Broad Goals:

 *  To allow students to begin developing an understanding of electricity as an important form
        of energy.

Instructional Outcomes:
 *Students will be able to differentiate between the two types of electricity.
 *Students will be able to identify conductors and insulators of electricity.
 *Students will be able to identify parallel and series circuits.
 *Students will build complete circuits.
 *Students will investigate electricity as a useful form of energy in modern  life.

Learner Outcomes:
Using multimedia tools  students will successfully complete project on the theme of electricity.
The products will demonstrate the following criteria:

*Completed research sheet on electricity with at least 80% correct answers.
*A completed and tested circuit board.
*A device that could produce electricity will be constructed with K'NEX
*Experiments involving series and parallel circuits will be conducted and information will be recorded on an activity sheet.
*At least three sources of information in research and literature on electricity will be used,
    with two involving technology.
*More than one medium will be used to communicate information about electricity.
( CD-ROM, Internet, video, and written information)

One written product will be published using a computer and word processor.

Media Selection:
Computers:  2 IBM
CD-ROM:  The Ultimate Children's Encyclopedia
Software:  Student Writing Center
Internet
TV/VCR
Video:  Gerbert is Ben Franklin & Thomas Edison
Reference Material:

World Book Encyclopedia
Silver Burdette & Ginn Science 5
Discovering Electricity, by Rae Bains
How Did We Find Out About Electricity?, by  Issac Asimov
Electricity, by Keith Brandt
The First Book of Electricity, by Sam & Beryl Epstein
Science Fair Projects With Electricity & Electronics, by Bob Bonnett & Dan Keen

Allocation of Time and Space:
Length of Unit:  Two weeks
Room Arrangement:  Stations set up around the room

The Unit:
Teacher Directed Whole or Small Group Activities:
Whole Group:
*Instruction on basic operation of equipment to be used in each station.
*Explanation of station management.  Students will be divided into heterogeneous groups of four.  Each group will be assigned a number and will begin working in the station corresponding to that number.  Students will work in the stations for the allotted time daily.  Each day they will move to the next station in ascending order until all stations have been completed for each group. Rotation schedule will be posted and discussed.
*Explanation of the expected outcomes for each station.
*Story time:  Ben and Me, Sunday's Child & Ben Franklin's Shocking Experiments

Small Group:
Students will work cooperatively in groups to complete research, activities, experiments, art and poems.

STATION ACTIVITIES:
Station 1:  Internet
Task:  Research information about electricity and record it on research sheet.
Materials:  IBM Computer, Internet, research sheet, pencil, station sign, task card
Time to Complete:  30 minutes

Station 2: Children's Ultimate Encyclopedia
Task: Research information about electricity and record it on research sheet.
Materials:  IBM Computer,  The Children's Ultimate Encyclopedia CD-ROM,research sheet, pencil, station sign, task card
Time to Complete:  30 minutes

Station 3:  Circuit Boards
Task:  Construct a completed circuit board with at least four complete circuits.
Materials:  tag board, aluminum foil, clear tape, masking tape, 9 volt battery, wires, light bulb and socket, station sign, task card
Time to Complete:  30 minutes

Station 4:  Reaserch/Reading
Task:  Research information using books and record it on research sheet.
Materials:   Various books containing information about electricity, Research sheet, station sign
Time to Complete:  30 minutes

Station 5:  Experiments
Task:  Perform two experiments using electricity:
          1.  What are conductors & insulators of electricity?
          2.  Which are brighter parallel or series circuits
Materials:  textbook, activity sheets, batteries, test leads, 3 light bulbs with sockets, penny, aluminum foil, toothpick, rubber band, task cards, station sign
Time to Complete:  30 minutes

Station 6:  K'NEX
Task:  Construct a device which could be used to create electricity.
Materials:  K'NEX, station sigh, task card, camera, film, photo processing
Time to Complete:  30 minutes

Station 7:Acrostic Poem
Task: Write and publish an Acrostic Poem using the word Electricity.
Materials: pencil, paper, computer, word processor program, station sign, task card
Time to Complete:  30 minutes

Station 9:  Art
Task:  Create a picture of lightning in a night sky using crayon relief.
Materials:  drawing paper, black, yellow, and orange crayons, scissors, station sign, task card
Time to Complete:  30 minutes

Station 10: GeoSafari (Sponge)
Task:  Use GeoSafari to learn about energy sources.
Materials:  GeoSafari, Geopack Science card #13- Energy Sources, station sign, task card
Time to Complete: as need for students who have completed work at assigned stations

CULMINATING ACTIVITIES:
Each group will give a group presentation to display the work the accomplished in their groups.  Poems, experiment findings, K'NEX product, crayon relief, and tested circuit boards will be shared.
Class will watch video:  Gilbert Is Ben Franklin

EVALUATION:
A rubric will be used to evaluate products and cooperative work.