A Productive School Year
A WebQuest designed by Victor S.
Williams (ba0939@wayne.edu) |
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Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits Introduction
Welcome to Mr. Williams’ class on Introduction to Electricity. This webquest allows access to the class: Newsletter, Calendar, Business Cards, Seating Chart, Attendance Record, Certificates, Worksheet, and 3 lesson plans. Please call me if there are any questions. Electricity
is a property of electrons and protons which couples with electromagnetic
fields culminating in attractive and repulsive forces between them. It is a
phenomenon associated with electrons, both stationary and moving. Electricity
is one of the fundamental forces of nature and as such, can be quantified. This lesson
defines, illustrates, and provides exercises in electricity and its effects.
You will learn the vocabulary and units of measurement of electricity. You
will complete activities that require an understanding of electricity and its
applications. You will gain an understanding of what life would be like if
there was no electricity. You will write a short paper about an electrical
pioneer and describe why his or her work is important. Task
Each group
will go to the following site and complete the activities stated at the top
of the pages. The lead web explorer will read the instructions for detail;
the other two students will locate and isolate items relevant to their
assignments. http://trackstar.4teachers.org/trackstar/ts/viewTrack.do?number=320207 Process
Every three
students in the class will form into teams. Each team will be given a kit of
parts and equipment to complete hands-on activities and instructions for
completing written assignments and quizzes. Each student on the team will be
given a primary assignment (with group cooperation being the secondary
assignment for all). One student will be the lead web explorer. He/she will
browse the sites first and prioritize exploration for the team to complete
assignments. The second student is in charge of gathering and constructing
parts and equipment for assignments. The third student is the lead presenter
and coordinator for the lesson project. Objectives:This lesson is appropriate for grades 9 or 10 high school. The main objective is to teach elementary electricity principles with the use of materials which are easily available.Materials Needed:1.5 volt batteries (D cells)3 volt bulbs and socketshook-up wire (thin)single pole knife switchesbattery holders for 2 batteriesVarious cloth and fur swatches
a hard
rubber or plastic comb, or a balloon thread,
small pieces of dry cereal (O-shapes, or puffed rice of wheat) BalloonsRubber and glass rodsA typical kit for three students working as a group would consist of 1 batteries, 1 bulbs, 1 socket, 4 pieces of wire (about 8 inches long and stripped at each end), 1 knife switches, 2 balloons, 4 rags (different materials), and 2 rods. Strategy:Electrical Charges:Describe and illustrate the flow of electrical current from the battery, through the wires and through a bulb. The groups construct a simple circuit using a single bulb:This is followed by the introduction of a switch into the circuit to show how the light can be turned on and off.Static
Charges: Each group
member then ties a piece of the cereal to one end of a 12 inch piece of
thread. Find a place to attach the other end so that the cereal does not hang
close to anything else. Wash the
comb to remove any oils and dry it well. Charge the
comb by running it through long, dry hair several times, or vigorously rub
the comb on a wool sweater. Slowly bring
the comb near the cereal. It will swing to touch the comb. Hold it still
until the cereal jumps away by itself. Now try to
touch the comb to the cereal again. It will move away as the comb approaches.
This project
can also be done by substituting a balloon for the comb. What should happen: Combing your hair moves electrons from your hair to the comb. The comb has a negative static charge. The neutral cereal should be attracted to it. When they touch, electrons slowly move from the comb to the cereal. Now both objects have the same negative charge, and the cereal will repel.All group members discuss and record results, findings, and observations using WORD, spreadsheet and video. Evaluation
Your work will be evaluated according
to the following rubric. The grade will be for the group with allowance of
individual grade reduction should a group member not participate fully.
Conclusion
By completing this lesson, you are well on your way to
advanced understanding of this force known as electricity. You can now decide
to pursue more study perhaps becoming an electrician, an electrical engineer,
or a teacher. You can go home and explain to your family just what
electricity is, how it has enriched our lives, and how to use it safely. Good
luck on your journey. Please think about ways you use electricity in your
everyday lives. How would you accomplish the same things if there was no
electricity? How does electricity impact the quality of our lives? Can you
name places on earth where people do not have the use of electricity? What do
you think it would be like to live there? Here’s a site you can explore for some of these
questions: http://www.highlonesomeranch.com/LivingWithoutElectricity.html Credits
& References
"We all benefit by being generous with our work. Permission is hereby granted for other educators to copy this WebQuest, update or otherwise modify it, and post it elsewhere provided that the original author's name is retained along with a link back to the original URL of this WebQuest. On the line after the original author's name, you may add Modified by (your name) on (date). If you do modify it, please let me know and provide the new URL." Last updated on October 18, 2007. Based on a template
from The WebQuest Page |