USING ELECTRICITY

Sample Teaching Schedule

Day 1:

Sci. - Video, All Charged Up, then read pages 1 - 3

SS. - Assign Life Without Electricity

Math- Watts Your Power

L.A. -Electric Energy and Appliances in the News

Day 2:

Sci. - Conductors and Non-Conductors, Read pages 3 - 4

SS. - Discuss Life Without Electricity

Math - Finish Watts Your Power

L.A. - Finish Electric Energy and Appliances in the News, Assign Electrical Appliances in Your Home

Day 3:

Sci. - Parts A and B of Circuit Circus, Read pages 5 - 6

SS. - Start A Dark Tuesday

Math - Assign Using Tables and Bar Graphs

L.A. - Finish Electrical Appliances in Your Home, Start Energy and Agriculture

Day 4:

Sci. - Part C of Circuit Circus, Read pages 7 - 8

SS. - A Dark Tuesday

Math - Finish Using Tables and Bar Graphs

L.A. - Energy and Agriculture

Day 5:

Sci. - Finish Circuit Circus, Read page 9

SS. - Complete A Dark Tuesday

L.A. - Finish Energy and Agriculture

Possible letter home:

Dear Family,
This week your student's class will be doing an integrated study of electric energy uses. We feel that there is a need for us all to understand how electric energy is used in the home and school. This understanding should make us more efficient users and consumers of energy.
Your child will be bringing information and projects home that he/she would like to share with you. We encourage your participation. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact your student's teacher.

Sincerely,
Your Name

Video: Energy Use Over the Last 100 Years

Teacher Directed Activity

Objectives:
1. Students will begin thinking about how electrical energy is used.
2. Teacher will assess prior knowledge students have about how electrical energy is used in their home.

Teaching Strategies:
1. The video lasts approximately seven minutes. Preview the video before showing it to your class. It is strongly recommended that you use the video as a start-up activity for this unit.
2. Before showing the video, ask students if anyone has ever visited a historical farm showing life on the farm before electricity was available. Ask questions to find out if any students know about how farm and household chores were done before electricity was available. Ask them to think about the electric appliances they have used so far during the day.
3. Show the video to the students. The video shows four students visiting a Living History Farm in Des Moines, Iowa. The students are then "transported" to a modern farm that depends on electricity.
4.After viewing the video, lead the class in a discussion about the content of the video. Remember, the video is primarily for motivational purposes.
5.As you move through the module, you might find it helpful to rerun various segments of the video to reinforce student learning.
6.Show the video again, before visiting an operating historic farm.

Materials List for Energy Unit 2

All Charged Up...

Balloon for each student; for each group of students a baggie with a comb, pieces of cloth (silk, wool, cotton), foil, styrofoam, small pieces of paper.

Conductors and Non...

For each group of students: one size D dry cell; light bulb and bulb holder; 3 lengths of insulated wire; variety of objects to be tested.

Circuit Circus...

For each group of students: size D batteries; wires; flashlight bulbs and bulb sockets; battery holders.

Watts Your Power...

Electric meter; watch with second hand; calculators; copy of student sheet for each student.

Using Tables...

Graph paper; colored pencils, markers, or crayons; rulers; calculators; student sheets for each student.

Life Without Electricity...

Posterboard; reference books; texts.

A Dark Tuesday...

Student sheets; almanacs; calculators.

Electric Energy...

Consumer magazines; newspapers; posterboard; markers; video camera.

Electrical Appliances...

A copy of Home Appliance Survey for each student.

Energy and Agriculture...

Resources such as books, magazines, and agriculture experts.