Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)
Main Objectives:
- Understand the concept of electric current and how it is measured in a circuit.
- Distinguish between continuous and alternating electric currents, understanding their characteristics and applications.
- Develop the ability to calculate the power of an electrical appliance based on the electric current and the potential difference (voltage).
Secondary Objectives:
- Familiarize students with terms related to electricity, such as ampere, volt, watt, among others.
- Explore the practical applications of the concepts learned, such as the use of electric current in household and industrial appliances.
- Foster students' curiosity and interest in the subject through discussions and practical activities.
Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)
Review of Previous Concepts:
- The teacher will start the lesson by reviewing some fundamental concepts of electricity, such as potential difference (voltage) and electrical resistance.
- A brief summary will be given about Ohm's Law and the formula that represents it: V = I * R, where V is voltage, I is current, and R is resistance.
- The concept of electrical power, the formula P = V * I, and the unit of measurement, watt, will also be reviewed.
Contextualization:
- The teacher will contextualize the importance of studying electric current, explaining how electricity is essential in our daily lives, from the operation of household appliances to the production of energy in power plants.
- Practical examples of how electric current is used in different situations will be presented, such as in the lighting circuits of a house, in car engines, and in the electrical grids that supply entire cities.
Problem Situations:
- The teacher proposes two problem situations to spark students' interest and initiate the discussion on the lesson's topic:
- How is it possible to transmit electric energy over long distances without significant losses?
- Why do some electrical appliances emit light (bulbs) while others produce motion (motors)?
Topic Introduction:
- The teacher introduces the lesson's topic, explaining that electric current is the flow of electrons in a circuit, and that it can be continuous (unidirectional) or alternating (bidirectional).
- To pique students' curiosity, the teacher may share some facts about electric current, such as the fact that it can be produced not only by batteries and generators, but also by chemical processes (like in a battery) and even by biological reactions (as in the human body).
- The teacher should emphasize that the study of electric current is fundamental to understanding one of the most important phenomena of modern physics: electromagnetism.
Development (20 - 25 minutes)
Activity 1: "Electric Current Circuit" (10 - 12 minutes)
- The teacher will divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.
- Each group will receive a kit of electricity experiments, which includes a battery, conductive wires, a light bulb, and a current meter.
- The teacher will explain that the objective of the activity is to assemble a simple electric circuit, measure the current passing through it, and observe how the current intensity varies if the bulb is replaced by a thicker or thinner wire.
- Students will be guided to follow a circuit assembly guide, which includes the correct connection of components and the use of the current meter.
- After assembly, students should record their measurement results and discuss the observations made.
- The teacher will circulate around the room, assisting the groups and clarifying doubts.
Activity 2: "Electric Current Game" (10 - 12 minutes)
- Still in their groups, students will be invited to participate in a thematic board game called "Electric Current Game".
- The teacher will explain that the goal of the game is to move through the board by answering questions and challenges related to electric current, in order to reach the end of the circuit.
- The questions and challenges have been prepared in advance by the teacher and range from basic electric current concepts to power calculations.
- The teacher will start the game by rolling a die and moving the corresponding group's marker.
- When a group lands on a square on the board, the teacher will present the question or challenge. If the group answers correctly, they can advance one more square. If they answer incorrectly, they must move back one square.
- The game will continue until one of the groups reaches the end of the circuit. The winning group will be the one that reaches the end with the fewest errors.
- During the game, the teacher will take the opportunity to reinforce the concepts covered, clarify doubts, and promote discussions among students.
Activity 3: "Debates on the Use of Electric Current" (5 - 7 minutes)
- To conclude the Development stage, the teacher proposes a debate in the classroom about the use of electric current in different contexts.
- The teacher will divide the class into two groups and present a scenario for discussion. For example: "Should we replace all devices that use direct current with devices that use alternating current? Why?"
- Each group will have a set time to discuss the topic and prepare their arguments. During this stage, the teacher will circulate around the room, listening to the discussions and guiding the students.
- Next, the groups will present their arguments, followed by a round of questions and answers between the groups.
- The teacher will conclude the debate, highlighting the most relevant points discussed and making connections with the concepts learned in the lesson.
Return (8 - 10 minutes)
Group Discussion (3 - 4 minutes)
- The teacher will gather all students in a circle and ask each group to share the solutions or conclusions reached during the activities.
- Each group will have a maximum of 2 minutes to present their findings. During the presentations, the teacher will encourage other students to ask questions and make comments.
- The teacher must ensure that all students have the opportunity to speak and that the discussion environment is respectful and welcoming.
Connection to Theory (2 - 3 minutes)
- After all presentations, the teacher will summarize the main discoveries and connections made by the students.
- The teacher will relate the practical activities carried out to the theory discussed at the beginning of the lesson, reinforcing the concepts of electric current, potential difference, resistance, power, among others.
- The teacher will highlight how the activities helped illustrate and deepen students' understanding of such concepts.
Final Reflection (3 - 4 minutes)
- The teacher suggests that students reflect individually on what they learned in the lesson.
- The teacher will propose some questions to guide students' reflection, such as: "What was the most important concept learned today?" and "What questions have not been answered yet?".
- After a minute of reflection, the teacher will ask some students to share their answers with the class.
- The teacher will conclude the lesson by reinforcing the importance of continuous study and encouraging students to seek answers to their questions through additional readings, internet research, or discussions with peers and teachers.
Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)
Content Recap (2 - 3 minutes)
- The teacher should start the Conclusion by recapping the main points covered during the lesson.
- They will review the concept of electric current, its characteristics, and how it is measured in a circuit.
- Next, the teacher will revisit the difference between direct current and alternating current, explaining again their characteristics and applications.
- Finally, they will summarize how to calculate the power of an electrical appliance based on the electric current and potential difference.
Connection between Theory, Practice, and Applications (1 - 2 minutes)
- Next, the teacher will emphasize the importance of the connection between theory and practice, highlighting how group activities and experiments helped students understand and apply theoretical concepts.
- They will also reinforce the relevance of the concepts learned, explaining how understanding electric current is essential to comprehend the operation of various electrical devices and systems, from a simple light switch to a city's electrical grid.
Supplementary Materials (1 - 2 minutes)
- The teacher will suggest some reading and study materials for students to deepen their knowledge on the topic.
- They may recommend book chapters, scientific articles, educational videos on the internet, or websites of renowned institutions in the field of physics and electricity.
- The teacher may also suggest extra exercises for students to practice calculating the power of electrical appliances, for example.
Practical Applications of the Content (1 minute)
- To conclude, the teacher will reinforce the practical applications of the concepts learned, highlighting how understanding electric current is relevant to students' daily lives.
- They can cite examples of how electric current is used at home (in light bulbs, appliances, etc.), at school (in electronic equipment, lighting, etc.), and in society in general (in hospitals, industries, transportation, etc.).
- The teacher can also emphasize that the knowledge acquired in the lesson is not limited to the field of physics but has implications in various other areas, such as engineering, medicine, informatics, among others.