Technology & Engineering Resources
Electrical Energy and Circuit Design: Student Guide
STC/MS: Science and Technology Concepts in Middle Schools
Students explore the transfer of electrical energy in circuits and the design of circuits to control a variety of devices. In the first lesson, students explore the principles and devices that they will be investigating for their study of energy and circuits. The module contains 25 lessons in the following three parts.
In Electrical Energy, students begin by investigating static and current electricity and the transfer of energy. They build electric circuits, use ammeters and voltmeters to measure current and voltage, and calculate the power in devices in series and parallel circuits. They draw schematic diagrams of circuits and develop a model for electricity, using a water flow analogy.
In Electrical Components, students apply what they have learned about current, voltage, and power to calculate the total amount of energy an electrical device uses when it operates for a period of time. Students examine a series of devices (containing resistors, capacitors, diodes, wires, and solar cells) and identify the function of each component in the circuit.
In Electrical Systems, students identify general properties of systems by focusing on familiar systems and on the use of feedback in control systems. They construct a thermostat using a bimetallic strip to control a fan and thus the temperature of the strip. They are challenged to use what they have learned about circuit components to build an electric circuit to perform a specific function and to make a class presentation of their system.
The module also contains the Anchor Activity, a research project that requires students to do an energy inventory of their homes and calculate the cost of using various electrical devices. The culminating assessment for the unit requires students to identify an electrical component in a circuit in a sealed box.
| Format | Book |
| Grades | 6 – 8 |
| Author | Science and Technology Concepts for Middle Schools (STC/MS) |
| Source/Publisher | Carolina Biological Supply Company |
| ISBN | 0892789123 |
| Shelving Location | TEC 537 |
| Location | Educator Resource Center in the Lyman Library — Museum of Science, Boston |
| Website | Science and Technology Concepts for Middle Schools |
| Duration | 8 to 12 week module |
Electrical Energy and Circuit Design: Student Guide
Electrical Energy and Circuit Design: Student Guide
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Electrical Energy and Circuit Design: Student Guide
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Electrical Energy and Circuit Design: Student Guide
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