Electric House Project

Introduction

WebQuest  
Electric House

Introduction | Task | Process | Resources | Evaluation| Conclusion

 

Introduction: 
  Since electric circuits are such an important part of our lives it is important that we understand how they work. This activity seeks to answer the essential question  "What happens to the electric charge in household circuits?"  This activity covers the following Georgia Performance or Quality Core Curriculum Standards: 

SP5c.  Students will determine equivalent resistances in series and parallel circuits.
SPS10c.  Students will explain the flow of electrons in terms of series and parallel circuits.
QCC FAC50  Students will identify basic structural and decorative designs.

These Information Literacy Standards are addressed by this activity:

1. The student who is information literate accesses information efficiently and effectively. Indicator 1:  Recognizes the need for information 
2. The student who is information literate evaluates information critically and competently.  Indicator 4:  Selects information appropriate to the problem or question at hand 
3.The student who is information literate uses information accurately and creatively.  Indicator 1:  Organizes information for practical application. 

Teachers Information-A list of resources used in preparing this webquest is here.

Task: 
    Your team will design and construct an electric house with separate series, parallel, and complex circuits.  The house will consist of either one or two stories and contain at least the following areas: one bathroom, one bedroom,  a porch, a front door, a kitchen,  and  a living room/dining room area.

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Process: 
Step 1:  Choose roles within your group. 
    Each group member will choose one of the following jobs.  Remember, the group's success will depend on how well you accomplish  your individual responsibilities. The member tasks are as follows: 
    A. General Contractor:  Your responsibility will be to design the structure, choose the materials, and assemble them. 
    B. Electrician:  This individual  will be in charge of wiring the circuits in the house and making sure that they work.
    C. Interior decorator:  This person will be in charge of making the interior of the house attractive, choosing wall colors, wallpaper, drapes, fixtures, etc.

Step 2:  Learn about different type of circuits. 
    Each group member will use resources below to learn about the different types of circuits.

Step 3:  Construct the house. 
    Together group members will construct, decorate, and wire the house according to the following guidelines:


- The house dimensions are approximately: 24" by 36" horizontally  or vertically.  Foam board or cardboard are both excellent materials for building the house.

- Each house will be wired with 5 different circuits as follows: 

- The dining room area  must have a chandelier with at least two lights in a 
  SERIES CIRCUIT with a switch. 

- The living room must have one PARALLEL CIRCUIT consisting of a switch and at 
  least two lights. 

- The kitchen must have one COMBINATION CIRCUIT consisting of two 
  switches and at least three lights. 

- The front door must have a doorbell (buzzer) and a switch. 

- The bedroom must have a ceiling fan with a motor and switch. 


  

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General Resources:

Circuit Introduction : The different parts needed to form a circuit.
What is a circuit? : Click on it to get the current flowing.  Add or remove bulbs.
What is a parallel circuit? :  This allows you to add or remove bulbs.
What is a series circuit? : Use this interactive site to learn how series circuits work.
.

Resources for the Contractor
Cardboard House:  Using cardboard to build a model house.
Materials:  A list of materials to use for your project. 

Resources for the Electrician
What is a switch? : Pictures of different types of switches.
Switches :  Look at pictures to get ideas for making a switch
The blobz guide to electric circuits : Take the quiz at this interactive site.

Series and Parallel Circuits : Explanation of circuits and the equations of voltage and current. 
DC Circuits Tutorial : Detailed tutorials that include schematic diagrams, Ohm's Law and circuits. 
Lessons on Electricity : Information about resistors, series, parallel and combination circuits 
DC Circuit Resource Lesson : Information and examples about DC Circuits. 
DC Circuits Lecture : Includes theory and problems on various types of circuits.

Resources for the Designer
Minature Marvels : Scroll down on this page to see pictures of model houses.
Making dollhouse items: Using household items to build fixtures for your house.

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Evaluation. 
   The score of your project consists of 100 points divided into three parts: 

I. Group Project = 60 points 

Meeting minimum construction requirements: 
Neat house assembly, four rooms, and a porch =   15 pts 
Successfully meeting series circuit minimum requirements =   10 pts 
Successfully meeting parallel circuit minimum requirements =          10 pts 
Successfully meeting complex circuit minimum requirements =       10 pts 
Successfully meeting doorbell requirement =          5 pts 
Successfully incorporating the motor =       10 pts 

II. Individual Project = 20 points  

- Drawing and schematic of every circuit combination =      10 pts 
- Calculations and measurements of voltage and current =        10 pts 

Bonus for creativity and/or ingenuity = 10 pts 

III. Electric House WebProject  = 20 points 

You will design and publish a webpage. This page should contain a description of your project and a picture 
of your house. Team members appearance in the picture is optional.  Members should reflect on the process of creating the house, describing problems that were encountered and conflicts that arose. Each website should have at least three links to related resources.  No unrelated links are allowed i.e. commercial sites, music, personal favorites etc. 
No webpage may include materials that were created by another person without written permission to quote such materials by the creator of such material; this includes text, images, and data published on the Internet and copyrighted. 
  
