“Boxed Up Circuits” and Electromagnets Lead to Grid Work

Jessica Minton

Riverdale K-8 School

Germantown Municipal School District

CURENT RET Presentation

July 1, 2014

Knoxville, Tennessee

Program FocusTo incorporate the embedded engineering standards into 8th grade science and physical science curriculum in electromagnetism and electricity.

Students need to understand what engineering is and how it relates to their lives, to bridge the gap between math and science, and to help them strengthen their critical thinking skills.

A big problem I find is that the information is taught separate and connections are not always made to promote the big picture.

Program Focus• The end result from my time at CURENT:

• Electromagnetism Unit Plan-8th grade• Electromagnetism and Electricity Unit-H Phy Sci

• Focusing on• Motors and generators• Magnets and magnetic fields• Electricity generation • Renewable and nonrenewable energies

• Wind Turbines• Hydroelectric generator• Solar Panels

• Electric circuits• Incorporation of grid in small scale models

TN State Standards8th Grade

Embedded standards:GLE 0807.Inq.2 Use appropriate tools and techniques to gather, organize, analyze, and interpret data. GLE 0807.Inq.3 Synthesize information to determine cause and effect relationships between evidence and explanations.

Phsyical Science Standards:GLE 0807.12.1 Investigate the relationship between magnetism and electricity. GLE 0807.12.2 Design an investigation to change the strength of an electromagnet. GLE 0807.12.3 Compare and contrast the earth’s magnetic field to that of a magnet and an electromagnet.

TN State StandardsPhysical Science

Embedded standards:CLE 3202.T/E.3 Explain the relationship between the properties of a material and the use of the material in the application of a technology.CLE 3202.T/E.4 Describe the dynamic interplay among science, technology, and engineering within living, earth-space, and physical systems.

Phsyical Science Standards:CLE 3202.2.1 Investigate the properties and behaviors of mechanical and electromagnetic waves. CLE 3202.2.4 Probe the fundamental principles and applications of electricity.

Overall Curriculum Plan-8th gradeConceptual Strand 12Everything in the universe exerts a gravitational force on everything else; there is an interplay between magnetic fields and electrical currents.Guiding Question 12What are the scientific principles that explain gravity and electromagnetism?

Create a diagram to explain the relationship between electricity and magnetism.

“Attracted or not” lab,, hand generators

Overall Curriculum Plan-8th gradeConceptual Strand 12Everything in the universe exerts a gravitational force on everything else; there is an interplay between magnetic fields and electrical currents.Guiding Question 12What are the scientific principles that explain gravity and electromagnetism?

Produce an electromagnet using a bar magnet and a wire coil. Doorbells, Making electromagnet, motors- two sizes

Overall Curriculum Plan-8th gradeConceptual Strand 12Everything in the universe exerts a gravitational force on everything else; there is an interplay between magnetic fields and electrical currents.Guiding Question 12What are the scientific principles that explain gravity and electromagnetism?

Experiment with an electromagnet to determine how to vary its strength. Hand generators, hydroelectric lab

Overall Curriculum Plan-8th gradeConceptual Strand 12Everything in the universe exerts a gravitational force on everything else; there is an interplay between magnetic fields and electrical currents.Guiding Question 12What are the scientific principles that explain gravity and electromagnetism?

Create a chart to distinguish among the earth’s magnetic field, and fields that surround a magnet and an electromagnet.

Compass Box, Iron Filings Lab, Matchbox magnetsChart their results/findings to explain the magnetic field lines“What happened to Flight 19?”

Overall Curriculum Plan-Phy Sci• Atoms and their role in Electricity

• Electron Flow• Creating Electric Flow

• Batteries-Making doorbells and simple electromagnets

Overall Curriculum Plan-Phy Sci• Electricity generation-Ohm’s Law

• Current• Voltage• Resistance

• TI Technology Labs• Calculating Ohm’s Law

Overall Curriculum Plan-Phy Sci• Electric circuits

• Open/Closed• Simple • Series• Parallel

• TI circuit labs

Overall Curriculum Plan-Phy Sci• Critical Thinking with Scenarios

• AC v DC debate• Players• Advantages v. Disadvantages

• Blackout and/or Power Disruption• Survival• Stability• Alternative Solutions

Overall Curriculum Plan-Phy Sci• Grid in small scale model with solar array, wind

turbines, and generation station• Multimeter: Current, Voltage: how much electricity is

generated with each and available for the neighborhood

Overall Curriculum Plan-Phy Sci• Renewable and nonrenewable energies

• Wind Turbines• Hydroelectric generator (pollution and

sustainability)• Solar• Fossil Fuels

16

References & Acknowledgements

• McLaughlin, C. W., Thompson, M., and Zike, D. Physical Science. New York, NY: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill, 2008.

• Rheinhart &Winston Holt. TN Grade 8 Holt Science & Technology. 2010.• TI Inspire Science Activities. http://education.ti.com/en/us/activity • Hydroelectic plant activities. http://

cp.c-ij.com/en/contents/3151/hydropower/index.html • Curriculum and activities. http://www.need.org/curriculum• Kelvin power grid student and teacher guides. http://

www.kelvin.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=k&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=842082

• Thanks to Dr. Chien-fei Chen and CURENT for the opportunity to participate in the RET program during the 2014 summer.

• Thanks to Erin Wills for information and supplies to put together activities and projects to incorporate into lesson plans.

• Thanks to Adam Hardebeck for lending supplies and printing materials when needed.

• Thanks to Bob Martin and Tim for helping in the construction.• Thanks to all the RET’s for their encouragement, humor, and knowledge

base when trying to build lesson plans and activities.