Teachers' Page


This resource is designed for use by fifth or sixth class primary school children. It uses the webquest model to allow pupils to work on an enquiry oriented project using the internet as a resource. Children will be enabled to work collaboratively to create their own project work and report their findings to their classmates.

The following  5th/6th Class Science Curriculum strand units are addressed within this WebQuest:

Skills Development

Working Scientifically

Questioning
Observing
Predicting
Investigating and Experimenting
Recording and Communicating
Designing and Making
Exploring
Planning
Making
Evaluating

Strand Unit: Magnetism and Electricity

Learning about electrical energy
Investigating current electricity by constructing simple circuits
Using wire, bulbs, motors and batteries
Using more than one bulb in a circuit
Using more than one battery in a circuit
Experimenting with simple switches
Becoming aware of how some common electrical appliances work
Becoming aware of and understand the dangers of electricity
Becoming aware of the dangers of mains electricity in the home and at work
Becoming aware of  the importance of fuses and circuit breakers for safety

Integration

5th/6th class History Curriculum strand units also addressed:

Strand: Continuity and Change over Time

Energy and Power


Organisation

The work begins with a whole class discussion to allow the teacher to explain how it will work and to allow the five groups to be formed.

Once the groups are established, the teacher shows each group the section of the webquest allocated to them to ensure they know how to navigate the links and to ensure they are aware of the fact that the questions are merely a framework for their final project. Particular attention must be paid to the Technicians group so that they can use the Crocodile Clips software.

Groups work through the content and make notes as required. They also copy any graphics to an agreed location and begin drafting their text.

Using appropriate software, (DTP, WP, Drawing, etc.), groups redraft their work and also prepare models as necessary.

Groups report their findings to their classmates and display their project/models.