In Science, we have shifted from magnets into electricity. Yesterday, students explored the tools of electricity such as batteries, motors, circuit boards, and lightbulbs. Today, students were asked to set up an experiment asking the question"Can you use a battery and wire to turn on the lightbulb?"
Students had many ideas (hypotheses) but it was harder than we thought it would be. After about 10 minutes of "I don't think my battery is working." Finally, one group had a little glimmer of light from their bulb. We gathered around to see what they did but they couldn't get it to shine again. Back to our tools, we tried and tried. Teachers gave no hints, no help. Teachers only asked "What else can you try?" "Can you move the wire?" "Is there another way to try to make the lightbulb light?"
Finally after 15 minutes of struggle and a bit of frustration, success! Light! Light, that was strong and could be turned on and off. Students looked at their friends' success, congratulated them and then went back to their work. Still, it was hard to make that lightbulb glow. It took 4 hands to hold all the pieces of wire to the battery as well as to the lightbulb. The wire needed to touch specific places on the battery as well as the lightbulb. It took persistence, team work, and creativity.
When students had finished their required experiment Lighting the Bulb with question, hypothesis, test, and results clearly written. They were allowed to try their own test. Some tried to light the bulb with one wire, some tried the circuit board we saw on Tuesday and some teams did both. After 90 minutes of hard work were finished, students groaned and asked for more.
Students had many ideas (hypotheses) but it was harder than we thought it would be. After about 10 minutes of "I don't think my battery is working." Finally, one group had a little glimmer of light from their bulb. We gathered around to see what they did but they couldn't get it to shine again. Back to our tools, we tried and tried. Teachers gave no hints, no help. Teachers only asked "What else can you try?" "Can you move the wire?" "Is there another way to try to make the lightbulb light?"
Finally after 15 minutes of struggle and a bit of frustration, success! Light! Light, that was strong and could be turned on and off. Students looked at their friends' success, congratulated them and then went back to their work. Still, it was hard to make that lightbulb glow. It took 4 hands to hold all the pieces of wire to the battery as well as to the lightbulb. The wire needed to touch specific places on the battery as well as the lightbulb. It took persistence, team work, and creativity.
When students had finished their required experiment Lighting the Bulb with question, hypothesis, test, and results clearly written. They were allowed to try their own test. Some tried to light the bulb with one wire, some tried the circuit board we saw on Tuesday and some teams did both. After 90 minutes of hard work were finished, students groaned and asked for more.
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