In this activity, students will create a timeline that demonstrates their understanding of how ideas about electricity have changed. This is a great way to look at how the scientific method works in the real world. You can highlight how science needs scientists to collaboratively work together to share findings to further human understanding as well as how scientific discoveries can directly benefit the human race and lead to important inventions. Students should aim to select at least six of these contributors to include in their timeline.
For an alternative to the timeline layout, have students create a timeline poster to incorporate into a presentation or gallery walk. You can add more than one template to this assignment to give students lots of options and adjust the instructions accordingly.
Extended Activity
Have students do more in depth research into one of the scientists of their choosing and create a biography poster that details their life and their important contributions to science. Students can present their work to the class in a regular presentation format, or they can be hung in the room for a gallery walk!
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a timeline that demonstrates your understanding of how and why ideas of electricity have changed over time
Transform your classroom into an interactive museum by displaying student timeline projects around the room. Invite students to walk around, observe each other's work, and leave positive feedback on sticky notes. This approach encourages peer learning, builds presentation skills, and celebrates everyone's effort!
Before beginning, explain the purpose and behavior expectations for the gallery walk. Let students know how to give respectful, specific feedback and how long to spend at each display.
Provide sticky notes, feedback forms, or digital comment tools so students can easily leave thoughtful comments at each station. This helps students practice constructive criticism while boosting confidence among presenters.
Organize students into small groups and assign them a starting display. After a set time, signal when to rotate. This ensures every timeline gets attention and the walk flows smoothly.
Gather the class and invite students to share what inspired them or something new they learned from their peers' timelines. This reinforces key concepts and fosters a sense of community.
Key milestones in the history of electricity include discoveries by Thales of Miletus, Benjamin Franklin's experiments with lightning, Alessandro Volta's invention of the battery, and Thomas Edison's development of the light bulb. These breakthroughs helped shape our understanding and use of electricity today.
Students can create a timeline by selecting six significant people or events, adding titles and years, illustrating each moment, and writing brief descriptions. This can be done digitally or as a poster for presentations or gallery walks.
Important scientists in electricity include William Gilbert, Benjamin Franklin, Alessandro Volta, Michael Faraday, Nikola Tesla, and Thomas Edison. Each made vital discoveries or inventions that advanced electrical science.
A timeline activity helps students visualize how scientific ideas evolved, understand the collaborative nature of science, and see how discoveries lead to real-world inventions that benefit society.
Alternatives include making a timeline poster for a gallery walk, creating biography posters of scientists, or using multiple templates to give students options for presenting their research.