California Career and Technical Education Standards

• T.C.C3.5 Understand the basic principles of electricity, electronics and electrical power...
• T.FS.1.0 Academics

California Academic Content Standards (Reinforced)

• ELA.7.R.CAGT.2.5 Understand and explain the use of a simple mechanical device by following techni...3
• S.4.PS.1a Students know how to design and build simple series and parallel circuits byusin...1
• S.8.PS.3.a Students know the structure of the atom and know it is composed of protons, neut...

• Anticipatory Set - Hooks / Set

  Students will enter class and written on the white board will be the question: "What is electricity?" Students will be asked to answer the question in writing. 

  On the front podium student will see a fully charged automotive battery and a 2 foot piece of primary wire no larger than 14 gauge with the ends of the insulator removed.  After allowing students to respond to question, the instructor will put on a pair of leather gloves and other safety equipment and connect one end of the primary wire to the positive battery terminal and the other end of the primary wire to the negative battery terminal. The wire will over heat and begin burning the insulation off.  After sufficient smoke has been generated disconnect the wire.   Ask the students how the wire burned when you did not use a fuel source or an ignition source.  Allow students time for verbal responses.  Have students write their answer at the top of their paper to be turned in at end of the lesson.
• The Electricity atom - Lecture

  I will lecture students regarding the electricity atom and the flow of electrons from atom to atom (draw on the board the electricity atom found in figure 8-1 of the text). Explain all parts of the atom. I will explain that the flow of electrons is what is known as electricity. I will explain that the flow of electricity creates heat. When the flow of electricity exceeds the capacity of the wire, the amount of heat generated is sufficient enough to melt the insulation (plastic) on the exterior of the wire. This melting will actually cause the wire to burn.
• Diagram the Electricity Atom - Demo / Modeling

  Instructor will erase the diagram of the electricity atom off of the white board. On the same paper students responded to the anticipatory set question, the students will draw the electricity atom. The students will correctly label all parts of the atom. Under the drawing students will write in their own words basic principle of electrical flow.
• Simple Circuit - Demo / Modeling

  I will lecture on the parts of the simple circuit based off of figure 8-3. I will draw the circuit on the white board making sure to label all of the parts of the circuit. Building on the previous lecture activity I will draw as many small "e" that can reasonably fit in the diagram of the battery. This is a good point to briefly explain that the battery stores the electrons to be used at as needed. (Be careful not to spend too much time on the idea of the battery as a storage device. This is really another lesson). I will draw a series of small "e" along the conductor explaining that the "e" represents the flow of electrons along that conductor (wire). Explain to the students that on this diagram you have drawn a light bulb as the electrical load. Provide the definition of an electrical load as any electrical component that uses electricity to operate. Ask students to verbally respond to you naming as many electrical loads as they can. Provide enough time for students to get a good grasp on the definition of electrical load.
• Diagram a Simple Circuit - Lab / Shop

  Instructor will erase the diagram of the electricity atom off of the board. On the same paper students responded to the anticipatory set question, students will draw a simple circuit labeling all parts. Under this drawing students will write in own words the definitions for battery, load, and conductor.