How Much Electricity Is Really Needed?
created by Dan Braidwood
Grade Level: 2/3/4
Critical Task: Identify common uses of electricity and decide if they are necessary or unnecessary in our lives.
Overview: This critical challenge will enhance the idea of being power smart. The actual critical challenge the students will be doing is deciding if an electrical item is necessary or unnecessary and give reasons for their answer. Students will be asked to brainstorm as a class some common uses of electricity. The class will then choose ten objects from the class list and categorize them as necessary or unnecessary on a T- chart. We will go over, as a class what individuals think are necessary or unnecessary and will discuss why we chose our answer. Students will then have to justify their answers by writing a sentence(s) why they think the electrical object is either necessary or unnecessary.
This critical challenge addresses the Grades 2 to 3 IRP for science:
- Students will be able to identify the sources of energy in a variety of devices found in the school and home
This critical challenge addresses the Grades 2 to 3, and Grade 4 IRP's for social studies:
- Identify an issue and provide several reasons to support a position
- Describe how modern technology affects individuals and communities
- Assess a position on an issue from at least two perspectives
Requisite Tools:
Background Knowledge:
- How to use a T- chart
- What are electrical objects
- Define necessary and unnecessary
- Define justification
Criteria for Judgment
- Can students give a clear reason for their judgment
Critical Thinking Vocabulary, Define:
- Necessary
- Unnecessary
- Justification
- Point of view
Thinking Strategies:
- T- chart to initially categorize their judgements as either necessary or unnecessary, and initiate thinking why they put each item in a specific category.
- Class discussion to establish a verbal defense and justification for their choices.
- Written paragraph with the inclusion of evidence that supports their decisions for at least 5 electrical items.
Habit's of Mind:
- Respect for others' views and opinions
Suggested Activities:
Step A: Gaining Background Knowledge on Subject
- Introduce new vocabulary
- Review how we know if an object is electrical
Step B: Necessary and Unnecessary
- Brainstorm electrical items found at home and at school as a class
- Determine characteristics that make an electrical item necessary
- Determine characteristics that will make an electrical item unnecessary
Step C: Forming a Judgment
- Students form a judgment about which electrical items are necessary and which are unnecessary
- Develop a T - chart to organize their decisions (necessary/unnecessary)
- Class discussion in which students present their ideas
Step D: Evaluation of Critical Thinking
- Students write their judgments on paper giving evidence to support their decision
- Students will choose 3 electrical items and submit a paragraph on each item chosen giving evidence to support their decision. Each paragraph should contain at least two points of evidence.
Extension Activities:
- When students have completed their paragraphs, students may play Power Smart/Energy Saver game included with the Kinetic Connections package that is being studied in the Electricity Theme. Students will already be familiar with how it is played.
- Students may also read from a selection of electricity books that will be available in the classroom.
Grade 2/3, Grade 4
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