Lesson Plan
Electricity and Magnetism
Electricity and Magnetism
Summary
Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of electricity and magnetism,
including a study of basic electric circuits, and how electricity and magnetism are
related.
Objectives
SWBAT identify the basic requirements of an electrical circuit and correctly construct
several simple electric circuits.
SWBAT identify and describe short circuits, broken circuits, serial circuits and parallel
circuits.
SWBAT describe how electricity and magnetism can combine to form technological
systems such as electromagnets and motors.
SWBAT identify key points in the history of electromagnetic discoveries.
Content Standards
(AKS)
6ET_A2009-2: evaluate the impact of engineering and technology on society
o
Explore the historical impacts of engineering & technology
o
Demonstrate an understanding of the Universal Systems Model
6ET_A2009-4: demonstrate an understanding for a technological world through
hands-on projects
o
Apply the engineering design process
o
Use and maintain technological products and systems
o
Apply the Universal Systems Model to existing systems
6ET_A2009-5: investigate the design world of engineering, electronics,
manufacturing, or energy systems
Essential Question
What are the basic components of an electrical system? How are electricity and
magnetism related?
Language
Objective
Discuss with your partner how you think the circuit operates, then diagram the
circuit and write a description of how it works.
[READ] [WRITE] [LISTEN]
[SPEAK]
Vocabulary
Circuit – A complete path beginning at one point and returning to the same point. In
electricity, current begins at the power source, moves through the load, and then
returns to the power source.
Medium – A material through which something travels.
Conductor – A material (such as metal) that allows electricity (electrons) to travel.
Insulator – A material (such as rubber or plastic) that does not allow electricity
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EXPLORING TECHNOLOGY (6th Grade Technology Education)
Lesson Plan:
Exploring Technology
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6 Grade Technology Education
Mike Christodoulou, Lilburn Middle School
Lesson Plan
Electricity and Magnetism
Exploring Technology
th
6 Grade Technology Education
Mike Christodoulou, Lilburn Middle School
Electron – The part of an atom that carries a negative electrical charge.
Battery – A device that can store electricity for later use.
Load – The portion of an electrical circuit that does work
Current – A continuous movement of electricity.
Voltage – The potential energy of an electrical system
Amperage – The amount of electricity flowing in a circuit
Resistance – The amount by which an electrical current is slowed or resisted
AC (Alternating Current) – A type of electrical current in which the direction of the
current is constantly changing back and forth.
DC (Direct Current) – A type of electrical current in which the electricity constantly
flows in a single direction.
Parallel – A type of circuit in which electricity travels through two separate loads
along two separate paths
Series – A type of circuit in which electricity travels through multiple loads along the
same path.
Lesson
Preparation
Handouts Required:
Electricity maze (1 per student)
Electricity diary (1 per student)
Circuit diagrams (1 per student, 3 pages)
Electricity time line (1 per student group)
Materials Required:
Electricity Kit – See attachment Lesson Plan - Electricity and Magnetism - EM
Kit.doc for details.
Computers with Internet access
Compass
Multimeter
Building
Background
How do you use electricity in daily life? Electric Diary – Prior to beginning the
lesson, assign each student to track his electricity use for a day, using the “Electricity
Diary” worksheet.
Target Time: Complete the Electric Maze – Discuss what a Circuit is.
Comprehensible
Input
Students will create a vocabulary list by researching the key terms on the internet,
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EXPLORING TECHNOLOGY (6th Grade Technology Education)
(electrons) to travel.
Lesson Plan
Electricity and Magnetism
Exploring Technology
th
6 Grade Technology Education
Mike Christodoulou, Lilburn Middle School
Electrical diagrams are constructed on worksheets using written prompts.
Teaching
Strategies
Lecture: Lectures in this lesson will be minimal, and primarily used to introduce the
day’s topic.
Guided practice: Whole-group and partnered activities will be guided by the
instructor.
Hands-on Activities: Each student will individually (or in pairs) construct a working
electric or electromagnetic circuit.
Computer Research: Students will use the Internet to learn key vocabulary terms.
Computer Activity: On-line tutorials (BrainPop) will be used to allow students to
review information.
Interaction
Teacher-Whole Group: Guided, interactive activities with the electricity kit
Student individual: Students will do individual research on vocabulary.
Student –Student pairs: Students will research historical events with a partner.
Students will present a historical event with a partner. Students will construct
electrical circuits with a partner.
Practice/Applicati
on
Students will discuss electric circuits, construct electric circuits, then diagram the
electric circuits.
Students will learn about historical events, examine the importance of the event,
and apply the event to an electrical device.
Lesson Delivery
Electricity is the power generated by the movement of electrons across a metallic
material.
