Electricity Card Sort
Teaching Guide
Background:
Many students lack a general understanding of where electricity comes from. They
understand that turning on a light switch causes the lights to turn on, but very few
understand how that electricity is generated. Students also know that there are various
renewable and nonrenewable energy sources, however, they typically are unaware of
the process by which electricity is generated from these sources.
The AP exam expects that students have an understanding of how various energy
sources are converted into electrical energy.
Students need to know the following flow of energy
Fossil Fuels
Nuclear source
Turbine is attached to a
generator. The
generator converts the
mechanical energy from
the turbine into electrical
energy
Burned/reacted to create heat. Heat
is added to water to create steam
Kinetic
energy
causes
turbine to
spin
Wind, flowing
water,
waves,or
steam from
the ground
(geothermal)
Materials
Print a set of cards one per group/pair. If you have time and resources consider printing
each page a different color.
Procedure
Have students use the cards and colored markers (either on butcher paper or chalk
markers on black top tables) to create a flow diagram similar to the one above. They
will need to add in arrows and may find that they can add to or expand on particular
topics.
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Electricity Card Sort
Generator
Turbine
Steam
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Mechanical Energy
Electrical Energy
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Natural Gas
Oil
Coal
Wind
Nuclear Energy
Tidal Waves
Geothermal Energy
Flowing Water
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