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What if there were no electricity?

What if there were no electricity?
Lesson narration:
English Spanish
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DISCUSS (1 of 2):

Imagine power is out for a day. How would that affect your life? (For example: What things stop working? What things do you lose the ability to do?)

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DISCUSS (2 of 2):

Now imagine power is out for a week (or even a year). What are some ways this might affect your life?

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DISCUSS:

Besides making things move, what else can electrical energy do? (Think about examples from the story.)

Hint...

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electricity (electrical energy)


1 of 9

a form of energy, such as what usually powers light bulbs
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light energy


2 of 9

energy that is in the form of light that can be seen
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energy transfer


3 of 9

when energy travels from one place to another
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battery


4 of 9

a device that stores energy
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circuit


5 of 9

a path where electricity can flow
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conductor


6 of 9

a material that electrical energy easily travels through
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insulator


7 of 9

a material that electrical energy does not easily travel through
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experiment


8 of 9

a test used to discover new information about a question
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invent


9 of 9

to create something new, often an object or a way of doing something
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Lesson narration:
English Spanish

Activity Prep

Print Prep
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 activity
Number of students:

I have a Mystery Pack

Flashlight Maker worksheet 1 per student
Scissors
1 pair per student
Aluminum Foil
4" per student
File Folder Labels (Stickers)
Masking tape will also work. We prefer stickers for ease of distribution in a classroom.
Details
4 labels per student
Index Cards (3x5)
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.
Details
1 battery per student
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.
Details
3 LEDs per student
Prep Instructions

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.

Prepare Aluminum Foil

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).

Exploration

22 mins

Hands-On Activity

35 mins

Wrap-Up

3 mins

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