Connecting Middle School Content to the Grid

Jill K. LawrenceGresham Middle School, Knoxville

Abstract: How could I teach content in a way that is meaningful, relevant, engaging, prepares students for state assessments, establishes aconnection between and within the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade science curriculum, and provides a way for students to understand the rapidly changing world around them and their futures within that world? The RET program at CURENT has provided an opportunity to develop a plan to address these instructional challenges.

My program focus this summer has been in three parts: Part 1 – Constructing a model of the Power Grid and the Engineering Design Process – 7th and 8th gradePart 2 – Frame work for content connections to power grid throughout 7th and 8th grade curriculum for future lesson development.Part 3 – Development of Magnets and Electricity Unit – 8th grade

Part 1: Constructing a model of the Power Grid and The Engineering Design Process

Figure 2: Sample of individual house with 2 LED lights and 2 LED street lamps.

Part 3: Magnets and Electricity

Questions to investigate:1. What is the power grid?2. Why should engineers study historical data regarding the power grid?3. What are the issues facing the power grid?4. What is a Smart grid?5. What is the engineering design process?6. Explain how you used the engineering design process throughout this learning experience.

Students will explore the properties of magnets, electromagnets, and solenoids through a variety of hands on activities. They will compare and contrast all three as well as investigate the roll they play in the power grid, in everyday household items, and technology.

Students are expected to have a working foundational knowledge about the relationship between magnetism and electricity as part of their middle school experience.

Part 2: Content connections (To be developed during 2014-2015 academic year)

Acknowledgements:This work was supported primarily by the Engineering Research Center Program of the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy under NSF Award Number

EEC-1041877 and the CURENT Industry Partnership Program.

Figure 1: Engineering Design Process

Figure 3: Magnetic Levitation Device (Mag-Lev) hovering over the magnet

Figure 4: Simple motor attached to a wood block