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Activity
Other

Science Hobbyist: Sticky Electrostatics

For Students 9th - 10th
A series of activities focusing on charge interactions, charging methods, and the conservation of charge. Activities utilize scotch tape and other readily available items. Includes explanations of what is happening.
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Website
Careers New Zealand

Career Nz: Electrician

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains information about becoming an Electrician in New Zealand. While some of the information is specific to New Zealand, there is also data that is uniform to the career.
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Article
Famous Scientists

Famous Scientists: Alessandro Volta

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn how Alessandro Volta became a pioneer of electricity and power, and who is credited as the inventor of the electrical battery and the discoverer of methane.
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Article
Famous Scientists

Famous Scientists: Georg Ohm

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out about the German physicist and mathematician whose work in the field of electrical current shaped the study of electricity.
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Article
Famous Scientists

Famous Scientists: Hans Christian Oersted

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn how Hans Christian Oersted's discoveries in electricity led him to discover electromagnetism.
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Article
Famous Scientists

Famous Scientists: William Thomson

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about William Thompson's important work in the mathematical analysis of electricity and formulation of the first and second laws of thermodynamics, and did much to unify the emerging discipline of physics in its modern form.
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Completing the Circuit

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In the everyday electrical devices we use - calculators, remote controls and cell phones - a voltage source such as a battery is required to close the circuit and operate the device. In this hands-on activity, students use a battery,...
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Bulbs & Batteries in a Row

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Everyday we are surrounded by circuits that use "in parallel" and "in series" circuitry. Complicated circuits designed by engineers are composed of many simpler parallel and series circuits. During this activity, students build a simple...
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Building an Electromagnet

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Student teams investigate the properties of electromagnets. They create their own small electromagnet and experiment with ways to change its strength to pick up more paper clips. Students learn about ways that engineers use...
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Ohm's Law 2

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This extension to the Ohm's Law I activity, students will observe just how much time it takes to use up the "juice" in a battery, and if it is better to use batteries in series or parallel.
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Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Lights Out!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
This lesson introduces the concept of electricity by asking students to imagine what their life would be like without electricity. Two main forms of electricity, static and current, are introduced. Students learn that electrons can move...
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Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Electrons on the Move

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students learn about current electricity and necessary conditions for the existence of an electric current. Students construct a simple electric circuit and a galvanic cell to help them understand voltage, current and resistance.
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Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Go With the Flow

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students gain an understanding of the difference between electrical conductors and insulators, and experience recognizing a conductor by its material properties. In a hands-on activity, students build a conductivity tester to determine...
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Handout
Other

About Tva (Tennessee Valley Authority)

For Students 9th - 10th
A comprehensive site on the Tennessee Valley Authority. Includes history of the TVA from the 30's to the present with loads of other details. The FAQ is helpful. Includes the complete text of the act creating the TVA.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Electricity & Energy Electrical Safety

For Teachers 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text listing electricity safety tips. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Famous Inventors Thomas Edison

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This short biographical piece shares information about Thomas Edison, the inventor of the phonograph, light bulb, motion picture camera, and more. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that...
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Physical Science: Energy

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Discusses the definition of energy, the SI unit, and the seven different forms of energy.
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Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: The World's 1st Hydroelectric Plant

For Students 9th - 10th
This three-page article explores the operation of the first hydroelectric power plant and the spread of renewable energy in the United States.
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Handout
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Thomas Alva Edison

For Students 3rd - 8th
A variety of images, photographs, and information on the life of Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) can be found in the site by the Library of Congress. Information can be found here regarding his invention and influence on American society....
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Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: Thomas Edison National Historical Park: Thomas Edison

For Students 9th - 10th
This site includes information about Thomas Edison's inventions and his home and family life. Find a lengthy biography and several sounds from Edison's original phonograph.
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Handout
Chem4kids

Chem4 Kids: Atoms: Electrons

For Students 3rd - 8th
Learn about an electron's negative charge, location, and role in bonding. Website also investigates electrons uses in electricity.
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Lesson Plan
Other

Electrical Safety Council: Switched on Kids: Electricity Safety

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Explore a house for dangers lurking from careless behaviors around electricity. Young scholars can take a quiz afterwards and print a certificate. Includes games, coloring pages, lesson materials, and resources for parents.
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Website
University of Wisconsin

The Why Files: Keeping an Eye on Ions

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses the development of a new rocket engine that operates by the ion propulsion as opposed to gas propulsion. Well written and great graphics!
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Activity
Museum of Science

The Atom's Family: Fruity Electricity

For Students 3rd - 8th
Frankenstein's electricity is out. In this activity, students help him find another source of energy using citrus fruit. Good for students who want to do their own projects or for class lessons.