Lesson summary
This lesson is part of a unit that explores how electricity and processed materials combine to power mobile phones. In this lesson, students will investigate the conductivity of various materials and apply this understanding to the circuitry inside a mobile phone. They will learn what makes a mobile phone work and where the materials in a mobile phone come from.
Learning intentions:
Students will...
- explore the properties of conductors and insulators by experimenting with different materials
- investigate the importance of these materials in the function and recycling of mobile phone components
- consider the environmental and economic impacts of the materials used in the production of mobile phones and their circuitry.
Success criteria:
Students can...
- construct a simple circuit and demonstrate how different materials can either conduct or insulate electricity
- describe the significance of using specific metals in mobile phone circuit boards and explain why these metals are considered precious
- evaluate the importance of recycling mobile phones by considering the environmental and economic impacts of the materials used in their production.
Lesson guides and printables
Curriculum links
Select your curriculum from the options below.
Lesson details
Skills
This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:
- collaboration
- ethical understanding
- global citizenship
- problem solving
Curriculum Mapping
Australian Curriculum (v9.0) content description:
Year 5 & 6 Design and Technology:
- explain how electrical energy can be transformed into movement, sound or light in a product or system (AC9TDE6K02)
- explain how characteristics and properties of materials, systems, components, tools and equipment affect their use when producing designed solutions. (AC9TDE6K05)
Year 6 Physical Science:
- investigate the transfer and transformation of energy in electrical circuits, including the role of circuit components, insulators and conductors. (AC9S6U03)
Relevant parts of achievement standards:
Year 5 & 6 Design and Technology: Students can explain how the features of technologies impact design decisions and they create designed solutions.
Year 6 Physical Sciences: Students can identify the role of circuit components in the transfer and transformation of electrical energy.
NSW Syllabus outcomes: ST3-6PW, ST3-7PW, ST3-13MW, ST3-12MW, ST3-6PW
General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Personal and Social Capability
Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability
Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate class discussion and support students in circuit building
UN Sustainable Development Goals
UN SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
- Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.
Resources Required
- Device capable of presenting audiovisual material
- Circuit building materials (minimum three lights e.g. LED or similar, six alligator clip wires, one battery holder and a battery between each group of four students
- Student devices for group research
- Hot Potato Questions
Additional Info
This lesson has been developed as part of Planet Ark’s National Recycling Week. Following this lesson plan is an ideal way for your school to take part in MobileMuster. You’ll be joining thousands of amazing teachers in making a difference and creating positive environmental change. Take part in the Schools Recycling Right Challenge for Planet Ark’s National Recycling Week. Register your lesson or other activities today!
Related Professional Learning
How to Teach Sustainability with Hope
Quick Summary: This course is for both primary and secondary teachers of all subjects, but especially for English, Science, Humanities and Geography teachers who are covering climate change and the cross-curriculum priority of sustainability.
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