At a glance
Energy is a three-visit project of 60 or 75 minutes for grades 1 to 12 that follows electrons from where they are produced to where they are used: energy sources, electrical circuits, then electromagnetism.
Students turn energy from the sun, wind, water, lemons or their own muscles into electricity, then use it in series and parallel circuits that light bulbs and power electromagnets.
From water to the electric motor, let’s follow the electrons from where they are produced to where they are used!
In this electrifying project, your young scientists have a front-row seat for the electron’s journey: natural energy (sun, wind, water, lemons, muscles) turned into electricity, then put to work in series and parallel circuits that power light bulbs and electromagnets.
Three energetic and energizing workshops that will fascinate them!
How it runs:
Visit 1: Energy sources (60 or 75 minutes).
Visit 2: Electrical circuits (60 or 75 minutes).
Visit 3: Electromagnetism (60 or 75 minutes).
Learning goals (elementary)
- Understand how electricity is produced and how it travels.
- Describe energy transformations (mechanical, electrical, light, chemical, hydraulic) and use them to understand their impact on the environment.
- Generate electricity with a dynamo (generator) to run a motor, a fan and a neon light.
- Tell renewable from non-renewable energy.
- Explain what electromagnetism is.
- Recognize the effects of electromagnetism in electricity.
- Build different circuits (series, parallel, closed and open).
- Understand how light produces energy.
Learning goals (secondary)
- Describe the energy transformations that happen when electrical devices run.
- Describe and explain the consequences of using renewable and non-renewable energy resources.
- Use electrical and electromagnetic components to build different circuits.
- Understand how an electromagnet and its electromagnetic field work.
- Name ways to change the strength of a solenoid’s magnetic field (core material, current, number of turns).
- Explain how solenoids are used in technology (for example, earphones, electric motors, magnetic cranes).
- Describe how light rays are reflected by a flat mirror.
- Describe how light rays bend as they pass through a convex or concave translucent material.
