Centre 7: Electricity
Electricity
1
12/9/02, 9:24 AM
Grade 6
Electricity
The theme of this activity centre is Electricity, a
topic from the Grade 6 Pan Canada Science
Curriculum. These interdisciplinary materials are
designed to support your implementation of this
unit as well as invite the student to reflect on
potential careers that are linked to this topic.
WHAT DO YOU SEE? is a Science and Art
activity where students draw and label (using a
legend with names and descriptor), a small 2.5
volt light bulb and a battery which will be used in
some of the remaining activities.
IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED is a
Science activity where students learn four
different ways to make a light bulb light up using
just one bulb, one battery and one piece of wire.
Overview
YES AND NO is a Science activity where
students develop their skill of prediction. Students
are given nine sketches showing a battery, a bulb
and a piece of wire to review. Before they actual
try the sketches as shown, they predict whether or
not they think the bulb will light up.
CONDUCTORS OR NOT? is a Science
activity where students test everyday objects to
determine if they are conductors or if they are
insulators.
MAKING CONNECTIONS is a Science
activity where students look at a drawing of a
mystery card showing two or three connections
that will complete a circuit and light up a light
bulb. Student test circuits by first predicting which
ones will complete the circuit.
LOGICAL CONNECTIONS is a Math,
Language Arts and Science activity where
students generate mystery circuit cards using
number combinations (math) or combinations of
words (language arts) to set up the circuit
combinations
WHERE WERE YOU WHEN… is a Language
Arts creative writing activity based on a scary
incident when the power (lights) went off.
ELECTRICAL SHORTHAND is a Science
activity where students learn some of the symbols
used in electrical drawings. Students are given a
picture of a simple circuit and asked to redraw it
using only symbols.
General Curriculum Links
Several subject areas have been drawn upon for
the development of these activities. They include:
Western Canada Math (Number Operations and
Number Concepts Strand)
Pan Canada Science (Performing and Recording)
Use numbers to describe quantities
205-3
Represents numbers in multiple ways
follow a given set of procedures
Pan Canada Science (Knowledge)
300-20 compare the conductivity of a variety of
solids (and liquids)
Experiments with language and forms
Understands forms and techniques (create
original texts)
Page
7.2
303-23 compare a variety of electrical pathways
by constructing simple circuits
Western Canada Language Arts
(General Outcome 1 and 2)
Electricity
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12/9/02, 9:24 AM
Activity
List of Materials
Other
What Do You See?
light bulb 2.5 volts
D cell battery, pencil
activity sheet 7.7
If At First You Don’t Succeed
light bulb 2.5 volt
D cell battery, 20 cm bare wire
(20-24 guage), scissors
activity sheet 7.8
Yes And No
light bulb 2.5 volt
D cell battery, 20 cm bare wire
(20-24 guage)
activity sheet 7.9
activity sheet 7.10
Electrical Shorthand
Conductors or Not?
Grade 6
Electricity
List of Materials
1 battery and battery holder
1 bulb 2.5 volts and a bulb
holder, 3 pieces of bare wire
(20 cm)
Making Connections
activity sheet 7.11
activity sheet 7.12
Logical Connections
tin foil, index cards, hole punch,
tape
activity sheet 7.13
Where Were You When…
pencil
activity sheet 7.14
Answers/Responses
negative
terminal
filament
ceramic
Activity 7.9 YES AND NO
The diagrams which work are letters A, B, D, G, and I.
Activity 7.10 ELECTRICAL SHORTHAND
case
a)
b)
positive
terminal
Activity 7.12 MAKING CONNECTIONS
lead contact
threaded metal base
ceramic
lead tip
Activity 7.8 IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED
Overview
Activity 7.7 WHAT DO YOU SEE?
The light bulb would go off with the following connections – A and
D, B and C, B and E, and C and E.
Page
7.3
Electricity
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Electricity
Page
7.4
Progress Chart
Class List/Students
4
AT
D
OY
OU
CTR
I
CA
LS
12/9/02, 9:24 AM
WH
ERE
WE
NO
T
?
YO
UW
HE N
CTI
ON
S
CTI
ON
S
ON
NE
RE
LO
GIC
AL
C
MA
KIN
GC
ON
NE
OR
HO
R TH
AN
D
CTO
RS
CO
ND
U
ELE
SEE
?
