ELECTRICITY ACTIVITY – CONDUCTORS AND INSULATORS

Physics for Elementary TeachersPET

Nicole Miner and Dustin Curtis – future teachers

State Standards3rd grade

Identify methods of producing electricity relative to Arkansas: hydroelectric coal oil natural gas nuclear solar wind

Classify electrical conductors and electrical insulators

Construct simple circuits from circuit diagrams

CURRENT ELECTRICITY

Conductors and insulators

Physics Concepts

1) Electricity travels through metal.

2) Gain experience forming and testing predictions, recording and sharing observations, and creating generalizations

Lesson Plan (part 1)

Put students in groups of two or three.

Pass out materials Explore students knowledge on what

they think electricity travels through. Show students the various test

materials and ask students to predict which of the materials will allow electricity to flow through it and which ones will not.

Lesson Plan (part 2)

Open bag of test materials : paper clip, penny, marble, pencil, aluminum, crayon, and wood.

Have students test each material and record their observations on the handout.

Lesson Plan (part 3)

As a class discuss what rules apply to electricity.

Define terms: Conductor vs. Insulator

What Does Electricity travel through Worksheet

Items Prediction

Paper clipPennyMarblePencilAluminumCrayonWood

Observation

Conclusion

We believe the lesson went well We liked the fact that the students

were involved in the lesson. Students were excited and liked the

option of being able to experiment with items at their desk.

I believe the students learned because they had a good grasp by the end of the lesson on what electricity travels through.