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...
- understand how electricity is conducted through various different materials
- understand the difference between electrical conductors and insulators and use a circuit to test for them
- understand the role of circuitry inside mobile phones.
Success criteria:
Students can...
- identify the materials used in mobile phones, know where they come from, how they are obtained and why they are used
- test materials for conductivity using circuits.
Lesson guides and printables
Lesson details
Curriculum mapping
Australian curriculum content descriptions:
Year 5 & 6 – Design and Technology:
- Investigate how electrical energy can control movement, sound or light in a designed product or system (ACTDEK020)
- Investigate characteristics and properties of a range of materials, systems, components, tools and equipment and evaluate the impact of their use (ACTDEK023)
Year 6 – Science:
- Changes to materials can be reversible or irreversible (ACSSU095)
- Electrical energy can be transferred and transformed in electrical circuits and can be generated from a range of sources (ACSSU097)
Syllabus outcomes: ST3-6PW, ST3-7PW, ST3-13MW, ST3-6PW, ST3-12MW
General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Ethical Understanding.
Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability
Relevant parts of Year 5 & 6 achievement standards:
Year 5 & 6 – Design and Technology:
Students critically examine technologies − materials, systems, components, tools and equipment − that are used regularly in the home and in local, national, regional or global communities, with consideration of society, ethics and social and environmental sustainability factors.
Year 6 – Science:
They learn about transfer and transformations of electricity, and continue to develop an understanding of energy flows through systems.
Unit of work: MobileMuster – Hands-on Mobile Phone Recycling – Years 3-6
Time required:Â 60 mins.
Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate class discussion, support students in circuit building and phone investigation.
Resources required
- Student Worksheets – one copy per student
- A device capable of presenting a video to the class
- At least one light (LED or similar), two alligator clip wires and one battery holder per 4 students in the class. Please note that LED lights have positive and negative charged points and students will need support getting this right. If wires are attached incorrectly, this will result in the LED lights breaking, so you will likely need several spares
- A selection of samples of metals that you have access to such as gold, silver, platinum, palladium, copper, lithium, or tungsten, and some non-metals, such as plastic, fabric, glass, etc. If you are not able to source metals from home, school or your local high school, they can be purchased from a local electronics or science equipment supplier. Here are some examples of the equipment and where to buy it:
Skills
- Collaboration
- Ethical understanding
- Global citizenship
- Problem solving
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!
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