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Lesson plan of Electricity: Electric Current

Physics

Original Teachy

Electricity: Electric Current

Objectives (5 - 10 minutes)

  1. Understand the concept of electric current: The teacher must ensure that students understand what electric current is, how it moves (from the negative pole to the positive pole), and that it is a flow of electrons.

  2. Differentiate between direct current and alternating current: Students should be able to identify the differences between these two types of currents, understanding that direct current is constant and alternating current varies in direction and intensity.

  3. Identify the unit of measure of electric current: Students should be able to identify the unit of measure of electric current, the ampere (A), and understand its meaning and importance.

Secondary objectives:

  • Relate electric current to the operation of household appliances: Students should be able to understand how electric current is essential for the operation of household appliances that are part of their daily lives.

  • Discuss the importance of safety in the use of electricity: The teacher can take advantage of the topic of electric current to discuss the importance of using electricity safely, avoiding accidents and fires.

Introduction (10 - 15 minutes)

  1. Review of necessary concepts: The teacher will start the lesson by reviewing fundamental concepts for the understanding of the topic, such as electric charge, electric potential, and electric resistance. This review can be done interactively, through questions and answers, or through a brief theoretical summary. (3 - 5 minutes)

  2. Problem-solving situations: The teacher will present two situations involving the topic of electric current. The first situation may involve the operation of an electric shower, where students will be asked how electric current is used to heat water. The second situation may be about the operation of a light bulb, where students will be asked how electric current is used to produce light. These situations will serve to arouse students' interest and to contextualize the content that will be covered in the lesson. (2 - 3 minutes)

  3. Contextualization: The teacher will explain the importance of studying electric current, showing how it is present in our daily lives, from the operation of household appliances to the lighting of the streets. In addition, the teacher may mention how knowledge about electric current is essential for the training of professionals in various fields, such as engineering, physics, and medicine. (2 - 3 minutes)

  4. Introduction to the topic: The teacher will present the concept of electric current, explaining that it is the ordered movement of electrons in a conductor. To make the subject more interesting, the teacher can tell the story of how the concept of electric current was discovered and developed throughout history, from Benjamin Franklin's experiments to the theories of Michael Faraday and James Clerk Maxwell. (3 - 4 minutes)

Development (20 - 25 minutes)

  1. Practical activity - Homemade electric circuit: The teacher will divide the class into groups of up to 5 students. Each group will receive a kit of materials containing a battery, conducting wires, a small light bulb, and a switch. Students will be instructed to assemble a simple electric circuit, connecting the battery to the light bulb and the switch. During the activity, the teacher should move around the room, assisting the groups and clarifying doubts. At the end, each group must present their circuit, explaining how the electric current flows through it and how the switch controls the current flow. (10 - 12 minutes)

    1.1 Step-by-step of the activity:

    • Each group receives a kit of materials.
    • Students are instructed to assemble the electric circuit, following a diagram provided by the teacher.
    • The groups discuss and prepare an explanation about the circuit's operation.
    • A representative from each group presents the circuit and the explanation to the class.
  2. Group discussion - Applications of electric current: After the practical activity, students will be instructed to discuss in their groups about other everyday situations where electric current is present. They should list at least 5 examples and explain how electric current is used in each of them. At the end, each group will share their conclusions with the class. (5 - 7 minutes)

    2.1 Step-by-step of the activity:

    • Students discuss in their groups about the applications of electric current in everyday life.
    • Each group lists at least 5 examples and prepares an explanation for each of them.
    • A representative from each group shares the conclusions with the class.
  3. Research activity - Safety in the use of electricity: The teacher will propose that students research about safety measures in the use of electricity. They should research the importance of unplugging devices when not in use, how to avoid overloads in the electrical network, what to do in case of electric shock, among other related topics. At the end, students should present the main information from their research to the class. (5 - 6 minutes)

    3.1 Step-by-step of the activity:

    • The teacher proposes the research activity.
    • Students conduct the research on their mobile devices or computers.
    • Each student selects the most relevant information from their research.
    • Some students will be invited to share the information with the class.