Each of the following sections was developed to last approximately one 45 minute
class period.
INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRIC CIRCUITS
Distribute the Electricity Maze to each student. (This makes a good Target Time
activity.) Upon completion of the maze, ask what they’ve learned about electricity.
They should be able to notice that electricity must travel in a full loop, beginning
with a battery, running through wires, through a lamp and/or a switch, and back to
the battery.
An electrical system requires a “medium” (something for the electricity to move
through, a power source (AC or DC), and a load (such as a lamp or a motor).
An electric circuit requires a complete, unbroken path which begins and ends at a
power source. “Circuit” is Latin “circuitus”, meaning “to circle”. A broken path
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EXPLORING TECHNOLOGY (6th Grade Technology Education)
and writing the definitions in their notes.
Lesson Plan
Electricity and Magnetism
Exploring Technology
th
6 Grade Technology Education
Mike Christodoulou, Lilburn Middle School
Provide students with a list of vocabulary words. You may either discuss the
definitions as a class, or allow students to go research the definitions on their own.
“ScienceTrek” (http://sciencetrek.net/vocablistelectricity.htm) and/or class text
books are good resources.
HISTORY OF ELECTRICITY
Allow students to research the history of electricity and magnetism on the
computer. Offer the following sites for good information:
EIA Energy Kids
(http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=tl_electricity)
Jonesboro City, Water & Light (http://www.jonesborocwl.com/view/131)
Mercury Energy: Energy Education
(http://www.mercury.co.nz/education/education_whatisenergy_historyofel
ectricity.asp)
Students should work in pairs. Provide each pair of students with a range in which
to research:
600 BC through AD 1700
1700 through 1800
1800 through 1840
1840 through 1880
etc.
As they research, they should select at least 4 of the most interesting or important
events and write them in the Electricity Timeline worksheet.
After research is complete, post the entire series of timelines along the wall. Have
each student line up in front of their respective page. Designate the students in
each group as Student A or Student B. Next, Student B from each group will switch
to another group and discuss their timeline page with a new partner. Selecting the
most interesting or important fact from the new timeline page, Student B will then
present that fact to the class.
Note: Several key events should be pointed out. If these were not discovered,
then bring them up in a lecture.
600 BC – Thales (ancient Greece) discovered that rubbing amber with silk
causes the amber to attract hairs and dry grass. The Greek word for amber
is “elektron”.
1752 – Benjamin Franklin flew a key on a kite near an approaching
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EXPLORING TECHNOLOGY (6th Grade Technology Education)
constitutes an “open circuit”. A path that does not include a load is called a “short
circuit”.
Lesson Plan
Electricity and Magnetism
Exploring Technology
th
6 Grade Technology Education
Mike Christodoulou, Lilburn Middle School
ELECTRIC CIRCUITS
Provide each student with an electricity kit. (See attachment Lesson Plan Electricity and Magnetism - EM Kit.doc for details.) Guide them through how to use
the kit safely.
Describe and have the students draw the electrical symbols for wire, battery, lamp,
motor, horn, switch, ground, and AC power source.
ACTIVITY: Students will individually construct a simple electric circuit, consisting of a
9V battery, a lamp, and wires. Discover what happens when the circuit is broken.
Substitute a motor for the lamp. Discover what happens when the circuit is
reversed.
Discuss the terms circuit, open circuit, closed circuit, and short circuit.
Important note: Describe what a short circuit is, and then construct a short circuit.
Point out that the battery and wires are beginning to heat up, and if left alone, this
can cause severe damage. In houses, it can cause house fires. Disconnect the
batteries and let it cool down.
Have students draw a circuit diagram for the circuit they just constructed.
SERIES CIRCUITS
A series circuit is one in which electricity travels through multiple loads along the
same path. It can also describe the use of multiple power sources along the same
path.
ACITIVITY: Students pair up to combine their materials, and build a serial circuit
consisting of a 9V battery, two 6V lamps, and three wires. Discover what happens
when part of the circuit is broken. Compare this series circuit with the basic circuit
you constructed earlier. Complete the worksheet by drawing the circuit diagram for
the series circuit, and describing your observation.
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EXPLORING TECHNOLOGY (6th Grade Technology Education)
thunderstorm. By capturing the electricity in a “Leyden jar”, he was able to
show that electrical sparks and lightning were the same thing.
1820 – Hans Christian Oersted noticed that a simple electric circuit caused a
nearby compass needle to move. He discovered the relationship between
electricity and magnetism.
1821 – Michael Faraday figured out that if you run a current through a wire
loop, it will cause a magnet to move. Using this information, he was able to
construct the first electric motor.
