How does electricity work? Why do light bulbs turn on with a flick of a switch? How do electric cars work? These are all questions that children ask every day! Electricity is such an interesting part of science! Did you know that before electricity was discovered, people thought static and shocks came from electric fish? Or that the generating station that powers your house could be up to hundreds of miles away? Or that electricity travels at the speed of light?
Engage students’ interest with big idea questions that activate their curiosity and prior knowledge. Engagement questions asked before the introduction of a lesson allow students to make connections with prior learning, raise questions, and generate curiosity.
Evan-Moor’s Daily Science for grades 1–6 highlights some great lessons on electricity.
Daily Science Grade 3 Big Idea
Electricity Can Exist as Static Electricity or Travel as a Current
The unit supplies lessons and activities for five weeks, with each week asking a different question:
- Where Does Lightning Come From?
- Why Do Electrical Cords Have Metal Plugs?
- How Does Flipping a Switch Light Up a Light Bulb?
- How Does a Battery Make Electricity?
- Electricity: Unit Review/Hands-on Activity
All five weeks focus on the same big idea, but ask different questions and provide different activities. Each week’s plan has different activities and worksheets for each day, so you can stretch the science concept through the whole week! An answer key is also included with each week.
Purchase this electricity unit on Teachers Pay Teachers here.
Daily Science Grade 4 Big Idea
Electrical Energy Can Be Converted into Heat, Light, Sound, and Motion
- This unit asks questions like:
- How Do Toasters Work?
- What Lights a Digital Clock?
- How Do Hearing Aids Help People Hear?
- How Do Electric Cars Work?
- Electrical Energy: Unit Review/Hands-on Activity
The unit ends with an assessment of students’ comprehension and a hands-on activity called “Start Your Motor.” The unit supplies vocabulary, activities, teacher instruction pages, and a hands-on activity and directions. The inquiry-based units encourage students to ask questions of their own, in addition to brainstorming answers to the questions provided for each week.
Follow this link to get this unit on Teachers Pay Teachers.
Daily Science Grade 5 Big Idea
When a New Substance Is Made Through a Chemical Reaction, It Has Properties That Are Different from the Original Substances
This unit introduces vocabulary like acid, boiling point, oxidized, and reactant! Students are asked to ponder:
- What Puts the Fizz in Soda?
- Why Do Batteries Die?
- Why Does Metal Rust?
- Why Can’t You Light a Match More Than Once?
- Chemical Reactions: Unit Review/Hands-on Activity
The review and hands-on activity tests the results of oxidized pennies placed in acidic solutions. Engage your students in physical science concepts like chemical reactions, and have fun with the experiments that go with the concepts! For example, putting mentos in a soda bottle never gets old!
Find this unit on Teachers Pay Teachers here.
Daily Science Grade 6 Big Idea
Energy Can Be Mechanical, Electrical, Thermal, or Chemical. Light, Sound, and Heat Are Often the Result
The sixth grade level of Daily Science tackles more complex concepts, asking questions like:
- How Do Windmills Make Electricity?
- What Makes Popcorn Pop?
- What Makes Fireflies Glow?
- How Do Fireworks Work?
- Energy Often Results in Light, Sound, and Heat: Unit Review/Hands-on Activity
The unit explores different kinds of energy, including advanced vocabulary like catalyze, electromagnetism, and kinetic energy. Students will explore real-life examples of energy and electricity, like windmills, popcorn, and fireworks, and create and test their own hypotheses about the best way to pop popcorn.
Visit Teachers Pay Teachers here to get this unit.
The goal of Daily Science is to fully engage students in the topic, asking them to brainstorm answers to the provided question before diving into the activities and lesson of the day. The big ideas within each unit allow students to connect prior learning with new experiences. Teaching students to ask questions creates deeper meaning and better understanding of the content.
In the words of Josef Albers, and American artist and educator, “Good teaching is more a giving of right questions than a giving of right answers.”
Purchase the entire Daily Science book with 150 daily lessons for grades 1-6 from Teachers Pay Teachers or www.evan-moor.com
Visit STEM Challenges: Build a Ship, Skyscraper, and Bridge for more science ideas and lessons.
Christine Wooler has experience working with children as a youth soccer coach and summer camp counselor. She is currently studying English Literature and journalism in college. She enjoys exploring educational topics that help students have fun while learning.