Metal comes from electricity??

Thursday (01/04/2010)

a) Brainstorming
We already know that pencil lead is extracted from graphite, a type of mineral from the Earth. The kids know that graphite comes from the stomach. But what else can it be made into?

b) Recalling
* From yesterday's video clip, we learnt that some huge graphite could be recycled but by using hot temperature. Graphite can be found in brakes to make them smooth, in television, machines, bicycle wheels and in a lot of electrical items. It can also be found in a bulb.
* The reason for Edison's success at improvingthe bulb was because he experimented more than 10,000 different items for the "filament". Kids: "Wow"!
* I showed them the big "bulb" and they took a look at them.

c) How did people see without light?
* Qian Joe said, the people of the past used lanterns. Yun Xin said they used lanterns. Torchlight was not correct as it was not invented yet.
Teacher: What can you do with lights?
Class: We can wee. We can read at night. We can do homework.
Teacher: Where did the light come from?
Foo Soon: It came from the electrical cabels outside.
Everyone ran to the window and pointed at the cabels.
Teacher: What can you do with electricity?
Class: watch TV, play computer games, cook, use the hot shower, switch on the air-cond and etc.
Teacher: Where then do we get the electricity?
Qian Joe: Metal comes from electricity?
Teacher: ....Ahhh? Show me the metal items in the classroom.
* Immediately, they ran and touched the matress shelves made from metal.
Teacher: Do you feel anything?
Class: Nothing!
Wee Hong: What about the table legs?
They ran there. Nothing.
Zheng Yuan: What about the hot shower machine?
Shi Jie: What about the socket and wire linking the radio and fan?
* They went there but nothing!
Teacher: So, does metal come from electricity?
Jing Kai: Teacher, this is because the electrical wires are protected by the plastic cover. So, you can't feel anything.
* Tomorrow we shall continue the class with an experiment.