Electric Circuits
Lesson 15
Planning to Wire a House
Students develop a plan for wiring their house model.
3. Lesson Set-up and Management
4-5 PS3E Electrical energy in circuits can be changed to other forms of energy, including light, heat, sound, and motion. Electric circuits require a complete loop through conducting materials in which an electric current can pass.
4-5 APPC Problems of moderate complexity can be solved using the technological design process. This process begins by defining and researching the problem to be solved.
4-5 APPD Scientists and engineers often work in teams with other individuals to generate different ideas for solving a problem.
4-5 APPE Possible solutions should be tested to see if they solve the problem. Building a model or prototype is one way to test a possible solution.
- Students work in groups to develop a plan for wiring their model house.
- Students revisit what they have learned about series and parallel circuits.
- Students create a record of their plan.
3. Lesson Set-Up and Management
Materials:
- Although students do not actually need the box “house” until Lesson 16, have one on hand to give students a feel for the size of box with which they are working. Students may want to measure or work with the box as they develop their plans.
- Have students get their materials boxes if you are planning on
having them build series and parallel circuits..
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| Sharing and discussing plans. | Planning to wire the house. |
Student Management:
- Procedure step 1 suggests having one student act as a recorder. Having all students record the plan in their notebook as they go ensures that all students participate in the planning process.
- Procedure step 2 is an opportune time to have students review or even recreate some of the series and parallel circuits they have made. You can also model these circuits for the class as you discuss the strengths of each type of circuit.
- This would be a good time to build some more complex circuits (e.g. three batteries is series with three bulbs in parallel or two batteries and two bulbs in parallel). This will help students form ideas for their plan.
- Before setting students to work with their planning, make sure to review expectations for working together as a group.
- This is a good opportunity to have students go through the technological design process.
Writing Support:
- Have students record individual ideas in their notebook first. After they join their group, they can use a line of learning to add other possible ideas.
- Have students record the final plan for wiring the house in their notebooks.
Reading Support:
- The Magic School Bus and the Electric Field Trip can be used here to help students gain perspective on how energy actually arrives at a house.
- Many of the books on inventors include information on AC and DC current. Using some of these texts can help students see the difference between the type of current that is used in actual homes and the type of current that is used in simple circuits like the ones with which they have been working.