Name of Activity | Alternative Energy With Snap Circuits |
---|---|
Author | STOMP |
Keywords | energy, sources, snap circuits, batteries, cranks, mechanical, solar power |
Subject | Non-LEGO |
Grade Level | 2-5 |
Time | 1 Hour Total |
Brief Description | In this activity students will explore snap circuits without the use of a snap circuit battery. Snap Circuits are great in that they come with other alternative sources of energy, such as the hand crank and solar panel. Students will use these new sources to explore series and parallel circuits. |
Lesson Objectives: | – Discuss energy and what it does – Introduce students to other alternative sources of energy – Explore the use of the mechanical crank and solar panels – Review previous snap circuit lessons about: series and parallel circuits. – Incorporate the mechanical crank and solar panels to old circuits (built last week) and new – Have group and class discussions about specific circuits built |
Materials Needed: | Snap Circuit set (take out batteries) Snap Circuit cranks (they break easily so remind classroom to be gentle) Snap Circuit solar panels extra snap circuit parts (wires, motors, lamps, resistors) |
Preparation and Set Up: | -Have a class discussion about sources of energy other than batteries -Split up class into groups of two (groups of two ended up forming larger groups. For example when we did this lesson we ended up with a larger group focused on solar panels, another group focused on the crank, and a third group focused on a combination of both) -Distribute snap circuit kits |
Necessary Background | -Parallel and Series Circuits -Familiarity with Snap Circuit parts (new and old) -How to write circuit diagrams (if you want your students to use them) -Be able to discuss how power changes with how the solar panel and mechanical crank are used. For Example: more sun exposure or faster crank = quicker motors and brighter lamps (more power) |
Procedure | 1. Identify the problem: how do we build snap circuits without batteries?2. Discuss what the mechanical crank and solar panels do to provide power. Depending on the focus of your unit, you may also discuss climate change and why renewable resources are so important.
3. Have groups draw circuit diagrams to brainstorm ideas, and make predictions of how the cranks and solar panels may differ from batteries. 4. Have groups decide on a few circuits to build. 5. Have groups build their circuits (incorporating cranks, solar panels, or both). 6. Test the circuit:
7. Have groups discuss:
8. Have groups share with each other their circuits, integrate groups, have them build onto existing circuits or create new ones. This part of the class was very open for exploration. |
Modifications: | Some groups began using found materials around the class to add onto the circuit. For example one group used tape to make a tower of fans powered by a solar panel.Open the circuit building to using other materials in the class room. |
Previous Activity (if applicable) | http://sites.tufts.edu/stompactivitydatabase/2014/01/22/snap-circuits/ |
Umbrella Unit/Curriculum (if applicable) | http://sites.tufts.edu/stompactivitydatabase/introduction-to-electricity-and-circuits-torres-liebman-pelaez/ |
Currently viewing the category: "Non-LEGO"
Snap Circuits and Conductivity
On · Add Comment
Name of Activity | Snap Circuits and Conductivity |
---|---|
Author | STOMP |
Keywords | conductivity, snap circuits, electricity |
Subject | Non-LEGO |
Grade Level | 4, 5, 6 |
Time | 1 Hour Total |
Brief Description | Using snap circuits and the idea of conductive and insulating materials, the students will design a circuit to test whether various household items are insulators or conductors. |
Lesson Objectives: | The goal of this lesson is to introduce/review conductivity. Students will also practice designing experiments and practice building circuits. |
Materials Needed: | Each group (2-3 students) should have: 9V battery snap circuits kit with wires, battery holder, resistor, LED light and/or lightbulb household items (straws, wood, rubber bands, pennies, paperclips, paper, play-doh, plastic… etc) a piece of paper to collect data |
Preparation and Set Up: | Make sure all snap circuit kits have the materials needed for the class. Make sure they don’t have the motors that have the detachable red fans as those are super distracting!! |
Necessary Background | Teachers should be familiar with conductivity and can also help students design their experiments to test the materials. |
Procedure |
|
Extensions: | If students are done early, they can test other materials around the classroom. Another etension is to see if they can think of a way to rank the materials in order of conductivity. |
Modifications: | This activity can also be done with snap circuits. |
Umbrella Unit/Curriculum (if applicable) | Intro to Electricity and Circuits |
Log In