Hello from Redmond. The Education Workshop's
been thinking a lot about electricity
and the vital role it has played in the
changing world of communications. We are excited to present a collection of
hands-on activities that will guide your
students from the invention of the
electrical circuit to the development of
the Telegraph. The lesson plan begins
with an introduction to electrical
circuits. Students build LED signal lamp
and practice sending coded characters
using Samuel Morris's well-known 1844
technique Morse code. Then, working in
groups students record their
observations in a student journal and
reflect upon the impact that electrical
circuits have had on how we communicate
today. Next, students use their completed
circuit to construct a battery-powered
electromagnet to see firsthand the
important scientific relationship
between electricity and magnetism.
Then, they run trials to test the strength of their electromagnet by picking up paper clips.
Bringing all these early scientific concepts together, students
combine their understanding of circuits
and electromagnetism to build a plastic
cup speaker. They then assemble an
analog telegraph to communicate in
Morse code by integrating the circuit
and the speaker and then finally
students add an Arduino Uno to their
Telegraph which then enables them to
send messages in Morse code. These
messages can be encoded and decoded in
real time in a customized Excel workbook
enabling them to experience the original
invention with a modern twist. The
integration and sequence of these
projects supports teaching how
scientific discoveries build upon each
other leading to new innovations. So I
hope you'll check out this amazing
collection of materials, download our
worksheets and try out our activities
and please hack our projects. We'll talk
to you soon.
