"Watt's" the Cost? Project Blueprint

Problem Situation
Your team is asked to create a 21st century tree house for kids. Your team needs to decide what electronic gadgets will be in the tree house. The team must be sure to conserve energy and not spend more than $40.00 a month on electricity.

National Standards Addressed
Science

• Unifying Concepts and Processes
• Science Inquiry
• Physical Science
• Science and Technology

Mathematics

• Number and Operation
• Measurement
• Data Analysis and Probability
• Problem Solving
• Communication

ISTE Educational Technology (NET)

• Basic Operation and Concepts
• Technology Research Tools
• Technology Problem Solving & Decision-Making Tools

Learning Areas

• use of calculators
• understanding place value
• calculating how much electricity is used
• calculating the cost of electricity
• calculating the cost of energy over time
• reading an electric meter
• use of the problem-solving process
• using safe practices around electricity
• origin of electricity
• behavior of an electrical current
• insulators & conductors of electricity
• identifying & building series & parallel circuits

Key Facts in the Problem

• You need to create a 21st century tree house.
• Electronic gadgets are to fill the tree house.
• Items may be selected from a catalog.
• Your team's estimate of monthly electrical consumption will be compared to the electric company's bill.
• The cost of the electricity is $0.07 per kilowatt-hour.

Problem Solver's Role

• Electricity consumer

Criteria of the Problem

• The electronic gadgets selected must cost less than $40.00 a month.
• You will need to determine the daily electricity usage, then the monthly usage.
• Your calculations must come within 5% of the electric company's in order for the tree house to be "lit up."

Criteria of the Problem

• If we use electrical gadgets with fewer watts required, the monthly bill be on target.
• If we use all 19 items, the tree house monthly bill will run over $40.00.
• The less time we use an electronic gadget, the lower the monthly bill will be.

General Notes

• Each group should come up with at least three "outfitted" tree house plans.
• Each team should select the best plan and be prepared to support the selection in a presentation to the class.
• See the 21st Century tree house in action online.
• Complete an action plan and electricity usage chart for each attempt (at least three).

Resources for Learning Issues/Questions

• Research Rack: internet sites, NASA web sites, books, trivia, glossary
• Online Investigation's 5 Research Areas: What is Electricity?, Lightning & Static, All About Circuits, Reading Your Meter, and What Does it Cost?
• NASA SCIence Files™ television broadcast - The Case of the Electrical Mystery
• NASA SCIence Files™ educator's guide for The Case of the Electrical Mystery

Lab/Activity Correlations
Home Activities in Dr. D's Lab

• Homemade Batteries
• Making an Electroscope
• Runaway Cola Can
• Dancing Paper

In-Class Activities

• Circuit Construction & Exploration
• Solar Cooker
• Static Glow
• To There and Back

Worksheets

• Electricity Concept Map
• Parts of an Atom
• Reading an Electric Meter
• Shocking Scientist