Teachers’ notes – Where does electricity come from?
Synopsis
In this activity, learners are invited to explore their own ideas about where electricity comes from before being encouraged to consult secondary sources about fossil fuels and alternative means of generating electricity. The impact on people and the environment of some renewable and sustainable technologies for electricity production is also considered.
Curriculum links
How things work:
1.the uses of electricity and its control in simple circuits
Skills
Communication: 1 & 2
Enquiry – Planning: 2 3
Enquiry – Developing: 5, 6 & 7
Enquiry – Reflecting: 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6
Activities
Tab 1
/ The first tab in this activity consists of seven buttons each of which presents a child’s drawing of how electricity reaches homes. Ask learners to think about and discuss each drawing and encourage them to say whether they agree or disagree with the ideas they see and to explain why.Tab 2
/ In this tab learners are encouraged to share and discuss their own ideas about how electricity is produced.Tab 3
/ This tab tells the learners that ‘Electricity is brought to our homes through cables ...’They are able to click on three different photographs that will generate words that complete the sentence.
Photograph 1 – ‘in the air’ shows electricity pylons
Photograph 2 – ‘under the ground’ shows electricity cables being laid below ground
Photograph 3 – ‘under the sea’ shows electricity pylons at sea.
Learners are asked to consider what impact each method of transporting electricity has on people and the environment.
Tab 4
/ This tab informs learners that most electricity is made using fossil fuels. Learners are asked to find out what fossil fuels are, how they are produced and their future availability.Tab 5
/ This tab requires learners to carry out research to find out information about coal.Tab 6
/ This tab encourages learners to find out what alternative fuels may be used when fossil fuels are no longer available.Tab 7
/ This tab shows learners three different photographs.1 – wind turbines
2 – solar panels
3 – a water mill
Learners are asked to think about and discuss how electricity is being generated in each photograph.
Tab 8
/ This tab shows learners a photograph of typical Welsh countryside and tells them there are plans to build wind turbines on the land in the photograph. Learners are requested to discuss the issues that might arise as a consequence of the plan and to record their ideas in a PMI diagram – (DCELLS How booklet reference.) They might use role-play to try to represent different viewpoints as they discuss their ideas.Unit 3.1.4 Where does electricity come from?1