in order to increase collabloration and expertise
in the area of technological design. Teachers / divisions
/ schools will decide when the task is to be completed within
the school year. Invention Conventions, Structure Showcases,
etc are encouraged upon completion in order for students to
demonstrate their work.
Students from each school will be invited to showcase their
project designs in London District Catholic School Board's
annual Junior Tech Challenge. This evenit is held in conjunction
with the London Distict Sciene and Technolocy Fair, normally
scheduled for the first weekend in April. Information about
Tech Challenge will be communicated to schools and teachers.
If at any time, you have questions, etc about the project
please fell free to contact Sharon Gillies via email (s.gillies@office.ldcsb.on.ca)
or phone (519-663-2088 ext. 42104).
It is hoped that the task will continue to grow and be improved.
This can only happen with your imput and feedback.
In 2008-2009, the junior division project will focus on Forces
Acting on Structures and Mechanisms and in 2009-2010, Pulleys
and Gears.
Lead-up to the Challenge....
1. Introduce the topic of electricity by disucssing
where students encounter it everyday. This is a good opportunity
for students to start thinking about the two types of electricity.
Static electricity - clothes from dryer sticking
together, rubbing feat on carpet and getting a shock, rubbing
a balloon on your hair so it will stick to the wall, lightning,
etc
Current electricity - wires in house, appliances, from batteries,
etc.
2. Electrical
Safety
http://www.oru.com/energyandsafety/safety/electricalsafetyworld/teacher/index.html
You may wish to cover the topic of electrical safety now or
leave it until later, your choice!
This site: Electrical Safety World uses information, experiments,
games, and activities to teach students the principles and
practices of electrical safety. The site is geared for a range
of interests and reading levels and can be used by students
in elementary and middle school. (Non-readers will be able
to play the games with adult assistance.) The information
can be used over the internet or can be downloaded and modified
as you see fit.
The content includes:
· How Electricity Can Hurt You (INFORMATIONAL)
How electricity behaves and how it can hurt people. Covers
grounding, electricity and water, appliance safety, and the
effects of electric shock. Contains experiments about electricity
and water, and short circuits.
· In Case of Emergency! (INFORMATIONAL)
Teaches students how to respond to electrical fires, electric
shock, downed power lines, power lines on a vehicle, and power
outages.
· Tree and Power Line Safety (INFORMATIONAL)
Explains the hazards of trees near power lines, and how students
can climb, plant, and trim trees to avoid power line contact.
· Find the Hidden Dangers (GAME)
A game to test students’ understanding of how to play
it safe around electricity outdoors. Within busy street scenes,
students must identify electrical hazards involving power
lines and electrical equipment.
· Make the Safe Choice (GAME)
A game to test students’ awareness about electrical
safety inside the home. The game presents electrical hazards
that are relevant to students’ lives and asks students
to identify the safest response.
· Shock Blocker (GAME)
Students play against the computer to prevent water from creating
a path for electricity to flow from a power line, electrical
outlet, or lightning bolt.
· Home Safety Audit (ACTIVITY)
A checklist students can use with parents to inspect their
home for electrical hazards.
· Tell Your Story (ACTIVITY)
Profiles a real-life shock victim who is an Olympic kayaker.
Asks students to interview someone who has had an electric
shock, to tell their own electric shock story, or to report
on one from a newspaper article. Focus is on sharing how the
incident occurred and how it could have been prevented.
· Safety Certificate
This is a checklist of site locations students can use to
map their progress, plus an electrical safety pledge. We recommend
students print the certificate before starting the site and
have a parent or other adult sign it after they have visited
the main areas.
3. Static Electricicty:
What is static electricity? (Word
Documnet or PDF
version)
This is a short text that could be used as a shared reading.
Students can investigate Static Electricty using this series
of four short activities. (Word
Document or PDF
version)
Here is a reference Triboelectric Series you may want to
use. (Word Document
or PDF version) Students
can use this series to predict their resuslts and try different
combinations in this Zoom Science activity...
http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/sci/staticelectricity.html
4. Current Electricity:
What is current electricity? (Word
Document or PDF
version)
Exploring Electricity with Tennis Balls (Word
Document or PDF
version)
This activity can be done as a whole-c;ass demo to explore
the key concepts of an electrical circuit. For our purposes,
students should not get hung up on the technical terms but
have fun exploring.
Parts of an Electric Circuit:
Here is an optional activity that students love but you need
to put the word out for families to send in any broken electlrical
devices. Simple ones like electrical clocks, toasters, hair
dryers, old tape recorders, old radios, flashlight, small
lamp, etc work best as the circuit components are easy to
find and identify. The goal is for students to find the source
of the current, the circuuit wires, the ouput device (ex.
light, motor, etc), and perhaps a switch. You'll need an assortment
of screwdrivers and small hammers so students can open the
device to explore the components. Screwdrivers and hammers
can be found in your school's elementary tech kit.
How do electrical devices work?
Stduents come up with tricky questions! You may find these
links useful for explanations of how some devices work.
a) electric
bikes
b) transformers
c) electric
guitars
d) electric
motors
e) electric
toasters
f) radio
Building Circuits:
You can choose to have students build series and parallel
circuits in a follow-the-steps procedure or in an exploratory
fashion. Here are some ideas for both approaches:
Follow-the-Steps Activity (Word
Document or PDF
version)
Exploratory Activity (Word
Document or PDF
version)
Discuss where you see series circuits vs parallel circuit.
(ex. Christmas lights where they all go out if one goes out
is a series circuit, lights in your home stay on if one goes
out so this is a parallel circuit)
Students can add a switch to turn their light on and off in
this activity. (Word Document
or PDF version)
You may want to use this activity where students model components
and build a human circuit. (Word
Document or PDF
version)
5. Investigating Batteries:
Batteries are assembled from cells, connected in series, to
increase the voltage available.
In a cell, chemical energy is converted into electrical energy.
Cells may be either PRIMARY or SECONDARY types.
A primary cell is discarded when its chemical energy is exhausted.
A secondary cell can be recharged.
The most common primary cell is the zinc/carbon dry cell used
in flashlights, portable radios etc. Here is a simple diagram
of a dry cell:
Here are a few different activities where students can investigate
how to make a battery:
a) Students can make their own battery from a lemon and do
an easy battery investigation in this activity. (Word
Document or PDF
version)
b) Here is a great link with fuly labelled diagrams and steps
to make a battery from a lemon.
http://hilaroad.com/camp/projects/lemon/lemon_battery.html
c ) Students can try different fruits to make a battery in
this activity. (Word Document
or PDF version)
d) Here is a link that allows you to check out voltages produced
from different fruits used to make a battery.
http://www.ieee-virtual-museum.org/collection/tech.php?id=2345793
e) Here is an activity where students make a battery from
a potato.
http://miniscience.com/projects/PotatoElectricity/
6. Enery Transformations Involving Electricity:
Electricity can come from other forms of energy
and
Electricity can be transformed into other forms of energy.
Here is an activity that could be done as a jigsaw, at activity
stations, etc in order to consider differnet transformations
involving electricity. (Word
Document or PDF
version)
7. Students are now ready to begin the Challenge Task: Sound
The Alarms
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