Unit Overview
In Mosa Mack’s Electricity unit, students are led through a progression of three inquiry lessons that focus on the theory of electrical current, a comparison of conductive vs. nonconductive liquids, and the relationship between electricity and magnetism.
- Lesson 1
Solve: Light Balance + Electricity Mystery
Choose to solve either a live video mystery exploring how electrical energy is used to make performer costumes light up, or solve an animated mystery to discover how electricity is produced and used to light a bulb. By the end of The Solve, students discover how open circuits and closed circuits change the flow of electrical currents. (Live Solve: 45-90 minutes; Animated Solve: 45-75 minutes).
- Lesson 2
Make: Compare Electric Currents in Fresh Water and Salt Water
After going through an investigation and planning process, students draw a visual model that compares the flow of electric current through fresh water and a salt water solution. Learners draw a conclusion about the ideal solution to brightly light a bulb. (180 mins)
- Lesson 2
Lab Extension: Explore Properties of Magnetism and Electromagnetism
After learning how Light Balance incorporates electricity into their performance, students explore magnetic and electromagnetic interactions to design a more "attractive" performance. (80-100 minutes)
- Lesson 3
Engineer: Educate about Electricity and Magnetism Safety
Students learn about the magnetic fields that exist around wires that conduct electricity. To help low-income communities avoid the negative impacts of exposure to this magnetism, students develop and design an advocacy campaign that educates homeowners about how electricity and magnetism around power lines work. (150 mins)