IF A
T
S U C FIRST
Y
CE
E D OU D
ON
’T
YES
AN
DN
O
WH
Grade 6
Electricity
Progress Chart
WHAT DO YOU SEE? is a Science and Art
activity where you will draw and label a
small 2.5 volt light bulb and a battery.
Grade 6
Electricity
Date Completed
IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED is a Science
activity where you will explore different ways
to make a light bulb light up.
Student Checklist
YES AND NO is a Science activity where you
will look at diagrams and determine if a light
bulb will light. Then you will test it with a bulb,
battery and piece of wire.
ELECTRICAL SHORTHAND is a Science activity
where you will learn different symbols used in
electrical drawings.
Page
7.5
Electricity
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Grade 6
Electricity
Date Completed
CONDUCTORS OR NOT? is a Science activity
where you will learn about objects that
conduct electricity (conductors) and
objects that do not conduct electricity
(insulators).
Student Checklist
MAKING CONNECTIONS is a Science activity
where you test circuits. You will also try to
predict ways of completing a circuit and
getting a light bulb to light up.
LOGICAL CONNECTIONS is a Math,
Language Arts and Science activity where
you will create different mystery circuit
cards. Other students will use their
knowledge of math or language arts to test
the circuits.
Page
7.6
WHERE WERE YOU WHEN… is a Language Arts
creative writing activity based on a scary
incident when the power (lights) went off.
Electricity
6
12/9/02, 9:24 AM
Grade 6
Electricity
a) We take it for granted that every time
we turn on a light switch the lights will
come on. Think of all the people that must
be involved in the making of a light bulb and in
the delivery of electrical services to your house.
b) Have you ever taken a really close look at a
light bulb? In this activity, you will make a
drawing of your observations of a light bulb as
1.
2.
battery.
, with clear glass, and a D cell
g them using the
You will need a small light bulb
and the battery and try labellin
bulb
t
ligh
the
h
bot
of
g
win
dra
Make a detailed
of the page.
legend (chart) at the bottom
Batteries
Light Bulb
and
thin coiled wire that heats up
gives off light
s
small piece of material that hold
ceramic
not
s
doe
filaments in place and
conduct electricity
t electricity when
lead contact helps to conduc
it comes in contact
filament
Electricity
7
lead tip
into a
provides support and screws
e
bas
provides a contact point
ton
positive terminal (+ end) – but
shaped
case
ce
holds battery contents in pla
shape
flat
)
negative terminal (- end
Try to identify as many careers as possible that
might have had something to do with the
production of a light bulb and battery.
12/9/02, 9:24 AM
Activity
7.7
d) Some Things To Try!
How many different types of batteries can
you think of? Try making a drawing of each
one.
threaded
metal base
What Do You See?
c)
well as a battery. Sounds easy doesn’t it? Lets
see!
Grade 6
Electricity
Activity
7.8
If At First You Don’t Succeed
a) Now that you know what all the parts of a light
bulb and battery are, it’s time to shed more light
on this subject.
Electricity
b) You will need:
• 1 small 2.5 v light bulb
• 1 D cell battery
• 1 piece (20 cm) of bare wire (20 to 24 gauge)
• Scissors (to cut the wire)
c)
and one
Using one battery, one light bulb
s
way to get the
wire, try to find four different
have found four
light bulb to light up. When you
rt.
ways, draw them on this cha
2.
1.
4.
3.
d) Some Things To Try!
Try to find out what is meant by the “gauge”
of a wire.
8
What is the difference between 24 gauge
wire and 12 gauge wire?
12/9/02, 9:25 AM
Grade 6
Electricity
a) Look at each of the diagrams. Write the word YES or
NO beside each diagram.
1.
2.
Write YES if you think it will work – will make the bulb
light up.
Write a NO if you think it will not work.
Good luck!
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
3.
Yes and No
A
Once you have finished writing yes or no
beside each one, take a battery, bulb and
small piece of wire and try each one. If you
got it right, circle your earlier answer
(prediction). If you got it wrong, circle your
answer and draw a big “X” through it.
Activity
7.9
Electricity
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12/9/02, 9:25 AM
Grade 6
Electricity
a) Have you eve seen the types of drawings that
electricians, mechanics and repair
technicians use? They use symbols to
b) Here’s some of
the symbols that
are used.
