#3349. Click, Clack, Moo: Electric Blanket Science

Science, level: Elementary
Posted Mon Jan 31 09:15:29 PST 2005 by Michelle Anthony (michelleanthony6@yahoo.com).
Education Student at Texas A&M University in Commerce, TX, Paris, TX
Activity Time: 30 minutes

Click, Clack, Moo
Cows That Type
By Doreen Cronin

2nd grade Electric Blanket Science Activity

Objective: To compare and show differences/similarities in a regular blanket vs. an electric blanket and have kids determine why the cows and hens requested the electric blankets in the story.

Applicable 2nd grade TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills Requirements):
(2) Scientific processes. The student develops abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry in the field and the classroom. The student is expected to:
(A) Ask questions about organisms, objects, and events
(B) plan and conduct simple descriptive investigations;
(C) Compare results of investigations with what students and scientists know about the world
(D) Gather information using simple equipment and tools to extend the senses;
(E) Construct reasonable explanations and draw conclusions using information and prior knowledge; and
(F) Communicate explanations about investigations.

(3) Scientific processes. The student knows that information and critical thinking are used in making decisions. The student is expected to:
(A) Make decisions using information
(B) Discuss and justify the merits of decisions; and
(C) Explain a problem in his/her own words and identify a task and solution related to the problem.
(7) Science concepts. The student knows that many types of change occur. The student is expected to:
(A) Observe, measure, record, analyze, predict, and illustrate changes in size, mass, temperature, color, position, quantity, sound, and movement;
(B) Identify, predict, and test uses of heat to cause change such as melting and evaporation

Strategy and procedure: Read the story and have children offer their predictions as to why they think the cows and hens requested an electric blanket, rather than a regular blanket. Then plug in an electric blanket and have children observe how the temperature change warms the blanket. Let students feel the warmth of a regular blanket and compare it to the warmth generated by the electric blanket. Discuss the difference and review their predictions.

Materials: regular blanket, electric blanket, "Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type" by Doreen Cronin

Focus: Through observations and investigations, students will recognize that using electricity can create a change. They will analyze the results and determine why electrical heat would keep them warmer than using a regular blanket.

Closure: Review the cause and effect relationship that took place when the electric blanket was plugged in, turned on, and heated. Reiterate the change in temperature and why the cows and hens requested these blankets. Discuss the students preferences, graph results on the board, disucss their choices and why they prefer one type of blanket over the other.