Electricity
Writing tips & more!
Electricity
Activities with electricity can be dangerous, of course, but there is the old standby – static electricity. While under some circumstances, static electricity can be extremely hazardous, small amounts are fun for kid activities. Many people will remember rubbing a balloon on your head and then watching your hair stand up straight.
Static Electricity
Static electricity is an imbalance of electric charges within or on the surface of a material. The charge remains until it can move away as an electric current or by electrical discharge. The word “static” is used to differentiate it from current electricity, where an electric charge flows through an electrical conductor. (from Wikipedia)
For youngsters, there is nothing like music to make learning a concept exciting. Composer Sherri Boekweg is a singer/songwriter from Utah, and this video gives a great and catchy explanation.
From the Minnesota Children’s Museum comes Three Fun Static Electricity Experiments to Do at Home. Bending water, separating pepper and salt, and can races are like magic – educational and entertaining.
Etch-A-Sketch
One toy that has been around for 60 years is based on static electricity. According to the Strong National Museum of Play, it was invented in the 1950s by French electrical technician André Cassagnes. The silvery screen is aluminum particles and plastic beads that are removed by a stylus to make marks. Static charges hold the mixture of aluminum powder and tiny plastic beads to the screen and shaking it erases the lines.
Science journal
I am a huge advocate for science journals for all ages. The journals really bring in the STEAM concepts that can include writing, art, and design. Journal keeping involves planning, observation, communication, research and referencing, and much more, especially if children construct their own journals. I have included book making in past posts.
For older students, The California Academy of Sciences offers a step-by-step guide to setting up a science notebook, including Strategies for Reflection and Notebook Stories. Being flexible with content makes it more meaningful to students. Let them express opinions and observations.
https://www.calacademy.org/educators/setting-up-your-science-notebooks
Teacher Lessons
One of my favorite sites for teachers is Teachers Pay Teachers. Here are some offerings.
Designing an electrical safety poster.
Some rules for designing posters. This page is about designing environmental posters but it has practical information about target audience, visuals, and text.
https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/kids/activities/be-a-scientist/design-a-poster
https://www.twinkl.com/resource/design-an-electrical-safety-poster-activity-t-sc-1711982676
Twinkl is a new site for me. The website says:
Experienced educators, professional graphic designers, and market-leading illustrators creating award-winning K-12 resources for use at school and home.
A basic membership is free but you can subscribe to a Premium Account. I don’t know anyone who is a member so I am not recommending, simply making readers aware of its existence. Like anything online, take care.
Margo Lemieux – is an author, illustrator, former art professor, and, even though retired, still does all those things and more.
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See what kind of spark grows in your students’ minds from these interesting classroom activities about electricity—this month’s theme for STEM Tuesday!
Hidden Systems: Water, Electricity, the Internet, and the Secrets Behind the Systems We Use Every Day by Dan Nott
This graphic novel makes incredible use of the comic format to break down complex systems and abstract concepts into bite-sized explanations. Nott not only explains the science behind our electricity, water, and internet systems, but also illuminates how these systems have encoded and perpetuated some of our human biases…sometimes with devastating consequences. This eye-opening book is sure to make you think differently about the technology you use everyday!
Activity
Have students pick one of the systems covered in the book: internet, power grid, or waterworks. Tell them to research a famous inventor who was important to the development of that system. Ask them to create presentations about the inventor, including a basic diagram of what that person invented. Students should explain its importance and other interesting details about its invention, such as how long it took to create and if there were any failures along the way.
Science Comics: Electricity: Energy in Action written and illustrated by Andy Hirsch
A dynamic graphic-nonfiction dive into volts, current, and power plants, wrapped in a monster-vs-mech storyline. Vibrant visuals and plenty of detail engage middle-grade readers (ages 9–13), though some heft in the science may require careful reading. A charged mix of education and adventure.
Activity
What’s the atoms’ story? Direct students to pages 7-8 of the book, showing atoms and their electrical fields. Have students make a mini-comic explaining the atoms characters stories.Tell students to have fun with it but keep electricity in the plot.
Look Inside an Electric Car by Taylor Fenmore
Part of Lerner’s “Peek Under the Hood” series, this slim volume introduces readers to the basics of electric cars and what makes them run. With large-print text and vibrant color photos, this short book would be a particularly good fit for younger and/or struggling readers.
Activity
What’s your dream electric car? Ask students to think of what they would want in their dream electric car. Have the draw it and label each feature that they want to include. Tell them to be as imaginative as they like!
Karen Latchana Kenney is a children’s author and editor who loves creating all kinds of STEM books and classroom content. Find her at https://www.karenlatchanakenney.com/.
