4th Grade Inquiry Based Electricity Unit

Activity
Activity 1: What do we want to know about electricity? Compose questions for the I Wonder Board Adaptations:

Objectives/Assessment
TLW: 1) Compose one question starting with I wonder, concerning electricity Assessment:

Standards

Activity 2: What is an Atom? Atomic Particle Drop (M&M activity)

TLW: 1) Understand that atoms are made up of protons, neutrons, and electrons 2) Identify the particles of atoms and their charges Assessment: Atom Model

Adaptations:
-Prior to lesson give students a list of key concepts and their definitions -Instead of using m&ms, use paper cutouts of +, - , = signs

Activity 3: What is static electricity? Jig-Saw Static Electricity Article Define key vocabulary Draw examples of objects with positive and negative charges, attracting and repelling.

TLW: 1) Identify and write three important facts from the article 2) Collaborate to determine and write definitions for underlined key words from article 3) Identify the relationship between atoms and static electricity Assessment: Facts Definitions Drawings

Adaptations:
-Provide the definitions of the key words, prior to reading -Have labeled drawings, allow kids to write or verbally describe what is taking place in the pictures -Do not jig-saw, some kids can do all independently

Activity
Activity 4: Can we create static electricity? Wool and Balloon Experiments

Objectives
TLW: 1) Design and conduct several experiments, using the scientific method, to test hypothesis concerning static electricity Assessment: Experiment Recording Form Data Reflection

Standards

Adaptations:
-Pair low/high ability students -Pre-determine hypothesis and design experiments -Allow students to record and reflect verbally, through voice recording

Activity 5: Sharing Session Read Article: Wool and Static Electricity Answer fill-in and short answer comprehension questions Adaptations:
-Paired readings -Give multiple choice questions

TLW: 1) Present experiment reflections to the class 2) Describe why wool causes objects like balloons to become negatively charged Assessment: Add to data reflection

Activity 6: What will a charged balloon attract? Static Attraction Experiment

TLW: 1) Carry out a pre-planned experiment to determine what objects a charged balloon will attract. Assessment: Experiment Recording Form

Adaptations:
-Pair high/low ability students -Allow students to design their own experiments, collecting objects to be tested -Allow students to record and reflect verbally, through voice recording

Activity
Activity 7: What do we know about current electricity? Current Electricity Anticipation Reaction (AR) Guide
(True/False format)

Objectives
TLW: 1) Make educated guesses to determine the validity of statements about current electricity Assessment: AR Guide

Standards

Adaptations: -Require students to change the false

statements to make them true

Activity 8: What is current electricity? Readers Theaters Electricity All Around Us The Shocking World of Electricity with Max Axiom Song
http://www.postdiluvian.org/~gilly /Schoolhouse_Rock/HTML/science/ electricity.html

TLW: 1) Fluently read text 2) Gain background knowledge on topic

Adaptations:
-Leveled readers theaters -Perform for smaller audience, instead of whole group

Assessment: Readers Theater Fluency Rubric Discussion TLW: 1) Label circuit diagram

Activity 9: How does current electricity travel? Large circuit diagram on white board, magnetic labels Student circuit diagram Adaptations:
-Give students a word bank -Hide words/word bank -Provide labels, students stick them to their papers

Assessment: Student circuit diagram

Activity

Objectives

Standards

Activity 10: TLW: The Blobz Guide to Electricity Online 1) Identify complete and Scavenger Hunt incomplete circuits 2) Identify and define the main parts of a circuit 3) List examples of conductors and insulators 4) Draw a simple circuit, using circuit symbols Adaptations:
-Partners -Print out all information, give students one piece (page) at a time -Shorten scavenger hunt, adjust level of difficulty of tasks and questions -Provide answers that students can choose between -Identify on scavenger hunt where to find answers

Assessment: Scavenger Hunt Sheet

Activity 11: How do we build our own circuits? Circuit Building Task

TLW: 1) Build a working (complete) simple circuit. 2) Label the parts of the circuit Assessment: Working circuits

Adaptations:

Activity 12: What are insulators and conductors? Watch Power Point Presentation Insulator and Conductor Challenge

Adaptations:

TLW: 1) Predict if certain objects/materials are conductors or insulators 2) Test objects using simple circuit 3) List conductors and insulators Assessment: Student worksheets with predictions and test results

Activity 13: Final Independent Assessment Circuit Building AR Guide

TLW: 1) Build a complete circuit, with a conductor 2) Draw and label a diagram of circuit 3) Correctly determine the validity of statements about current electricity Assessment: Complete circuit Diagram AR Guide

Adaptations:

Extension: Alternative Energy Projects A-Z Book on Alternative Energy Tri-Fold Brochure educating people about the importance of alternative energy Persuasive Letter asking people to support the development of alternative energy sources Power Point Presentation educating people about the importance of alternative energy Design a workable solar oven

DK Eyewitness Series: Electricity