Warning Iceberg!
Electronics - Level 2
Overview
This project investigates how humans have explored the Antarctic, builds skills of making simple circuits (with sound buzzer too!) and gives pupils the chance to build an iceberg warning tower.
We have included a range of exploration activities. They have been designed to promote curiosity and give pupils a sophisticated knowledge base with which to create their tinker time project. However, if time is short, please feel free to select the most appropriate activities for your pupils.
Q) Antarctic or the North Pole?
This is a quick all-pupil response activity to introduce Antarctica. It is common for pupils to confuse Antarctica with the North Pole.
Once pupils have voted - share the interesting facts contained in the teacher notes.
Q) Shackleton's expedition 1914-1917: What happened?
subject knowledge video 9.49 mins
Ask pupils to create a date, place, event record of events
How did they find their way?
Watch this 5 minute clip showing an overview of the Shackleton expedition and some of the navigation tools used (opens in new window)
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Using a quality text to promote curiosity
This resource from the National literacy trust demonstrates how to plan a whole school immersion in a quality text to inspire and motivate reading and writing for real purpose and audience. The book chosen is the wonderful Shackleton’s Journey by William Gill, although the same principles could be applied to any text.
Circuits
Here are 3 ways to explore circuits in your classroom.
Use our range of resources to enable pupils to teach themselves and others!
Simple Circuits
Great for quick light up projects
Video tutorial
Simple circuits 2.pdfSimple circuit.pdfImage
simple circuits 1.pdfPlaydough Circuits
A playful way to explore and understand circuits and experiment with switches, lights, short circuits
circuits skill builder.pdfPDF
Video tutorial
What is a short circuit?
Scrappy circuits and switches
Great for the Tinker Time activity
Can you make an iceberg warning system?
In 1915, Shackleton's ship the Endurance sunk and still lies at the bottom of the Weddell Sea around Antarctica. There have been several unsuccessful attempts to find the ship but next year a new expedition will try again...
Can you make an iceberg warning system?
Use your knowledge and skills to develop an iceberg warning system for the Endurance 22 expedition to the Antarctic.
Include an electronic element e.g. light or sound.
Think Where will your warning system will live? Will be on a ship, on an iceberg? What will be the main type of warning? How will it be triggered?
Make a prototype (a quick model, test it and improve it (look at the maker cycle below)
Explain how your warning system works
Iceberg Tinker Time pupil resourcePDF instruction sheet for Pupils
tinker time antarcticaUse the maker cycle google slides to help pupils to produce their best work.
For the 'housing/structure/holder'
Craft materials and recyclables
Cardboard cutters/scissors
Masking tape
(Optional)
Pipe cleaners
String
Elastic bands
Hot glue
Paper clips
For the warning system
Batteries AA
Battery pack 2xAA
LEDs
Wire connectors
(Optional)
Buzzers
Masking tape
Paper and binder clips
Foil
Key Stage 2 (lower): National Curriculum links
Science
Year 4
Living things and their habitats - recognise that environments can change and that this can sometimes pose dangers to living things
Electricity - construct a simple series electrical circuit, identifying and naming its basic parts, including cells, wires, bulbs, switches and buzzers
identify whether or not a lamp will light in a simple series circuit, based on whether or not the lamp is part of a complete loop with a battery
recognise that a switch opens and closes a circuit and associate this with whether or not a lamp lights in a simple series circuit
recognise some common conductors and insulators, and associate metals with being good conductors
Geography
Locational knowledge
Human and physical geography
Geographical skills and fieldwork
History
the lives of significant individuals in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements
a study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066
Design and technology
Design
use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups
generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, prototypes,
Make
select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing], accurately
Technical knowledge
apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures
understand and use electrical systems in their products [for example, series circuits incorporating switches, bulbs, buzzers and motors]
Key Stage 2 (upper): National Curriculum links
Science
Electricity - Pupils should be taught to:
associate the brightness of a lamp or the volume of a buzzer with the number and voltage of cells used in the circuit
compare and give reasons for variations in how components function, including the brightness of bulbs, the loudness of buzzers and the on/off position of switches
Geography
Locational knowledge
Human and physical geography
Geographical skills and fieldwork
History
the lives of significant individuals in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements
a study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066
Design and technology
Design
use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups
generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, prototypes,
Make
select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing], accurately
Technical knowledge
apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures
understand and use electrical systems in their products [for example, series circuits incorporating switches, bulbs, buzzers and motors]
Useful websites and resources
Shackleton's journey is a high quality picture book by William Grill. It would work well as a resource in the Exploration stage.
4 minutes video clip giving an overview of Scott's expedition to the South Pole
Short clip exploring the role of photographers in expeditions
