Magnetism and Electricity Extensions

A WebQuest for 6th Grade physical science

Designed by

Ms. Tangren
ltangren@isd12.org

 Put some interesting graphic representing the content here

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Page


Introduction

In the following activities you will be asked to go beyond what the rest of your classmates are working on in class.  You may work through all of the activities or you may work only on one. What you do with this is up to you. You have shown me that you already know the materials I am going to teach so…… You have now bought yourself some time to explore new topics of interest.  If you don’t find anything here you like, come up with your own ideas.  Just make sure to run them by me before you start. You will have a set number of days to work on your chosen topic in class.  It is up to you to monitor your work and make sure you complete what you have started.

 

Good luck!

 

The Process

Below you will find five different tic-tac-toe charts.  The first thing you must do is choose the activity you would like to work on during the time you “bought” from me by testing out of the lesson.  You may only work on the tic-tac-toe, which ties into the unit you tested out of in class. You may need materials from me.  Make sure to talk to me to get what you need.  However, if I am working with the rest of the class, you cannot interrupt a lesson. If you decide to work on a “Student Choice”, you must clear it through me before you start.

 

The Task

Web sites:
MagLev Web Quest:
 http://www.ic.sunysb.edu/Stu/ppoggio/maglev/index.html

Search engines:
 http://google.com
http://www.isd12.org/vmc/vmc.html
http://trackstar.hprtec.org/
http://vivisimo.com/

People:
Volta-
http://www.thiel.edu/digitalelectronics/people/volta/ALLESANDRO%20VOLTA.htm
http://www.sparkmuseum.com/BOOK_VOLTA.HTM

Galvinni-
http://www.mada.org.il/website/html/eng/2_1_1-9.htm
http://www.geocities.com/bioelectrochemistry/galvani.htm
http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Biographies/GalvaniBio.htm

General Scientists-
http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Biographies/GalvaniBio.htm
http://www.thebakken.org/
http://www.sonic.net/~mmwilson/electra/famous.html
http://www.edisonkids.com/heroexb/index.htm

History:
http://www.the-education-site.com/electric/history.htm
http://history.hyperjeff.net/
http://maxwell.byu.edu/~spencerr/phys442/node4.html
http://gamma.mhpcc.edu/schools/hoala/magnets/history.htm
http://www.electricpower.com/consumer/history.html
http://www.codecheck.com/pp_elect.html

Other information:

Excel Energy-
http://www.xcelenergy.com/

Electromagnetic Radiation
http://www.nzine.co.nz/features/neilcherry.html
http://www.emrnetwork.org/

SEM
http://www2.eng.cam.ac.uk/~bcb/history.html
http://www.mos.org/sln/SEM/

 

Breaking the Force Extensions

(5 days)

 

 

 

Do a lab comparing the strength of magnets in the air and in the water.

 

Write a story using magnets.

Make a timeline showing the major points of the history of magnetism. (see web site links)

Research what makes a compass works and then construct one.

Student

Choice

Make a game using magnets.

Web quest

“MagLev” – an exploration into magnetic levitation in technology.

Make a scavenger hunt using a compass.

Make a list of object that use magnets in them.  Explain how the magnet is part of the objects.

 

 

 

Making Connections Extensions

(4 days)

 

 

How has electricity change how we live in the 20th and 21st centuries?

 

Write a story about what life would be like without electricity.

Make a timeline showing the major points of the history of electricity. (see web site links)

Make a “Mystery box circuit”

Student

Choice

Make a burglar alarm.

How does electricity work? (See web site links)

What makes some materials conductors and others insulators?

Who was Thomas Edison?  What made him so famous?  (See web site links)

 

 

 

Comparing Currents/Galvanometers Extensions

(6 days)

 

 

Research and report on how a circuit breaker works.  What are its advantages over fuses?

Research electromagnetic radiation.  What is the big controversy about it?

Make a galvanometer

Who was Luigi Galvani (See web site links)

Student

Choice

Rearch Andre Marie Ampers.  What were his contributions to electricity? (See web site links)

What does kilowatt-hours mean?

Calculate electric bills based on different kilowatt-hour usage and per unit costs.

Come up with an energy saving plan for your family.

 

 

 

Parallel and Series Extensions

(9 days)

 

 

Where does one see parallel circuits and series circuits in daily life

Write a story about a family trying to decide to buy holiday lights that were strung in parallel and series. 

Come up with at least four analogies comparing the different of parallel circuits and series circuits.  Share these with the class.

Research and report on scanning electron microscope (SEM).  What are the advantages and disadvantages to using a SEM?

Student

Choice

What is a solar cell?  How does it compare to wet cells and dry cells?

Sketch how manufacturers show which way to place batteries in devices.  Then decide if the batteries are in series or parallel circuits.

What are the advantages and disadvantages to having batteries in series as opposed to parallel in electronic devises?

Identify various electronic devises that need a transformer to operate. Why is it needed for some devises?

 

Current Attractions Extensions

(4 days)

 

 

How do electricity and magnetism compare?  What do they have to do with each other?

Write a story using and electromagnet.

Where are electromagnets used?  What are the advantages of using this type of magnet over a permanent magnet.

How do electromagnets work?

Student

Choice

Write a story describing real or imaginary encounters with electromagnets.

Design an experiment changing either the tightness of the wire or the amount of energy used with and electromagnet to determine if the amount of washers picked up varies.

Design an experiment seeing if a parallel circuit or a series circuit will pick up the same amount of washers.

Who discovered electromagnetism?  How has this discovery help us?

(see web site links)

 


Evaluation

Once you are done with any of the tasks you choose, you will turn them in to Ms. T.  You may write your findings in your daily work packet or on separate sheets of paper.  Your work can earn you up to four points of extra credit per task. Remember, unless you have cleared it with Ms T, you  are working by yourself.

Extra Credit Grading for Extension Tasks

 

Beginning

1

Developing

2

Accomplished

3

Exemplary

4

Score
 

Completion of extension tasks

 

Tasks have been attempted but not finished.

Tasks are partially complete with some thought in them.

Tasks are mostly done and have some depth to them.

Tasks are completed and are in-depth.

 


Conclusion

So, now that you have bought some time from me, what are you going to do with it?  I hope that you find some extensions that challenge you, interest you, and add to your learning experience.  I also hope this will help you think of things you would like to explore from here.


Credits & References

CD-Rom of Customizable Forms for, Teaching Gifted Kids in the Regular Classroom. Susan Winebrenner.

Physical Science, Electrical Connections.  DSM II Delta Science Module.

FOSS, Magnetism and Electricity Module. Delta Education.

Thank you to Mary Carlson-Pap for giving me the time and resources to put all this together.  Thank you also to Stephen Schroeder-Davis for all the info he disseminated and Cheryl Dettmer for guiding me through the web quest information.

Last updated on August 15, 1999. Based on a template from The WebQuest Page