Total Duration: |
31 to 60 Minutes |
Materials and Resources: |
For each student: Clear tape Science Notebooks Construction paper |
Technology Resources Needed: |
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Background/Preparation: |
Teachers should build their own circuit on the back of the robot template before beginning the lesson. The robot template is located within the Circuit Template booklet linked in the materials section. This lesson can be an introduction to closed circuits. Students do not need prior knowledge. Review the article How do electric circuits work? and Electrical Circuits for Kids for background information about electric circuits. |
ENGAGE: Watch this video of a light up, musical Christmas card. If possible, bring in greeting cards that light up and play music. After watching the video ask students how the designer of this card made the card light up and play music. Have them record their predictions in their science notebook. Tell them that today they are going to be exploring electric circuits and pretend they are designers for a card company. EXPLORE: Students will need a copy of the robot template from the Circuit Templates file. As well as the following materials: copper tape, batteries, and LED bulbs. Show students that the light bulb will light up when you directly touch the bulb to the wires. Let them explore with the light bulbs and battery for a few minutes.
Tell students that first we are going to follow a template when creating our electrical circuit, and later they will be the designers. Display the model you created before the lesson. Do the following to begin creating the circuit:
Follow these steps to put a battery in the circuit:
Have students glue their robots in their science notebooks. EXPLAIN: After students have made their robots eyes light up, discuss with students the components that make up a complete series circuit. Show the class the examples of a series and parallel circuits and a circuit with a switch. Discuss the components of a circuit. Make sure students know the difference between conductors and insulators, parts of a circuit, and positivity and negativity. Read aloud the articles How do electric circuits work? and Electrical Circuits for Kids with the class. Students will record new learning and observations in their science notebook.
Elaborate: Students will use items from the material list to design and construct their own greeting card. Here is a guide for creating the greeting card. |
Assessment Strategies |
Evaluate: Students will be assessed on their science notebook entries and the attached exit ticket. The notebook and exit ticket should serve as evidence that the students can build a complete electrical circuit using copper tape, batteries, and LEDs, be able to draw and label the parts of an electrical circuit, and compare and contrast series and parallel circuits. |
Acceleration: |
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Intervention: |
Students who need extra assistance should be paired with a higher level student for the reading/activity. |
View the Special Education resources for
instructional guidance in providing modifications and adaptations
for students with significant cognitive disabilities who qualify for the Alabama Alternate Assessment.
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