Electricity and Energy
Overview
TINKER WITH ELECTRIC CIRCUITS
Electricity and Energy is STEM education program is designed to engage students in learning about elrctricity and sustainable use of energy. It uses the context of generating electricity from the wind and the Sun wind to explore electricity and electric circuits. The inquiry-based and hands-on learning program engages and challenges both students and teachers. Career profiles encourage students to understand the use and influence of science.
The Electricity and Energy resource includes class sets of purpose-designed and built equipment as well as curriculum materials available in soft copy.
The resource maps to the Australian Curriculum Science, primarily at Year 6, but can be modified for use in secondary schools and is very useful as a refresher for students using electric circuits.
The STELR Electricity and Energy module was developed from the STELR Renewable Energy module.
STELR Electricity and Energy Curriculum Materials
The activities included in the STELR Electricity and Energy curriculum materials allow students to:
- investigate types of energy;
- learn how energy can be transferred from place to place;
- learn how energy can be transformed from one type to another;
- construct and test simple circuits using batteries, switches and a variety of devices;
- connect lamps in series and parallel;
- investigate whether materials are electrical conductors or insulators;
- explore energy sources such as wind, solar and hydroelectricity
- consider whether energy resources are sustainable.
- find out about careers in the renewable energy industry.
The STELR Electricity and Energy program is designed to be used as a 6-8 week course; however, it can be modified to suit the needs of your students.
STELR Electricity and Energy Books
The STELR Electricity and Energy teacher and student resources are available in soft copy. The student books are designed to be kept by students who write in them as they complete the unit.
They are supplied on the STELR Electricity and Energy USB and can also be downloaded from the links below:
STELR Electricity and Energy Student book – PDF (3.6MB)
STELR Electricity and Energy Teacher book – PDF (2.6MB)
This module is not supported by hard copy books.
Global Warming – Cold Facts, Hot Science
STELR produced a video in 2010 entitled Global Warming – Cold Facts, Hot Science. It is intended to be used as stimulus material for classroom discussion on the effects of Climate Change.
STELR Electricity and Energy USB
A USB is available for purchase ($10). It includes digital copies of the student booklet and teacher guide in both word and pdf formats. A number of PowerPoint presentations and other useful resources are included including the STELR DVD – Global Warming – Cold facts – Hot science.
STELR Electricity and Energy Equipment Kits
The STELR Electricity and Energy Equipment kits include all the equipment required for students to undertake investigations into electricity and electric circuits and the generation of electricity using wind turbines and solar panels.
STELR equipment encourages both guided and open-ended research. It has been designed and developed in Australia specifically for STELR and is robust, simple and easy to use.
How to purchase STELR resources
To purchase a class set of STELR equipment and curriculum resources, download and complete order form below and send it, along with a school purchase order, to STELR.admin@atse.org.au
Individual Electricity and Energy student and teacher kits can also be purchased using the form.
STELR Electricity and Energy Equipment Pack
To purchase a class set of STELR equipment and curriculum resources, complete the order form and send it, along with a school purchase order, to STELR.admin@atse.org.au
Spare Parts
Spare parts, including additional measuring devices can be purchased from us. Please contact us if you need any spare parts or support at:
STELR.Admin@stelr.or.au
When ordering extra equipment items please quote the part number listed here.
How to use STELR Electricity and Energy Equipment
STELR Renewable Energy test rig
Watch a video that explains the features of the test rig that is supplied in the STELR Renewable Energy student kits.
STELR Hand-cranked generator
Setting up the STELR hand-cranked generator
Printable step-by-step instructions on how to set up the hand-cranked generator using the STELR wind turbine and the STELR hand-cranked generator mount which is supplied in the STELR Renewable Energy teacher kit.
Using the hand-cranked generator mount
This video shows how to use the wind turbine with the hand-cranked generator mount.
STELR Ranging Multimeter
The STELR Ranging multimeter replaced the older STELR Multimeter during 2018.
- Contact stelr.admin@atse.org.au for an instructional powerpoint to be sent to you
Instructions sheets for the STELR measuring devices
PDFs of the instruction sheets that accompany some of the STELR devices can be downloaded here:
STELR Lamp
Replacing the halogen light globe in the STELR lamp
Step-by-step instructions on how to replace the light globe in the STELR lamp.
STELR Solar panel
How to use the Solar Cells
This video shows you how to use the STELR Solar cell panel and the lamps to generate electricity.
Connecting the solar cells in series and parallel
You can watch a video showing how to connect the solar cells in series.
Measuring power from the solar panel
This video shows how to measure the power from a solar panel connected in series.
STELR Wind turbine and hub
Setting up the wind turbine to generate electricity
Watch a video that shows how to set up the wind turbine to generate electricity and light a lamp in the STELR test rig
Measuring blade angle for the STELR wind turbine
Step by step instructions on how to measure blade angle using either the marks on the wind turbine hub or the downloadable STELR protractor.
You can also see a video showing how to measure the blade angle.
Measuring the power output from the STELR wind turbine
This video shows you how to use two multimeters, one as an ammeter and one as a voltmeter, to measure the power produces by the wind turbine
STELR Pelton wheel
How to use the Pelton wheel
A video showing how to use the STELR Pelton wheel to demonstrate hydro-electricity.
STELR Energy toys
How to make a ‘cotton reel car’
A video showing how to use a rubber band and the cotton reels supplied in the STELR Renewable Energy equipment kit to demonstrate energy transformations.
How to make a ‘flik flak’
A video showing how to make a jumping ‘flik flak’ using a plastic card and a rubber band.
How to use the ‘jumping cups’
A video showing how to demonstrate energy transfers and transformations using the jumping cups supplied in the STELR Renewable Energy and Electricity and Energy equipment kits.