CONVERSEMOS (1 de 2):
Imagínate que no tienes luz todo un día. ¿Cómo afectaría tu vida un apagón? (Por ejemplo: ¿Qué tipo de cosas dejan de funcionar? ¿Qué cosas no puedes hacer sin luz?)
CONVERSEMOS (2 de 2):
Ahora imagínate que no tienes luz toda una semana (o un año). ¿Cómo cambiaría tu vida?
CONVERSEMOS:
Además de hacer que se muevan las cosas, ¿qué otras cosas puede hacer la energía eléctrica? (Piensa en los ejemplos que viste en la historia).
Pista…
Esto fue lo que se nos ocurrió a nosotros: A) Se usa para producir luz (como con los semáforos y las lámparas) B) Se usa para calentar (como con un tostador o un calefactor) C) Se usa para enfriar (como con aire acondicionado, con refrigeradores, y congeladores)
In this lesson, students are introduced to electricity as a form of energy. In the activity, Build a Flashlight, students investigate how electrical energy requires a circuit and make their own mini flashlights from LEDs, button batteries, and strips of aluminum foil. Along the way, they’ll learn about the anatomy of a battery, begin to see how circuits work, and discover how handy an on-off switch can be.
Preview activityFlashlight Maker worksheet | 1 per student |
Scissors
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1 pair per student |
Aluminum Foil
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4" per student |
File Folder Labels (Stickers)
Masking tape will also work. We prefer stickers for ease of distribution in a classroom.
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Details
4 labels per student
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Index Cards (3x5)
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1 card per student |
Batteries (3V 2032 button)
Each student needs one battery. We suggest purchasing a few more in case some don't work.
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Details
1 battery per student
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LEDs
Each student needs at least one LED, but it's ideal to have more for additional experimentation. We recommend getting an assortment of colored LEDs.
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Details
3 LEDs per student
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Teacher Note: If you purchase the batteries in advance, please read this document for how to safely store them.
We suggest students work in pairs. Homeschool students can work on their own.
For each student, tear off a strip of aluminum foil that’s about 4 inches wide and as long as the roll (usually about 12 inches).
Student slideshow: English | Spanish
Teacher printout: English & Spanish
In this reading, students learn how scientists are exploring using energy from human bodies to power machines.
You can elaborate student learning and engagement with Mystery Science mini-lessons.
If you are in an NGSS state, this mini-lesson supports the DCI PS3.B: Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer
Historical footage from the 1930s shows how life changed when electricity made its way to rural America. Watch the video (7:32) and talk about the differences between then and now:
How did electricity change life in the home? On the farm?
How did electricity change the lives of men, women, and children?
Could you live without electricity in your house today?
Make a Lemon Battery
All you need are a few lemons, some pennies or copper wire, paper towels, and a nail.
This downloadable PDF from The Tech Museum of Innovation includes information on standards, vocabulary words, and ideas for extended learning. (Grades 4–8)
Challenge: Turning Your Flashlight On and Off
Your light up card works as a flashlight — it’ll let you see in the dark. But you probably want more than that in a flashlight.
Change your flashlight to make it easy to turn on and off. Watch this video for ideas if you get stuck.
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