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Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Penny Battery

For Students 9th - 10th
In this experiment, students will learn how to make a battery with a water solution and two types of metal. This is then used to power an LED light. Includes video demonstration.
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Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Electrochemical Cells

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Students use the activity series to identify elements that are more easily oxidized than others, and write oxidation and reduction half-reactions. Then, they...
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Article
DOGO Media

Dogo News: Battery of the Future May Be Made of Paper

For Students 5th - 8th
Read about the development of a paper battery in Sweden. Includes video.
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Two Cell Battery

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this hands-on activity, students build their own two-cell battery. They also determine which electrolyte solution is best suited for making a battery.
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Light Your Way

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
When there is a power failure, or when we go outside at night, we grab a flashlight so we can find our way. What happens inside a flashlight that makes the bulb light up? Why do we need a switch to turn on a flashlight? Have you ever...
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Nxt Ball Shooter

For Teachers 4th - 8th
This activity helps students understand how a motor in a LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT robot uses electricity produced by the battery to move a robot to do useful work in the form of throwing a ball. Students relate the concepts of electricity and...
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Can You Resist This?

For Teachers 7th - 9th
This lab demonstrates Ohm's law as students set up simple circuits each composed of a battery, lamp and resistor. Students calculate the current flowing through the circuits they create by solving linear equations. After solving for the...
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Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: How Does a Robot Work?

For Teachers 4th - 8th
This instructional activity introduces electricity, batteries and motors using a LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT robot. The associated activity guides students to build a simple LEGO NXT set-up and see the practical implementation of the concepts...
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Handout
Rutgers University

Edison's Papers: Edison's Patents: Batteries

For Students 9th - 10th
A full listing of all Edison's battery patents. Not just titles and numbers, but Adobe Acrobat copies of the entire set of drawings and text from each patent application. This is heirloom stuff. With the available magnification, you can...
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eBook
Simon Fraser University

Chem1 Virtual Textbook: Primary and Secondary Batteries

For Students 9th - 10th
As part of the General Chemistry Virtual Textbook, this site examines a variety of topics related to electrochemistry. In particular, this site explores a range of topics related to batteries including primary and secondary batteries,...
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Interactive
Concord Consortium

Concord Consortium: Stem Resources: Heat and Light From Electricity

For Students 6th - 8th
Understand the energy transformations that happens when you light a bulb with a battery. Activity requires students to build a simple circuit and take temperature and time measurements. Lab includes procedure with questions that can be...
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Handout
Wolfram Research

Wolfram Science World: Capacitor

For Students 9th - 10th
A rather mathematical explanation of a capacitor. Gives all the appropriate formulae, with many hotwords for further info.
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Interactive
University of Colorado

University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Battery Voltage

For Students 9th - 10th
Take a look inside a battery and change the voltage to see what goes on inside. Read the voltmeter as little stick people move the charges from one end of the battery to the other.
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigating Electricity

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this interactive activity, young scholars will explore electricity and be able to design and create a complete electrical circuit. Students will also learn what is necessary to light a light bulb. Creative thought, ideas, and,...
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Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Modeling Emf, Potential Difference, and Internal Resistance

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Interactive lecture discusses internal resistance which provides help to learners in developing an accurate model.
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Website
Other

Deafness in Disguise

For Students 9th - 10th
Enlightening history of hearing aid devices from the 19th century on.
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Handout
Other

Law School help.com: Torts: Intentional Torts

For Students 9th - 10th
This website lists and describes different types of "Intentional interference with person or property": battery, offensive contact, false imprisonment, abuse of process, and breach of contract.
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Lesson Plan
NC State University

The Engineering Place: Battery Making

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Using simple materials, students will learn how to create batteries, and about the relationship between voltage and current.
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Handout
University of Waterloo (Canada)

Computer Assisted Chem. Tutorial/chemistry of Batteries

For Students 9th - 10th
A superb explanation of how a battery works. Discusses the associated chemistry which explains how a battery produces a voltage. Includes a series of "Confidence Building Questions."
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Unit Plan
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory

Magnet Academy: Daniell Cell

For Students 9th - 10th
English chemist John Frederick Daniell came up with a twist on the simple voltaic cell that resulted in a longer-lasting source of power.
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Handout
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory

Magnet Academy: Edison Battery 1903

For Students 9th - 10th
Although it never quite measured up to expectations, the Edison battery paved the way for the modern alkaline battery.
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Handout
Other

Earth Day Canada: Eco Kids: Battery Facts

For Students 3rd - 9th
Battery Facts provides helpful information about the benefits of batteries, how they work, and the concerns over the footprint they leave on the environment when they are not properly disposed of.
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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: 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...