Symbol
represent things. Once you know their
language, it’s not so hard to understand.
Electrical Component
Comments
Wire
Wires not connected
Positive polarity
Activity
7.10
Electrical Shorthand
Negative polarity
Electricity
Battery
Short line negative
Two batteries
Long line positive
Bulb
Switch
Open
Switch
Closed
Motor
c)
circuits
Look at the drawing of the simple
the
only
g
usin
them
aw
below and redr
ve.
symbols from abo
d) Some Things To Try!
Try making electrical drawings for a circuit
with more than one light bulb or switch in it.
10
bols.
Redraw the simple circuit using sym
Try making a circuit drawing for a small
appliance such as a toaster or kettle.
12/9/02, 9:25 AM
Grade 6
Electricity
a) To learn about conductors you will need:
• 1 battery and battery holder
• 1 2.5 volt bulb and a bulb holder
• 3 pieces of bare wire (20 cm)
b) Set up a simple circuit as shown in the
diagram. Place wires A and B directly on the
objects being tested for their conductivity. If
the light bulb goes on, you have a
completed circuit and that object conducts
electricity. That makes it a conductor. Objects
that do not conduct electricity
are called
nonconductors
or insulators.
c)
1.
2.
3.
b
uctivity.
Test as many objects as you can for their cond
l, dime,
estions include nails, scissors, penny, nicke
You can test any object you like. Some sugg
, rocks,
keys, tacks, plastic, glass, wood, styrofoam
quarter, loonie, toonie, tin foil, wax paper,
paper, staples, etc.
it will be a conductor or not.
Before you actually try one, try to predict if
Object to be Tested
Prediction
(conductor/nonconductor)
Test
(Yes/No)
1.
2.
Conductors or Not?
a
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Electricity
11
Research the type of materials used for safety
equipment for electricians, power linemen and
emergency response teams.
12/9/02, 9:25 AM
Activity
7.11
d) Some Things to Try!
Try to find some examples of where
conductors or insulators are used around you
– in the school or at home.
Making Connections
Grade 6
Electricity
A
B
C
D
E
F
a) The picture above is an index card with six
holes punched it. The holes are labeled A, B,
C, D, E and F.
has been covered with tape. All anyone can
see is the six holes and they all have a piece
of tin foil in them.
b) Imagine that the smaller boxes around A and
D, B and C, as well as B and E, are actually
pieces of tin foil. Also imagine that no one can
see the tin foil pieces because the index card
c)
1.
if you
What do you think would happen
vity
acti
from
s
wire
two
r
connected you
tin
the
to
?)
NOT
OR
RS
CTO
7.12 (CONDU
?
card
x
inde
the
in
s
hole
the
foil on two of
2.
if you tried
What do you think would happen
wing
follo
the
g
usin
s
to make connection
points of contact:
A and B _____
A and C _____
A and D _____
A and E _____
A and F _____
B and C _____
B and D _____
B and E
_____
C and D _____
C and E _____
C and F _____
D and E _____
D and F
Activity
7.12
B and F
Electricity
12
_____
12/9/02, 9:25 AM
_____
Grade 6
Electricity
a) Electricians and repair technicians test
circuits all the time. They want to make sure
that instruments and machines are getting
electricity. You can test circuits as well using
mystery circuit cards like the ones in Activity
7.12 (MAKING CONNECTIONS).
b) Go ahead. Try to make your own mystery
card that has one or more ways of making
the light bulb light up. (Hint: Using 2 batteries
hooked up together with battery holders will
make the current stronger and give you
better results.)
Be sure to:
e.
1. Put tin foil over each hol
tin foil other than
of
ces
pie
2. Ensure that no
ss over one
your secret connections cro
or you will
er
oth
h
eac
ch
another or tou
uit is.
circ
rt
sho
a
at
wh
soon discover
3.
4.
e) Some Things To Try!
Here’s a twist to really make your connection
card cool. Try using something you are
studying in Language Arts or Math as your
contact point. Instead of using A, B, C, D, E
and F, try using three sets of words that are
tape or a second
Cover your index card with
t no one can see
index card with tape so tha
made.
the connections that were
and write down
d
car
the
on
e
nam
Put your
here so others
the right connections somew
can check their answers.
opposites, or three sets of numbers that are
equivalent fractions. In order to get the light
bulb to light up, someone has to match the
correct two words or numbers to complete
the circuit.