Lesson Plan
Electricity and Magnetism
Exploring Technology
th
6 Grade Technology Education
Mike Christodoulou, Lilburn Middle School
A parallel circuit is one in which electricity travels through two separate loads along
two separate paths. You can also hook power sources in parallel.
ACITIVITY: Students pair up to combine their materials, and build a parallel circuit
consisting of a 9V battery, two 6V lamps, and four wires. Discover what happens
when part of the circuit is broken. Compare this parallel circuit with the series
circuit constructed yesterday. Complete the worksheet by drawing the circuit
diagram for the parallel circuit, and describing your observations.
Note about Alternative Assignments:
For students who are unable to attend class, you can use the following web site to
simulate the previous three activities. Visit the "Make an electric circuit online" web
site at http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/jo/elect/index.htm. Or, if your lab is so equipped,
use the Virtual Electricity Lab supplied with ScanTek’s Basic Electricity module.
ELECTROMAGNETISM
Electricity, magnetism, and motion are so interrelated, that by supplying any two of
the three, the third will be created (“induced”). This is the principle behind motors,
generators, speakers, electromagnets, particle accelerators.
Discuss the following historical events:
In 1820, Hans Christian Oersted noticed that a simple electric circuit caused
a nearby compass needle to move. He discovered the relationship between
electricity and magnetism. Demonstrate Oersted’s experiment by hooking
up a simple circuit and placing it so that the wires run past a compass.
In 1821, Michael Faraday figured out that if you run a current through a wire
loop, it will cause a magnet to move. Using this information, he was able to
construct the first electric motor. Demonstrate Faraday’s experiment by
running a current through a spool of wire, and pushing a long magnet
through the center of the spool. Use a multimeter to show that a current
(or voltage) is being generated.
ACTIVITY: Using the electricity kit, create an electromagnet by coiling a wire around
a nail, and connecting it through wires to a 9V battery. Use the nail to pick up some
paper clips. (Caution: The battery will probably start to heat up, so do this quickly
and then disconnect.) For additional information and instructions, see
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/projects/electromagnet.html.
ACTIVITY: Create an electric motor using a wood screw, a disc magnet, a wire, and a
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EXPLORING TECHNOLOGY (6th Grade Technology Education)
PARALLEL CIRCUITS
Lesson Plan
Electricity and Magnetism
Exploring Technology
th
6 Grade Technology Education
Mike Christodoulou, Lilburn Middle School
Review/Assessme
nt
REINFORCEMENT WITH BRAINPOP
Have students log in to BrainPop.com. Click on the TECHNOLOGY button, then
choose ENERGY TECHNOLOGY. Choose as many of the below topics as you have
time. Watch the movie with Tim & Moby, and then answer the quiz afterwards.
Electromagnets
Electromagnetic Induction
Electricity
Electric Circuits
Current Electricity
Batteries
When the movie is complete, choose GRADED QUIZ.
INTERIM ASSESSMENTS
Worksheets that may be assessed with or without a grade: Circuit Diagrams,
Electricity Timeline, BrainPop quizzes. (The maze and diary should be considered
Building Background, and should not be used as assessment.)
UNIT ASSESSMENT
The attached test covers electricity vocabulary, diagramming circuits, history of
electricity, and electrical circuits and motors. See Electricity and Magnetism Quiz.doc.
Attachments
Electricity and Magnetism - Electricity Maze.doc: Target time activity to introduce
the concept of circuits
Electricity and Magnetism - Electricity Diary.doc: Worksheet for tracking electricity
use throughout a day
Electricity and Magnetism - Circuit Diagrams.doc: Worksheets for diagramming
simple circuits
Electricity and Magnetism - Quiz.doc: Unit assessment
Electricity Timeline.doc: Template for forming a timeline of events in the history of
electricity
Lesson Plan - Electricity and Magnetism - EM Kit.doc: Details for building and using
the Electricity kit
Additions
Some topics that were not covered in this lesson plan, but which might be of value:
Electricity Safety
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EXPLORING TECHNOLOGY (6th Grade Technology Education)
AA battery. Attach the magnet to the head of the wood screw, and suspend the
screw from the positive terminal of the battery. Hold one end of the wire against
the negative end of the battery and gently touch the other end of the wire to the
side of the magnet. For additional information and instructions, see
http://www.evilmadscientist.com/article.php/HomopolarMotor.
Lesson Plan
Electricity and Magnetism
Exploring Technology
th
6 Grade Technology Education
Mike Christodoulou, Lilburn Middle School
The Electric Company
This lesson can be adapted for use in higher grades by placing more
emphasis on power generation and incorporating measurements and Ohm’s
law.
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EXPLORING TECHNOLOGY (6th Grade Technology Education)
Lemon Batteries