Return (10 - 15 minutes)

  1. Group discussion (5 - 7 minutes): The teacher will invite each group to share their solutions or conclusions regarding the activities carried out. Each group will have up to 3 minutes to present. During the presentations, the teacher should encourage the participation of all students, asking questions to verify if the concepts were understood. The teacher should also encourage students to ask each other questions, promoting interaction and debate among students.

    1.1 Step-by-step of the activity:

    • The teacher invites each group to present their solutions or conclusions.
    • Each group has up to 3 minutes to present.
    • During the presentations, the teacher asks questions to verify the understanding of the concepts and encourages students to ask each other questions.
  2. Connection with theory (2 - 3 minutes): After all presentations, the teacher will provide a brief review of the theoretical concepts covered in the lesson and highlight how they relate to the practical activities carried out. The teacher should reinforce the importance of electric current in our daily lives and the need to use it safely.

    2.1 Step-by-step of the activity:

    • The teacher reviews the theoretical concepts.
    • The teacher highlights the connection between theory and practical activities.
    • The teacher reinforces the importance of electric current and safety in the use of electricity.
  3. Individual reflection (3 - 5 minutes): The teacher will propose that students reflect for a minute on what they learned in the lesson. After the reflection, each student will be invited to share a response to the following questions:

    1. What was the most important concept learned today?
    2. What questions have not been answered yet?

    3.1 Step-by-step of the activity:

    • The teacher proposes reflection on what was learned.
    • Students reflect individually for a minute.
    • Each student shares their response to the proposed questions.
  4. Feedback and clarification of doubts (1 - 2 minutes): The teacher concludes the lesson by requesting feedback from students about the lesson and clarifying any doubts that may have arisen during the activities. The teacher should take note of the doubts to be addressed in the next lesson.

    4.1 Step-by-step of the activity:

    • The teacher requests feedback from students.
    • The teacher clarifies students' doubts.
    • The teacher takes note of the doubts for the next lesson.

Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)

  1. Summary of contents (2 - 3 minutes): The teacher will summarize the main points covered during the lesson. They will review the concept of electric current, the differences between direct current and alternating current, and the unit of measure of electric current, the ampere. Additionally, the teacher will recap the practical activities carried out, highlighting the importance of the electric circuit and the applications of electric current in everyday life.

    1.1 Step-by-step of the activity:

    • The teacher summarizes the main points of the lesson.
    • The teacher recaps the practical activities carried out.
  2. Connection between theory, practice, and applications (1 - 2 minutes): The teacher will explain how the lesson connected the theory, practice, and applications of the concept of electric current. They will emphasize that by understanding the theory of electric current, students were able to apply it in the assembly of the electric circuit and in the discussion about its applications. Additionally, the teacher will emphasize how understanding electric current is essential for the safe and efficient use of electricity in daily life.

    2.1 Step-by-step of the activity:

    • The teacher explains the connection between theory, practice, and applications.
    • The teacher emphasizes the importance of electric current for the safe and efficient use of electricity.
  3. Extra materials (1 - 2 minutes): The teacher will suggest extra materials for students who wish to deepen their knowledge on the subject. These materials may include books, websites, videos, and experiments related to electric current. For example, the teacher may recommend a video that explains the concept of electric current in a playful way or a book of experiments that allows students to explore the topic practically.

    3.1 Step-by-step of the activity:

    • The teacher suggests extra materials for students who wish to deepen their knowledge.
    • The teacher briefly explains the content of each material and how it relates to the lesson's topic.
  4. Importance of the subject for daily life (1 minute): To conclude, the teacher will reinforce the importance of the subject covered for the students' daily lives. They will explain that electric current is present in virtually all household appliances and electronics we use, and that understanding how it works helps us to use them safely and efficiently.

    4.1 Step-by-step of the activity:

    • The teacher reinforces the importance of the subject for the students' daily lives.
    • The teacher concludes the lesson, encouraging students to continue exploring the topic.
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