Only the ones which are equivalent
fractions will light up the bulb.
2/3
12/16
6/8
Logical Connections
d)
c) To make mystery cards, you will need:
• Tin foil
• Index cards
• Hole puncher
• Tape
2/3 and 6/9
12/16 and 6/8
12/16 and 48/64
6/9
48/64
2/4
6/8 and 48/64 (tricky one)
Activity
7.13
Electricity
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12/9/02, 9:25 AM
Grade 6
Electricity
a) Have you ever heard someone say “Where were you
when the lights went out?” Usually they are talking
about a power outage – something Northerners are very
familiar with.
b) Try to imagine the scariest place you could be when the
power or lights go out. Where would that be – in an
elevator? On a roller coaster at the top of an incline?
incident
Write a short story about a SCARY
there is
des,
when the power went off! Besi
the
for
wait
nothing else to do while you
so the power
power lineman to fix the problem
can come back on.
Activity
7.14
Where Were You When...
c)
Electricity
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12/9/02, 9:25 AM
Grade 6
Electricity
son is an
Eric Amarouk Hugh
an. He lives
ici
ctr
appr entice ele
in Baker Lake.
Photo
Stefan Blake is an apprentice
electrician working in
Norman Wells.
Page
7.15
Electricity
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12/9/02, 9:25 AM
Grade 6
Electricity
Page
7.16
Photos
Leila McKay is a jour neyperson
partsperson
working in Hay River. Every day
is always different
from the last day in her job. Peo
ple are always
looking for so many different
parts for their
vehicles and machines.
Electricity
16
12/9/02, 9:25 AM
Grade 6
Electricity
Ryan Schimmelmann is an appren
tice
electrician. He works at the BHP Billito
n
Ekati Diamond Mine. He likes the
variety
and type of work associated with
the
electrical trades.
An electrician apprentice learns
about the science related to
electrical systems. This includes
safety, magnetism, controls and
switches, fire alarm systems, circuits,
measuring instruments, heating and
cooling systems, motors, starters
electronics, lighting, and trade
mathematics. Apprentices also learn
about blueprints and drawings.
Electricians lay out, assemble, install,
test and repair electrical fixtures,
control equipment and wiring
needed to supply heat, light and
power to all types of buildings.
Photos
Page
7.17
Electricity
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12/9/02, 9:25 AM
Grade 6
Electricity
in Egypt. He is a
Yousry Abdelmegid was bor n
ning mechanic.
refrigeration and air conditio
Milan, Italy.
He trained in Cairo, Egypt and
since 1996. He
Yousry has been in the North
Yellowknife. He
works with JSL Mechanical in
trol systems.
enjoys working with various con
Page
7.18
Photos
As a refrigeration and air conditioning
mechanic apprentice, you will learn
about the science related to changes
of state, heat and temperature,
properties of coolants, compression,
heating systems, electricity,
equipment controls, gas laws, and
small engines. Training involves
ordering, assembling, installing, and
testing of industrial and commercial
equipment. You would usually work for
companies that install and service air
conditioning and refrigeration systems.
Electricity
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12/9/02, 9:25 AM
Grade 6
Electricity
Barry Menard is a po
wer lineman working
for
Northland Utilities in Ye
llowknife. He was born
in
Fort Smith and raised
in Frobisher Bay (Iqalu
it),
Fort Simpson, Fort Re
solution and Yellowkn
ife.
Barry finds that each
day brings something
new in this job. He als
o really likes working
with
the people at Northlan
ds. Barry says that to
be
a good lineman you
really need to know yo
ur
high school math.
Photos
Page
7.19
Electricity
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12/9/02, 9:25 AM
Grade 6
Electricity
electrician
Ted McKnight is an apprentice
ys working
working in Norman Wells. He enjo
tricity.
outside and learning all about elec
Page
7.20
Photos
Shawn Wentz is an electrical
engineering
technologist. He works for Nor
thland Utilities in
Yellowknife. In his job he con
sults on wiring and
electrical needs for buildings.
He also monitors
the power substations and
systems that brings
electricity to your home. Sha
wn says that the
math and physics you learn
in high school is a
good start to this career.
Electricity
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12/9/02, 9:25 AM