As we approach the Christmas Holiday, I hope all my readers have time to reflect on all the great things that happen to you and our country this year, and also enjoy spending time with your family and love ones over the Winter Break. Now onto the Science Lab! For the last two weeks I have focused my lessons on electricity. Students are learning what exactly is electricity and how to use it to power devices we use everyday. Doing this lab investigation I gave our students a 1.5 volt battery, a small lightbulb in two insulated wires. Using their knowledge of what conductors and insulators, students constructed a Closed Circuit and discussed among themselves what Closed Circuit are. Next, I gave them a "Bag-O-Stuff" (simply a small zip lock bag with small materials in it) which they tested with the battery & wire to see if those item were conductors or an insulator. Conductors allow electricity to pass through them, which resulted in the light buld coming on. Insulators holds in electricity, which produced the light buld not coming on. The students final project was to design a complex Closed and Open Circuit. This required for the students to use (4) 1.5 volt batteries, (7) insulated wires, (2) lightbulbs and (2) throw switches, and a sound box. It took some students a while to construct this circuit, but through teamwork and tapping into their problem solving strategies most students prevailed. Below are some snapshots of the two week lab assignment. Also, if you want to learn more about electricity, check out this kid friendly Website
No comments:
Post a Comment