- House page with procedure, pictures and suggestions      = 20 pts 


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Conclusion: 
  Present your model to the class and demonstrate that each circuit works. Tell what parts of the project you are especially pround of and what you would do differently if you had to do this again.

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Introduction | Task | Process | Resources  | Evaluation | Conclusion

Task

Task: 
    Your team will design and construct an electric house with separate series, parallel, and complex circuits.  The house will consist of either one or two stories and contain at least the following areas: one bathroom, one bedroom,  a porch, a front door, a kitchen,  and  a living room/dining room area.

Process

Process: 
Step 1:  Choose roles within your group. 
    Each group member will choose one of the following jobs.  Remember, the group's success will depend on how well you accomplish  your individual responsibilities. The member tasks are as follows: 
    A. General Contractor:  Your responsibility will be to design the structure, choose the materials, and assemble them. 
    B. Electrician:  This individual  will be in charge of wiring the circuits in the house and making sure that they work.
    C. Interior decorator:  This person will be in charge of making the interior of the house attractive, choosing wall colors, wallpaper, drapes, fixtures, etc.

Step 2:  Learn about different type of circuits. 
    Each group member will use resources below to learn about the different types of circuits.

Step 3:  Construct the house. 
    Together group members will construct, decorate, and wire the house according to the following guidelines:


- The house dimensions are approximately: 24" by 36" horizontally  or vertically.  Foam board or cardboard are both excellent materials for building the house.

- Each house will be wired with 5 different circuits as follows: 

- The dining room area  must have a chandelier with at least two lights in a 
  SERIES CIRCUIT with a switch. 

- The living room must have one PARALLEL CIRCUIT consisting of a switch and at 
  least two lights. 

- The kitchen must have one COMBINATION CIRCUIT consisting of two 
  switches and at least three lights. 

- The front door must have a doorbell (buzzer) and a switch. 

- The bedroom must have a ceiling fan with a motor and switch. 

General Resources:

Circuit Introduction : The different parts needed to form a circuit.
What is a circuit? : Click on it to get the current flowing.  Add or remove bulbs.
What is a parallel circuit? :  This allows you to add or remove bulbs.
What is a series circuit? : Use this interactive site to learn how series circuits work.
.

Resources for the Contractor
Cardboard House:  Using cardboard to build a model house.
Materials:  A list of materials to use for your project. 

Resources for the Electrician
What is a switch? : Pictures of different types of switches.
Switches :  Look at pictures to get ideas for making a switch
The blobz guide to electric circuits : Take the quiz at this interactive site.

Series and Parallel Circuits : Explanation of circuits and the equations of voltage and current. 
DC Circuits Tutorial : Detailed tutorials that include schematic diagrams, Ohm's Law and circuits. 
Lessons on Electricity : Information about resistors, series, parallel and combination circuits 
DC Circuit Resource Lesson : Information and examples about DC Circuits. 
DC Circuits Lecture : Includes theory and problems on various types of circuits.

Resources for the Designer
Minature Marvels : Scroll down on this page to see pictures of model houses.
Making dollhouse items: Using household items to build fixtures for your house.

Evaluation

Evaluation. 
   The score of your project consists of 100 points divided into three parts: 

I. Group Project = 60 points 

Meeting minimum construction requirements: 
Neat house assembly, four rooms, and a porch =   15 pts 
Successfully meeting series circuit minimum requirements =   10 pts 
Successfully meeting parallel circuit minimum requirements =          10 pts 
Successfully meeting complex circuit minimum requirements =       10 pts 
Successfully meeting doorbell requirement =          5 pts 
Successfully incorporating the motor =       10 pts 

II. Individual Project = 20 points  

- Drawing and schematic of every circuit combination =      10 pts 
- Calculations and measurements of voltage and current =        10 pts 

Bonus for creativity and/or ingenuity = 10 pts 

III. Electric House WebProject  = 20 points 

You will design and publish a webpage. This page should contain a description of your project and a picture 
of your house. Team members appearance in the picture is optional.  Members should reflect on the process of creating the house, describing problems that were encountered and conflicts that arose. Each website should have at least three links to related resources.  No unrelated links are allowed i.e. commercial sites, music, personal favorites etc. 
No webpage may include materials that were created by another person without written permission to quote such materials by the creator of such material; this includes text, images, and data published on the Internet and copyrighted. 
  
- House page with procedure, pictures and suggestions      = 20 pts 

Conclusion

Conclusion: 
  Present your model to the class and demonstrate that each circuit works. Tell what parts of the project you are especially pround of and what you would do differently if you had to do this again.

 

Teacher Page