For Educators

Not Just in Light Bulbs

This activity in intended to help students better understand that electricity is a form of energy that can be found in many places, including in nature! Students will collaborate using the Double Pair Share differentiation strategy to explain how electricity is produced by and related to a variety of real-world situations.

Next Generation Science Standards:

4th grade

4-PS3-2	Make observations to provide evidence that energy can be transferred from place to place by sound, light, heat, and electric currents.
4-ESS3-1	Obtain and combine information to describe that energy and fuels are derived from natural resources and their uses affect the environment.

5th grade

5-PS1-1

Develop a model to describe that matter is made of particles too small to be seen.

6th-8th grade

MS-PS1-1	Develop models to describe the atomic composition of simple molecules and extended structures.
MS-ESS3-3	Apply scientific principles to design a method for monitoring and minimizing a human impact on the environment.

Downloads

Objective:

Students will be able to apply what they know about electricity to explain how it is produced by and related to a variety of real-world situations.

Materials:

• Building Blocks of Physical Science series, specifically Electricity

• Not Just in Light Bulbs Worksheet (1 per pair)

• Not Just in Light Bulbs Answer Key

• Optional: Not Just in Light Bulbs Modified Worksheet and Answer Key

• Scratch paper

• Pencils

Differentiation Considerations:

This activity uses the Double Pair Share differentiation strategy to group and engage students. Students will first meet with a partner and later two pairs will combine to create a group of four. Consider allowing students to choose their own partner and/or group or use strategic grouping based on your knowledge of your students.

Consider providing extra support for students as needed by using the Not Just in Light Bulbs Modified Worksheet. This version uses a matching activity as a scaffold to support students.

Procedures:

Download and print the worksheet and answer key from the downloads section.
Explain to students that they will use copies of the Electricity book paired with their knowledge of the topic to explain how electricity is produced by and related to a variety of real-world situations.
Use the Double Pair Share differentiation strategy to group students. Students will first meet with a partner, and later two pairs will combine to create a group of four. Consider allowing students to choose their own partner and/or group or use strategic grouping based on your knowledge of your students.
Have students work in pairs to complete the Not Just in Light Bulbs worksheet where they will apply their knowledge to real-world situations. For example, students are asked to explain how electricity is produced by or related to fossil fuels, lightning, and running water. Depending on your students’ learning needs, consider modeling one of these as an example before students begin their work in pairs.
Next, students will reflect on their work to create a Pair Share Statement in which they describe major takeaways, aha moments, or concepts they found interesting. They will collaborate to write a one-two sentence Pair Share Statement.
To complete the Double Pair Share Statement, pairs will find another pair to create a group of four. Each pair will share their own statement and then the group will collaborate to synthesize all of their information and create a final Double Pair Share Statement.
Gather students in the whole group setting for final sharing and closure. Have each group of four share their final statement with the class, allowing room for comments and questions. Close the activity by explaining that students were able to apply their knowledge of electricity to real-world situations.