Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Electricity: Electrical Circuits

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

This stage of the lesson plan is crucial to guide students on what will be expected of them during practical activities. The established objectives aim to consolidate theoretical understanding of electrical circuits through practical applications and problem-solving, ensuring that students use classroom time to deepen and solidify knowledge acquired previously at home.

Main Objectives:

1. Develop the ability to solve problems involving electrical circuits, focusing on calculations of potential differences, currents, and resistances.

2. Apply prior knowledge about electricity in a practical manner, manipulating components and taking measurements to understand theory in practice.

Side Objectives:

1. Encourage logical reasoning and critical thinking skills when analyzing and solving complex problems.

Introduction

Duration: (20 - 30 minutes)

The introduction aims to engage students with problem-situations that make them think critically about the concepts of electrical circuits, using prior knowledge to solve practical challenges. Additionally, contextualization seeks to show the relevance and applicability of electrical circuits in everyday life and technology, stimulating students' interest in the topic.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine you are in a lab and need to build a circuit to light a lamp using a 12V battery and a set of resistors. How would you choose the resistors and how would you calculate the current passing through each one?

2. Think of a situation where a fuse in an electrical circuit blows and you need to replace it. How do resistance and current affect the choice of the appropriate fuse?

Contextualization

Electrical circuits are the backbone of modern technology. From lighting our homes to complex communication and computing systems, all depend on efficient electrical circuits. Understanding how voltage, current, and resistance behave in circuits not only allows one to build and maintain these systems but also to innovate, creating new technologies that directly impact society.

Development

Duration: (70 - 80 minutes)

The Development stage is designed for students to practically and collaboratively apply the theoretical concepts of electrical circuits that they studied at home. Through playful and challenging activities, they will deepen their understanding of resistances, currents, Ohm's laws, and parallel circuits. Additionally, the activities encourage the development of problem-solving skills, teamwork, and critical thinking, essential for the formation of a good scientist or engineer.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - The Mystery of Unknown Components

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Apply the concepts of resistance, current, and Ohm's law to solve a practical problem in an electrical circuit, developing measurement and calculation skills.

- Description: Students will be divided into groups of up to 5 people and will receive an electronics component kit. Inside the kit, there will be resistors, LEDs, capacitors, and wires. The challenge is to build a circuit that can light an LED without knowing the exact values of the components. Each group should use a multimeter to measure the resistance of each resistor and, based on those values, calculate the current needed for the LED to light up.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Distribute an electronics component kit to each group.

• Explain that each group must use the multimeter to measure the resistance of the resistors.

• Instruct students to calculate the current needed to light the LED based on Ohm's law (V = R * I).

• Ask each group to assemble the circuit and test if the LED lights up.

• Each group must present the calculations performed and discuss variations in results based on the components used.

Activity 2 - Parallel Circuit Challenge

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Understand and apply the concept of parallel circuits, calculating currents in different branches of the circuit and promoting energy efficiency in the circuit assembly.

- Description: In this activity, students, in groups, will receive a set of batteries, resistors, and wires. The challenge will be to assemble a parallel circuit that lights an LED using the least number of batteries possible. They will need to calculate the total current and the current in each branch of the circuit.

- Instructions:

• Organize students into groups of no more than 5 people.

• Distribute the necessary materials to each group.

• Explain the concept of parallel circuits and how to calculate the total current.

• Guide the students to assemble the circuit and perform calculations to determine the current in each branch.

• Each group must present their circuit, the measurements taken, and the calculations made to the rest of the class.

Activity 3 - Circuit Builders: The Mystery Circuit Marathon

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Develop problem-solving skills and teamwork, as well as reinforce practical knowledge about electrical circuits and components.

- Description: Students will be challenged to build circuits that perform specific functions, such as lighting LEDs of different colors in sequence. The extra challenge is that they will not know exactly which components are in use, needing to test and measure to find out.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Provide each group with a set of various electronic components and a circuit construction objective.

• Groups should test the components to discover their characteristics and how they can be applied in the circuit.

• Guide the students to assemble the circuit and conduct tests to achieve the proposed objective.

• Each group must document the components used, the measurements taken, and how the circuit was built.

Feedback

Duration: (10 - 20 minutes)

This stage of the lesson plan is crucial to consolidate students' practical and theoretical learning. The group discussion allows students to articulate and reflect on what they have learned, verbalizing their thought processes and learning from their peers' experiences. Additionally, this discussion helps the teacher evaluate students' understanding and identify any learning gaps that may require further review.

Group Discussion

At the end of the practical activities, gather all students in a large circle and start a group discussion. Begin by asking each group to briefly share what they discovered and discussed during the activities. Encourage students to explain the challenges they faced and how they overcame them, as well as the most creative solutions they found. This is a moment for everyone to learn from each other and appreciate the diversity of approaches to the same problem.

Key Questions

1. What were the biggest challenges your group faced when assembling the circuits and how did you overcome them?

2. How did the theory of electrical circuits that we studied previously at home help you during the practical activities?

3. Was there any surprise or interesting discovery when measuring and calculating the currents in the circuits?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The Conclusion stage aims to reinforce learning, ensuring that students have consolidated the fundamental concepts of electrical circuits presented during the lesson. Additionally, it aims to demonstrate the practical relevance of these concepts, motivating students to apply the knowledge acquired in real-life situations and to continue exploring the world of electricity and technology.

Summary

To wrap up, let's review the main concepts addressed today regarding electrical circuits. We reviewed Ohm's laws, potential differences, electrical currents, resistances, and how these elements interrelate and are applied in practical circuits.

Theory Connection

Today's lesson was meticulously designed to link theory to practice. By conducting the activities, students could visualize and directly experience the theoretical concepts, which not only facilitates comprehension but also allows for a deeper and more lasting learning.

Closing

Understanding electrical circuits is essential, not only for academics but also for professionals in various areas, such as engineering and technology. The direct applicability of these concepts in everyday devices and systems reinforces the importance of mastering this knowledge.