We constructed a KWL chart together on circuits to assess the prior knowledge of our students on circuits, conductors, and insulators. Students came up with things they want to learn about circuits, insulators, and conductors, which we almost all answered throughout our investigation. We did not talk much about how these are used in our daily lives, but some of the items used to test with our circuits can be found in our daily lives. Students learned most but not all metals can conduct electricity, and also the properties of the new vocabulary learned. |
We did our predictions and recorded the data collected from our experiment on one chart together. Because a lot of the items being tested looked very similar, so after guiding the students to make their circuits, we tested each item together to make sure students had the right item in their hands. We walked around to see if any students needed help testing these items, and recorded the data on the chart together. We explained to the students that when the bulb lights up, the item is a conductor, and we would give the students a little "choo choo", and if the bulb does not light up, it is an insulator. |
Planned CER:
Claim: We think that materials that do not have metal within them will not allow energy to flow when placed in the circuit, and will therefore be an insulator. Evidence: The brass screw, paperclip, piece of aluminum screening, brass paper fastener, wire nail, aluminum nail, 1-inch piece of pipe cleaner, 1-inch piece of bare copper wire, 1-inch piece of bare aluminum wire all conducted electricity within the circuit, and all contain metal. Reasoning: Metals are conductors because conductors allow the flow of an electrical current. This one evident in in the metal objects that conducted a charge within the circuit. Our actual CER aligned mostly with our planned CER, and all of the three, the claim, evidence, and reasoning are mainly constructed by the students instead of us putting words in their mouths.
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