Lesson Plan: Creating Your Own Light Bulbs
Grade: 3
Subject: Creative Arts & Science
Duration: 90 minutes
Topic: Light Bulbs
Objective: Students will learn about the components of light bulbs and create their own artistic representations of light bulbs using various materials while exploring the science behind light.
Materials Needed:
- Clear plastic cups (to represent the glass bulb)
- LED tea light candles or small battery-operated lights (for safety)
- Colored construction paper
- Tissue paper (various colors)
- Scissors
- Glue sticks
- Markers and crayons
- String or yarn
- Decorative materials (stickers, glitter, washi tape, etc.)
- LED light bulb fact sheets (for reference during discussion)
Lesson Steps:
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Introduction (15 minutes)
- Begin with a brief discussion about light bulbs. Ask students questions like:
- What are light bulbs?
- How do they work?
- Why are they important?
- Introduce different types of light bulbs (e.g., incandescent, LED) and show examples if possible.
- Hand out LED light bulb fact sheets to give students information about how light bulbs illuminate spaces.
- Begin with a brief discussion about light bulbs. Ask students questions like:
-
Exploring Components (15 minutes)
- Explain the basic components of a light bulb—filament (or LED), glass bulb, and base—and discuss the purpose of each component. Use visuals where possible.
- Gather students together for a demonstration of how LED lights work. Show them how to safely operate the LED tea light candles.
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Creative Brainstorming (10 minutes)
- Encourage students to brainstorm ideas for their personalized light bulbs. They can think about colors, designs, and any special features they want to add.
- Provide a quick sketching opportunity on a piece of scrap paper for students to plan their designs before starting.
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Arts and Crafts Activity (40 minutes)
- Distribute materials to students and instruct them to create their unique light bulb using plastic cups as the bulb.
- Instruct them to decorate the outside of the cup with paper, markers, and other materials, while also considering how to attach their LED lights.
- Students can use colored tissue paper to mimic the glowing effect of different colored bulbs.
- Assist students in inserting their LED lights into the cup after decorating.
- They can use string/yarn to create a 'hanging' effect if they wish, or use flat surfaces as a display.
- Distribute materials to students and instruct them to create their unique light bulb using plastic cups as the bulb.
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Show and Tell (10 minutes)
- Once the light bulbs are complete, invite students to share their creations with the class. Each student should briefly explain their design choices and what they learned about light bulbs.
- Allow time for questions and encourage peer feedback.
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Conclusion (5 minutes)
- Wrap up the lesson by summarizing the key concepts learned about light bulbs and their importance in everyday life.
- Promote the idea of creativity in science and how art can help express scientific principles.
Assessment:
- Assess student participation during discussions and group activities.
- Evaluate students’ completed light bulb projects for creativity, effort, and understanding of the components of a light bulb.
Extensions:
- For advanced learners, introduce the concept of energy efficiency by discussing different types of light bulbs and ask them to create a poster comparing them.
- Introduce a STEM component by challenging students to research how light production has evolved over time and present their findings in the next class.
This interactive lesson plan blends art with scientific inquiry, making the topic of light bulbs exciting and engaging for third graders.