Grid Guide Teacher Plan GRID GUIDE
Lesson Plan: Journey of Electricity
5th Grade Science
Duration
45-50 Minutes
Objective
Diagram electricity from source to end-user.
Materials
Spark Sketch Sheet
Path of Power Template
Markers/Colored Pencils
Instructional Sequence
1
Warm-up: Spark Sketch (5 min)
Hand out the "Spark Sketch" sheet. Ask: "How do you think electricity gets to the toaster?" Students draw their best guess. Do not correct misconceptions yet; this is to activate prior knowledge.
2
Video Viewing & Discussion (15 min)
Watch "Electricity – Sources and Uses". Use the following pause points for discussion:
0:45 (Transmission): Discuss high-tension lines. Ask: "Why are these lines so high up? What are they carrying?"
1:40 (Batteries): Discuss chemical to electrical conversion. Ask: "Is a battery 'making' energy or 'storing' it?"
2:13 (Uses): Have students list 5 objects in the room. Ask: "How did people do these tasks 150 years ago?"
3
Main Activity: The Path of Power (20 min)
Students use the "Path of Power" template to create a 3-scene flow chart or comic:
Scene 1: Generation. Choose Coal, Hydro, or Solar. Label the source.
Scene 2: Transmission. Draw power lines and the electrical grid.
Scene 3: The User. Draw a house or specific device.
4
Closure: Gallery Walk (5 min)
Display diagrams. Discuss: "How does the path change if you have solar panels on your own roof?" (Link to 3:36 in video - the power doesn't have to travel as far!)
Key Vocabulary
Fossil Fuels
Coal, oil, or gas formed from old organisms.
Renewable
Energy from a source that isn't used up.
Sustainable
Able to be maintained without harming Earth.
Chemical Energy
Energy stored in chemical bonds (like batteries).
Power Path Slides Power Path
Journey
How Electricity Travels from Source to You
Warm-up Spark
Use your Spark Sketch sheet to answer:
"How do you think electricity gets to your toaster?"
5 MINUTES
Essential Question
Where does electricity come from, and how does it reach us?
Watch & Learn
Electricity: Sources & Uses
Embedded media
0:45 Grid & Transmission
1:40 Battery Storage
3:15 Energy Conservation
Pause & Reflect: The Grid
Transmission
"Why are power lines often high off the ground on giant metal towers?"
?
Fossil Fuels
"Most electricity starts by burning coal, oil, or gas. What happens to the smoke?"
?
Pause & Reflect: Clean Energy
Making vs. Storing
What is the difference between making energy at a power plant and storing energy in a battery?
Renewable
Clean sources that never run out.
THE PATH OF POWER
1
Generation
Choose Coal, Hydro, or Solar. Draw the source of the energy.
2
Transmission
Draw the wires and grid towers that move the power.
3
The User
Draw a home or device using the electricity.
Don't forget to label your energy transfer!
GALLERY WALK
Take a look at your classmates' diagrams.
Final Question:
"How does the journey change if you have solar panels on your own roof?"
Spark Sketch Warmup Student Name:
Date:
Spark Sketch
Quick Thinking Warm-up
The Big Question
How do you think electricity gets to the toaster?
Draw a quick sketch of the path you imagine the energy takes.
Don't worry about being "right" — just use your imagination!
Path of Power Template The Path of Power
Flow Chart & Diagram Activity
Student:
Date:
Create a diagram of electricity's journey. Choose one source for Scene 1 (Coal, Hydro, or Solar). Label how energy is being transferred in each step!
1
Scene 1:
Generation
Label:
2
Scene 2:
Transmission
Label:
3
Scene 3:
The User
Label:
The Electricity – Sources and Uses Activity
Power Vocab Reference Power Words
Vocabulary & Reference Guide
Fossil Fuels
Natural fuels like coal, oil, and gas that were formed from the remains of living organisms that died millions of years ago.
Renewable
Energy from a source that does not run out when it is used, such as wind, solar, or falling water.
Sustainable
Able to be maintained or continued for a long time without damaging the environment or using up resources.
Chemical Energy
Energy stored in the bonds of chemical compounds. In batteries, this is converted into electrical energy.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Gases (like carbon dioxide) that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere. Burning fossil fuels creates these emissions, which contribute to climate change. Renewable energy sources do not produce these harmful gases.
Safety Rules
Electricity is powerful — treat it with respect!
No water near devices
Check for damaged cords
Only pros fix wiring
