Energy, Electricity, Magnetism, and Electromagnetism are Physical Science topics, taught at both the elementary, middle, and high school. Between us, my husband, Rob, and I teach all three of these science classes. At leach level, the kiddos are exploring the fundamentals of electricity and magnetism. What do we use to teach? Our favorite materials are from Delta Science, now FOSS. Before I launch into another long post about Delta or FOSS, TOPS is good, too.
If you want to teach Electricity and Magnetism to younger kiddos, consider TOPS Learning Systems Physics 1: Electricity and Magnetism. Here is a sample lab.
Do you want books for young teens? Use TOPS Physics II books. Here is a sample lab.
TOPS uses simple materials, such as tape, batteries, aluminum foil, and clothespins. Copies of TOPS books are readily available used. When I have a small group of self-directed students in Physical Science, I give the class a bag of materials and these books to allow them to work through the experiments on their own. What about less directed groups? I like Snap Circuits; they are useful for creating simple circuits.
Our favorite materials are from Delta Science or FOSS. Why? The materials work. One fundamental concept is creating series and parallel circuits. Do you know how easy it is to blow up a bulb? Too often the connection fails. Which battery works? I need reliable, easy to use equipment.
The issue is finding Delta Science (now, FOSS) books, equipment or kits at reasonable prices. FOSS (Pathways or Next Generation Science) was once Delta Science, Delta Education or Delta Learning. While the names and curriculum alignments have changed, the basic content hasn’t. The fourth graders book and activities has the core topics about electricity, magnetism, and electromagnetism.
FOSS Energy is a fourth grade, online book. Scroll down this site to Fourth Grade for the book, notebook masters, graphics, and videos. This Lesson by Lesson Guide has most of the topics. The videos provide instruction and demonstrations. The videos are intended for fourth graders. (Why do they have to be so patronizing?). The content is great!
Do you know what’s also frustrating? Where do you find the basic parts? Unless you have an extraordinary budget, the essential equipment can be hard to find. Go to School Specialty’s FOSS page. You can search ‘FOSS cell holder’ or ‘ bulb holder’. The basics for circuits are bulb holders, cell holders, bulbs, and wire.
Each video lesson uses materials from this Next Generation Energy kit. Some materials, such as a flashlight or magnets can be purchased at Walmart, etc. School Specialty has the materials for creating a telegraph, too.
Patty Y. Morris has Grade 4 videos: Conductors and Circuits, How to Light a Lightbulb, Solving the String of Lights Problem, Series and Parallel Circuits, Electromagnets, and Reinventing the Telegraph.
Below are the specs for the flashlight bulbs.
Finally, look for Delta Education ‘Science in a Nutshell’ Electromagnetism kits and activity guides.
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