Science Activity

Poem on the History of Electricity &

By Ann Kabat

Curriculum Fit

Grade 9 Science

Unit Four Using Electricity

Objectives

- Students will express creative approach to learning about science history

- Students will appreciate historical accounts on electricity discoveries

Description

Write a poem on historical account(s) of electricity discoveries.

Students should be allowed to be as creative as they like.

They may choose a specific person / inventor / scientist / event or may choose to encompass sequence of events.

They should be encouraged to write a short (a paragraph) background information about the person / events.

Poem is recited in class.

Advanced Preparation

Students should be given one class and or have four days to research the topic.

* In case they experience difficulties in choosing a topic, you may offer suggestions, or a list of topics.

E.g. List of Inventors/Scientists

Thales of Miletus

Benjamin Franklin

Georg Richmann

Stephen Gray

Luigi Galvani

Alessandro Volta

Poem Sample

Luigi Galvani, Italy 1737-1798, anatomist

While dissecting a dead frog he accidentally made a closed circuit. Yes, he made a cell using a muscle tissue, brass and iron. What a shocker when the frog ‘jumped’- okay maybe it’s leg just twitched-.

Anyway, based on his observations Galvani thought that electricity came from the tissue and as such called it “animal electricity”.

BUT beware…there was another man with a different explanation

Can you imagine their discussion?

There was…..

electrified air in the room at science fair

where Galvani’s and Volta’s brain

spark electric signals all in vain.

By the sea, under an olive tree,

atop Mount Vesuvius, in the heart of Rome and Naples…..

to no abate they led long exciting debate

their charged ideas attracted and repelled

in resolving the mystery of an electric spell.

And so it went…..

animal, or metal ?

they argued who is right and mighty

in discovering the true source of electricity.

Alessandro Volta (please note, it’s not Travolta, the actor), Italy 1745-1827

Opposed Galvani’s idea and proposed that the new source of electricity comes from metals, and he called it “metallic electricity”.

So who was right, and mighty?