This unit is loaded with phenomena. The real world task of being a member of Oregon's Energy Commission that must create a 50-Year Energy Plan propels students through a learning arc that includes electricity, magnetism, power production, and climate science. After the Request for a 50-Year Energy Plan students jigsaw energy sources and power production. They need to understand the basic physics of how generators works leads us to build and explore motors (starting with speakers which also connect to the Waves & Technology unit) and inefficient generators (electric guitars). The need for large amounts of energy and efficient generators motivates us to engineer wind turbines and optimize solar cells for a local facilities use. Creating the rubric to evaluate large scale power production launches us into climate science. With all the learning of the unit students and many real world constraints student finally complete, compare, and evaluate their 50-Year Energy Plan.

In this lesson, students observe demonstrations and participate in hands-on activities that involve static electricity. Connections to everyday examples of static electricity and assessment ideas are included. Extension activities integrate Language Arts and family.

How are magnetism and electricity related? In this lesson, students will explore the relationship between magnetism and electricity, learn how to construct an electromagnet, and discover everyday uses of electromagnets. Students will create a multimedia presentation in which they will demonstrate their knowledge of electromagnetism.

Students are introduced to the concept of electricity through hands-on investigation of how circuits work. Students will construct a simple circuit and record their experiences in their science journal. Note: Circuit kits (one per individual/group) will need to be prepared ahead of time. Kits are to include 1 C-cell battery, 2 insulated copper wires, 1 battery holder, 2 brass battery clips, 1 small flashlight bulb, and 1 socket.

We are surrounded everyday by circuits that utilize "in parallel" and "in series" circuitry. Complicated circuits designed by engineers are made of many simpler parallel and series circuits. In this hands-on activity, students build parallel circuits, exploring how they function and their unique features.

Everyday we are surrounded by circuits that use "in parallel" and "in series" circuitry. Complicated circuits designed by engineers are composed of many simpler parallel and series circuits. During this activity, students build a simple series circuit and discover the properties associated with series circuits.

In this activity students test a variety of liquids and solutions to see which conduct electricity. Note: This is designed for use in a science museum or education center and may need to be modified for classroom use.

Students use balloons to perform several simple experiments to explore static electricity and charge polarization.

In this lesson, students will investigate energy, electricity, and circuits by creating an emergency flashlight using common everyday materials. Then they will work collaboratively to design a model subdivision, creating a simple circuit to provide light to the "buildings" in their model.

In this activity, students will organize electricity-related vocabulary words into a web or cluster design.

Students will use basic materials (brass paper fasteners, paperclips, wire, cardboard and light bulb / battery setups to make a simple switch circuit.

In this activity, students build and experiment with electric circuits using easily available materials. Students are challenged to find three pathways that successfully complete the circuit, and three pathways that do not successfully complete the circuit. Students will sketch the pathways in their journals, and compare and contrast their drawings with peers.

Student teams investigate the properties of electromagnets. They create their own small electromagnet and experiment with ways to change its strength to pick up more paper clips. Students learn about ways that engineers use electromagnets in everyday applications.

In this lesson, students will work collaboratively to create a presentation featuring an electrostatics demonstration. The demonstration should deal with some aspect of the three basic principles of electrostatics. Each group will also submit a written descripton of their demonstration.

In this physics lab students will investigate whether Ohm's Law applies to common electric devices (incandescent light bulbs and LEDs). Students will design a controlled experiment, including a written procedure, and then conduct the experiment, collect and graph data. Students may submit their findings in a formal written report or through informal class discussion.

In this electric circuit guided inquiry students will investigate what an electric circuit is, the main parts of a circuit and the difference between series and parallel circuits. Students will work in small groups and create a circuit using materials provided by the teacher. Students will draw and label a closed and open circuit, a series of circuits, and parallel circuit. Students will then meet with a different small group and share their results.

This brief video lesson discusses the physics of electrical phenomena by looking at the history of the major vocabulary terms associated with electricity such as electron, battery, charge, and current. Discussion/assessment questions and suggested supplemental resources are included.

This collection uses primary sources to explore the introduction of electric power to the United States. Digital Public Library of America Primary Source Sets are designed to help students develop their critical thinking skills and draw diverse material from libraries, archives, and museums across the United States. Each set includes an overview, ten to fifteen primary sources, links to related resources, and a teaching guide. These sets were created and reviewed by the teachers on the DPLA's Education Advisory Committee.

Students are introduced to the concept of energy conversion, and how energy transfers from one form, place or object to another. They learn that energy transfers can take the form of force, electricity, light, heat and sound and are never without some energy "loss" during the process. Two real-world examples of engineered systems light bulbs and cars are examined in light of the law of conservation of energy to gain an understanding of their energy conversions and inefficiencies/losses. Students' eyes are opened to the examples of energy transfer going on around them every day. Includes two simple teacher demos using a tennis ball and ball bearings. A PowerPoint(TM) presentation and quizzes are provided.

Using an Arduino microprocessor, students will build an automated fish food feeder so fish can be fed when no one is at school?

This project involves learning how to do simple wiring of an LED, a buzzer, and a servo (motor) to a simple-to-use Arduino microprocessor.