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A Lemon Instead of Battery
2 3 6 Pre & Primary Essentials Experiments Science Physical Sciences Chemical Sciences 12 Pages

A Lemon Instead of Battery

In this experiment, students create a chemical battery with a lemon that is able to power a small light.

This could be an effective demonstration for younger classes, or a great hands on activity for students completing the year 6 electricity unit.
 

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Learning goals

  • We are learning to understand that electrical energy can be transferred and transformed in electrical circuits and can be generated from a range of sources.

Curriculum alignment

AC9S6I04 9 Construct and use appropriate representations, including tables, graphs and visual or physical models, to organise and process data and information and describe patterns, trends and relationships AC9S2I05 9 Compare observations with predictions and others’ observations, consider if investigations are fair and identify further questions with guidance AC9S6I01 9 Pose investigable questions to identify patterns and test relationships and make reasoned predictions AC9S6H01 9 Examine why advances in science are often the result of collaboration or build on the work of others AC9S6I03 9 Use equipment to observe, measure and record data with reasonable precision, using digital tools as appropriate AC9S6U03 9 Investigate the transfer and transformation of energy in electrical circuits, including the role of circuit components, insulators and conductors AC9S3I01 9 Pose questions to explore observed patterns and relationships and make predictions based on observations AC9S2H01 9 Describe how people use science in their daily lives, including using patterns to make scientific predictions AC9S3I04 9 Construct and use representations, including tables, simple column graphs and visual or physical models, to organise data and information, show simple relationships and identify patterns ACSIS104 8.4 Decide variables to be changed and measured in fair tests, and observe measure and record data with accuracy using digital technologies as appropriate ACSIS221 8.4 Compare data with predictions and use as evidence in developing explanations ACSHE034 8.4 Science involves observing, asking questions about, and describing changes in, objects and events ACSIS232 8.4 With guidance, pose clarifying questions and make predictions about scientific investigations ACSHE098 8.4 Science involves testing predictions by gathering data and using evidence to develop explanations of events and phenomena and reflects historical and cultural contributions ACSSU097 8.4 Electrical energy can be transferred and transformed in electrical circuits and can be generated from a range of sources ACSIS041 8.4 Compare observations with those of others ACSIS215 8.4 Compare results with predictions, suggesting possible reasons for findings ACSIS053 8.4 With guidance, identify questions in familiar contexts that can be investigated scientifically and make predictions based on prior knowledge
ST3-8PW-ST old Explains how energy is transformed from one form to another ST2-4LW-S old Compares features and characteristics of living and non-living things ST2-5LW-T old Describes how agricultural processes are used to grow plants and raise animals for food, clothing and shelter ST2-8PW-ST old Describes the characteristics and effects of common forms of energy, such as light and heat ST2-9PW-ST old Describes how contact and non-contact forces affect an object’s motion ST2-10ES-S old Investigates regular changes caused by interactions between the Earth and the Sun, and changes to the Earth’s surface ST2-3DP-T old Defines problems, describes and follows algorithms to develop solutions ST2-11DI-T old Describes how digital systems represent and transmit data ST3-1WS-S old Plans and conducts scientific investigations to answer testable questions, and collects and summarises data to communicate conclusions ST3-2DP-T old Plans and uses materials, tools and equipment to develop solutions for a need or opportunity ST1-1WS-S old Observes, questions and collects data to communicate and compare ideas ST3-9PW-ST old Investigates the effects of increasing or decreasing the strength of a specific contact or non-contact force ST3-4LW-S old Examines how the environment affects the growth, survival and adaptation of living things ST3-5LW-T old Explains how food and fibre are produced sustainably in managed environments for health and nutrition ST3-6MW-S old Explains the effect of heat on the properties and behaviour of materials ST3-7MW-T old Explains how the properties of materials determines their use for a range of purposes ST3-10ES-S old Explains regular events in the solar system and geological events on the Earth’s surface ST3-3DP-T old Defines problems, and designs, modifies and follows algorithms to develop solutions ST3-11DI-T old Explains how digital systems represent data, connect together to form networks and transmit data ST2-7MW-T old Investigates the suitability of natural and processed materials for a range of purposes ST2-6MW-S old Describes how adding or removing heat causes a change of state ST2-2DP-T old Selects and uses materials, tools and equipment to develop solutions for a need or opportunity ST2-1WS-S old Questions, plans and conducts scientific investigations, collects and summarises data and communicates using scientific representations ST1-10ES-S old Recognises observable changes occurring in the sky and on the land and identifies Earth’s resources ST1-2DP-T old Uses materials, tools and equipment to develop solutions for a need or opportunity ST1-4LW-S old Describes observable features of living things and their environments ST1-5LW-T old Identifies how plants and animals are used for food and fibre products ST1-7MW-T old Describes how the properties of materials determine their use ST1-6MW-S old Identifies that materials can be changed or combined
VCSIS054 Compare observations and predictions with those of others VCSIS082 With guidance, pose questions to clarify practical problems or inform a scientific investigation, and predict what the findings of an investigation might be based on previous experiences or general rules VCSIS084 Decide which variables should be changed, measured and controlled in fair tests and accurately observe, measure and record data VCSSU081 Energy from a variety of sources can be used to generate electricity; electric circuits enable this energy to be transferred to another place and then to be transformed into another form of energy VCSIS086 Compare data with predictions and use as evidence in developing explanations VCSIS065 With guidance, identify questions in familiar contexts that can be investigated scientifically and predict what might happen based on prior knowledge VCSIS070 Compare results with predictions, suggesting possible reasons for findings

Australian Curriculum covers QLD / SA / WA / NT / TAS / ACT.

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