Rationale
Originally, I wanted to create a unit about electricity to deepen my knowledge about the content that I am required to teach to my students. However, my thoughts have changed after reading, researching, and participating in Gary Brudvig’s seminar. Of course, I want to deepen my knowledge, but I now have a more in-depth understanding of energy science. I realize that teaching my students how to make circuits in isolation is a limited approach. I want my students to have a richer sense of this topic. They need to know where electricity comes from, and I do not mean the wall socket or a battery. They need to know electricity comes from fossil fuels and renewable energy sources. I want them to know that some forms of energy are better for the environment, and others are more harmful. Some forms of energy are more economic to produce, and some are more viable than others.
The curriculum unit I create will focus on electricity and magnetism, but it will provide a basic foundation to get my fourth grade students thinking about some of the issues surrounding the increasing demand for energy and the effects it has on the environment.
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