Craig Kirkdoer

Thursday, March 2nd, 2017

Science for Teachers
Electricity 8th Grade
Standards
PS.7.8.1 Construct open and closed electrical circuits:
series circuits
parallel circuits

Arkansas
PS.7.8.2 Describe and diagram open and closed series and parallel circuits Arkansas
PS.7.8.3 Compare and contrast open and closed series circuits and parallel circuits Arkansas

Objective
Students will be able to
understand and recognize the dierent kinds of electrical circuits
recognize and apply appropriate parts of Ohm's Law in order to calculate corresponding
equations
identify dierent aspects of magnetism
apply corresponding vocabulary terms to their definitions.

Engage
What would life would be like without cell phones? Without computers? Or without
televisions and electronic games? All of these devices and all pieces of technology have
something in common: They require ELECTRICITY. Electrical engineers are the people who
harness electricity with the power of circuits. You are the next generation of these visionaries
looking to light up the world. But before you can build your bright ideas, you must first
understand the forces behind it all. Forces that can light up the night sky! Send messages
through space! Give life to the internet! Move a can by magic? Your first step to becoming an
electrical engineer is to find the science behind this magic.

Explore
Students will demonstrate the eects of static electricity using an inflated balloon. Students
will separate and form groups of 2. Each group can have a balloon which they need to inflate,
and then rub the ballon on their hair. Explain to the student that both air and rubber are good
electrical insulators, and do not conduct electricity well. When they rub the balloon on their
head, electrons are transferred TO the balloon where they stay. Since the wool has less
electrons, it is positively charged. Next students will lay the aluminum on a smooth flat
surface on its side. They when then move the balloon over the top of the can without
touching the balloon to the can. When this happens, the students should find that the can is
now attracted to the balloon. Students will use their phones, handouts, and inter-group
discussion to search for an scientific explanation illuminating the science behind this magic.

Explain
The teacher will then provide students with the handout explaining the processes of the
activity and direct students to questions:
What force caused the can to follow the balloon?
What forces where attracted to each other?
What forces repealed each other?
How can electrical engineers use these principles to light up the world?

Extend
The teacher will expand this basic understanding through PowerPoint, videos, group
discussion, and explanation of succeeding topics to expand conceptual understanding to
develop higher-level application skills. The teacher will then apply this understanding to
magnetic principles to foster cognitive understanding

Evaluate
Students will provide explanations throughout the Exploration process, centered on key
concepts.
Students will demonstrate conceptual understanding of higher level concept and skill
developed in the lesson with an Exit Slip.
Students will be able to appropriately identify a closed and open circuit.
Students will be able to appropriately identify an series circuit and a parallel circuit.
Students will participate in the class lesson review jeopardy game.

Materials
Balloons
8 cans
Handout
Exit Slip
PowerPoint
Promethean Board
Jeopardy Game

Accommodations & Modifications

For ELL students, the instructor will provide:
Oral clues or prompts
Check o en for understanding/review
Arrange for peer tutoring
Provide language experience
Use bilingual dictionaries, language learner
dictionaries and electronic translators
 Extend time requirements

For student with Visual Processing disability:

Provide student with addition oral instruction as needed
Allowing student additional time to ask question
Provide student with peer note taker
Use of color tinted reading overlay
Use of magnification devise

Resources
http://www.teachengineering.org/lessons/view/duk_eenergy_mem_less
http://www.sparkfun.com/news/2207