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The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Wikiup-Lighthouse Project

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Wikiup- Lighthouse Project

A 11th grade STEM lesson

Author:

Jeniffer Guevarra- Madrid

Date:

December 21, 2023

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Notes for teachers

List of Materials:

  • Prerequisite knowledge: Ohm’s Law, Series and Parallel Circuits.
  • Context: This lesson can be completed in 3 hour period class (3days)
  • Groupings: Students can work in small groups of 2-3.
  • Targeted Output: Building design (circuit diagram) must be approved before identifying the materials and building the Wikiup.
  • Expectations: Wikiup with working circuits
  • Constraints. Use the Order form for students to decide materials when building their wikiup.
  • Click here for Part 1

Wikiup:

  • 6 light bulbs
  • 1 meter electrical tape
  • 3 paper clips
  • 10 fasteners
  • 24 inches of electrical tape
  • 1 paint
  • 1 paint brush
  • 1 color brush
  • 1 color paper
  • 10 glue sticks
  • tape

Tools

  • Glue gun
  • Wire Cutters & gloves
  • ruler
  • 9-V battery
  • Scissors

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Science Standards:

Plus HS+Phy.P4U1.8

USE mathematics and computational thinking to EXPLAIN the relationships between power, current, voltage, and resistance.

MS-ETS1-1

DEFINE the criteria and constraints of a design problem with sufficient precision to ensure a successful solution, taking into account relevant scientific principles and potential impacts on people and the natural environment that may limit possible solutions.

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Objective:

I will DESIGN and BUILD a functional model of my "WIKIUP dream house” with 2 bulbs in series, 3 bulbs in parallel, and 1 standalone bulb powered by a 9V battery.

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Agenda (60 minutes)

  • Revisit the Phet Building Plan (Circuit Diagram)
  • Identify the project constraints and order materials using limited funds
  • Part II. Wikiup Building and Building Inspection
  • Part II Wikiup Design and Design Evaluation

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Intro/Driving Question/Opening

What is a Wikiup?

What can disrupt the flow of electrons in a circuit?

What is the difference between light bulbs connected in series and parallel?

How are Currents affected by the increase/decrease of Voltage and Resistance?

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Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) to learn about Wikiup

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Part I. Building Plan (Circuit Diagram) using Phet simulations

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

Part II, In group of 2-3, students will build their wikiup with:

  • Series and Parallel circuits working independently
  • There is a switch in each room
  • One room has 2 lights wired correctly
  • One room has 3 lights in parallel wired correctly
  • One outside light works independently and is wired correctly.
  • The house is at least 4” x 6 “ x 1” (close to the size of a shoebox)

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

Part III, In group of 2-3, students will use their creativity to design their wikiup:

  • Rooms must be decorated with furniture
  • Use native plants like Yucca (Igaye), Mesquite tree (Iyah), Willow tree (K’ailtsoge), Beargrass (Bį’), and other plants that are used to build wikiups.

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Assessment

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Assessment

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Differentiation

Tier 2 and 3

  • Modify the number of rooms, instead of 3, Tier 2 students can create a circuit diagram of 2 rooms. While Tier 3 students can modify the # of rooms as well as the number of lightbulbs.

Remediation/Intervention

Extension/Enrichment

Tier 1

  • Help in troubleshooting and assisting Tier 2 and 3 students with their series and parallel connections.
  • Use a multimeter to measure the voltage and current of their circuit and compare it with the Phet simulations reading.
  • Discuss the relationships between the amount of current and voltage in the series and parallel connections.