Minds On
What is electricity?
Can you think of other things that need electricity?
Action
What needs electricity?
There are things all around us that need electricity.
Explore the following video to learn about things that need electricity and where electricity comes from.
When the electricity goes out!
There are many reasons why the electricity could go out. When the electricity goes out, that means you can lose power. Your lights might go off or your computer might shut down.
Explore the following images to learn why the electricity could go out.
Sometimes tree branches fall off trees. If they hit an electrical wire this can make the electricity go out.
Thunderstorms and lightning can make the electricity go out. The lightning may hit an electrical pole.
Sometimes the buildings that bring the electricity to communities have to fix something. This may cause the electricity to go out in the community for a little while.
Ice storms can make the electricity stop working. The ice can freeze the wires and they can break.
A carousel of four images.
Image 1: There is a tree branch that has fallen on an electrical wire in the street. The branch has fallen off a tree.
Image 2: There are trees in a field. There are dark clouds in the sky and a bolt of lightning.
Image 3: There is a person working on a machine in an electrical building. They have a clipboard.
Image 4: There are electrical wires with ice on them. There are trees with ice on them and a street light that has ice on it.
When the electricity goes out, what is affected?
Record your answers using a method of your choice.
Press ‘Hint’ to access a hint about what might be affected.
Think about the things that need electricity to work.
How might a person be prepared for when the electricity goes out?
Press ‘Sample Answer’ to access how a person might be prepared.
A person could make sure they:
- had a flashlight
- had a candle
- had a first aid kit
Electricity and the environment
We use electricity every day. Electricity can come from lots of different places. For example, electricity can come from the sun. Or even the wind! Electricity can also come from water.
Those are all things in nature that make electricity.
Sometimes we make electricity. When we make electricity, it can hurt the environment. So, it’s important not to waste any electricity. The less electricity we waste, the less we have to make. And that makes the earth happy.
How can we help the environment by not wasting electricity?
We can:
- turn off the lights when we aren’t using them
- spend less time using our electronics like tablets
- ride a bike or walk to school
- make sure we always close the fridge
- use the sun in the summer to dry our clothes
Let's check our learning!
For each sentence, select the missing word from the drop-down menu.
Consolidation
Be prepared!
This learning activity connects new and existing approaches for young scientists to create positive changes in their communities.
It’s good to be ready for a time when the power might go out at home, at school or in the community. There are some things you can do to help keep everyone safe and comfortable.
- Keep the fridge closed so food stays cold as long as possible.
- Have a flashlight ready in case the power goes out at night.
- Have a game ready to keep everyone happy and having fun.
- Have some warm blankets or clothing ready in case it’s cold when the power goes out.
- Ask an adult to unplug electronics like computers in case there is a surge in electricity when the power comes back on.
Time to share!
You want to tell a friend about how you can help the environment by not wasting electricity.
What would you tell them?
Create a poster that tells your friend about all the ways they do not waste electricity. Don’t forget to include why it’s so important that we don’t waste electricity.
Let’s think!
- What was one thing you learned about electricity?
- Describe one way you can help to not waste electricity?
- Describe what might happen if the power goes out? How can someone be prepared?
Reflection
How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.
I feel…
Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.