11 - Electricity and Magnetism - Power Surge

Student Link:

https://excavatingadventures.com/blogs/adventures/11-power-surge

Lesson Plan: Power Surge: The Tesla Science Center Adventure

Grade Level: 4-5
Subject: Science – Electricity and Magnetism
Duration: 1 Hour

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Understand the basic concepts of electricity and magnetism, including circuits, insulators, conductors, and resistance.

• Identify and define key vocabulary related to electricity and magnetism.

• Apply their knowledge through an interactive online escape room activity.

• Strengthen their understanding of electricity and magnetism through problem-solving and critical thinking.

Key Vocabulary:

• Electricity: The flow of electric charge, powering devices and machines.

• Insulator: A material that prevents electricity from flowing, such as rubber or glass.

• Resistance: The opposition to the flow of electric current, often caused by thin wires or long paths.

• Conductor: A material, like copper or silver, that allows electricity to flow easily.

• Battery: A device that stores and supplies electrical energy.

• Magnet: An object that attracts iron and has invisible forces.

• Static Electricity: The buildup of electric charge, often experienced when rubbing materials together.

• Current: The flow of electrical charge through a wire in a circuit.

• Circuit: A complete path for electricity to flow, necessary for powering devices.

Materials Needed:

• Interactive Online Educational Adventure: Power Surge: The Tesla Science Center Adventure

• Downloadable Vocabulary Trading Cards (provided for each student)

• Instructional Video (to introduce the topic)

• Computers or Tablets with internet access

Lesson Outline:

1. Introduction (10 minutes)

   • Begin the lesson by showing the instructional video that explains the basic concepts of electricity and magnetism, including circuits, conductors, insulators, and resistance.

   • Discuss the key vocabulary words introduced in the video. Ask students to share their thoughts and any prior knowledge they have about electricity and magnetism.

   • Explain that students will be going on a mission to solve the mystery of electricity through the online escape room adventure set at the Tesla Science Center.

2. Interactive Learning Adventure (30 minutes)

   • Introduce the Power Surge escape room and explain how students will work through various challenges to learn about electricity and magnetism.

   • As students progress through the escape room, they will encounter different locations such as Power Core Lab, Insulator Isle, Resistor Ridge, and more, each focused on a key concept.

   • Provide each student with their Vocabulary Trading Cards to use as a reference throughout the adventure.

   • Encourage students to work independently or in pairs to solve the puzzles, using the information they learned from the video and vocabulary cards to answer questions and progress.

3. Assessment and Reflection (15 minutes)

   • After completing the adventure, bring the class together to discuss their experience. Ask students what they learned about electricity and magnetism.

   • Review the answers to the questions they encountered in the escape room, reinforcing the key concepts.

   • Have students complete a short reflection or exit ticket where they explain one new thing they learned about electricity and magnetism and how it can be applied in real life.

Extension Activities (Optional):

• Hands-on Experiment: Students can create simple circuits using batteries, wires, and light bulbs to see electricity in action.

• Group Discussion: Explore how electricity powers everyday devices like phones, computers, and household appliances.

Teacher Resources:

• Lesson Plan: Detailed step-by-step guide for implementing the activity.

• Answer Key: Answers to the escape room questions to guide class discussions and reflections.

• Teaching Dialogue: Suggested prompts for guiding students during the adventure and reinforcing key concepts.

• Vocabulary Cards: Printable cards with definitions and examples to aid student understanding.

Teacher Reference Guide: Power Surge – The Tesla Science Center Adventure

Welcome to the Power Surge adventure, where you will explore the world of electricity and magnetism through an interactive online quest. Your mission begins at the Tesla Science Center, located in Shoreham, New York, USA. You will work through different locations, each revealing key concepts about electricity and magnetism. Along the way, you'll encounter challenges and puzzles that will test your understanding of circuits, insulators, conductors, and more.

The first concept you'll explore is electricity, the flow of electric charge that powers the devices and machines we use every day. Electricity can come from various sources, such as batteries or power plants, and it is the key to running everything from lights to computers. As you move through the adventure, you'll learn that materials that stop the flow of electricity are called insulators. Insulators are important because they help keep us safe when using electricity. Common insulators include rubber, plastic, and glass.

Next, you'll encounter resistance, which is the opposition to the flow of electric current. Resistance can slow down the flow of electricity, and it’s measured in ohms. You’ll also explore conductors, which are materials like copper and silver that allow electricity to flow freely. Conductors are what make up the wires that transport electricity through circuits.

As you progress, you will learn about batteries, which store and supply electrical energy to power circuits. A battery pushes current through a circuit to allow devices to work. Along the way, you'll discover magnetism, where magnets attract iron and have invisible forces that can influence electrical currents. Static electricity is another concept you’ll explore, where electric charge builds up through friction and can create sparks, such as when you rub your feet on a carpet and then touch a doorknob.

You’ll also encounter the concept of current, which is the flow of electric charge through wires. Current is what powers our homes, machines, and even entire cities. Lastly, you will come to understand circuits. Circuits are complete paths through which electricity flows. For a circuit to work and power a light or fan, it needs to be closed. At the end of the adventure, you will have completed the mission and earned your adventure points by solving the final challenge!

Throughout the adventure, you will have access to Vocabulary Trading Cards, which provide definitions and examples of the key terms you will encounter. These cards will help you navigate through each location and provide important information to solve the challenges. Make sure to keep your cards handy as you progress!

Your goal is to complete all the challenges and learn the ins and outs of electricity and magnetism, all while earning points and solving puzzles. By the end of this adventure, you will have a deeper understanding of how electricity works and how it powers the world around you.

Question: What is the flow of electric charge called?
Answer: Electricity

Question: What kind of material stops electricity from flowing?
Answer: Insulator

Question: What slows down the flow of electricity?
Answer: Resistance

Question: What lets electricity flow easily?
Answer: Conductor

Question: What device stores and supplies energy for electrical circuits?
Answer: Battery

Question: What object attracts iron and has invisible forces?
Answer: Magnet

Question: What kind of electricity is caused by rubbing and buildup?
Answer: Static Electricity

Question: What is the name for the flow of electric charge in a wire?
Answer: Current

Question: What do you need to complete to power a light or fan?
Answer: Circuit