Lesson Planet
Search educational resources
  • Sign In Try It Free
  • AI Teacher Tools
    • Discover Resources Search reviewed educational resources by keyword, subject, grade, type, and more
    • Curriculum Manager (My Content) Manage saved and uploaded resources and folders To Access the Curriculum Manager Sign In or Join Now
    • Browse Resource Directory Browse educational resources by subject and topic
    • Curriculum Calendar Explore curriculum resources by date
    • Lesson Planning Articles Timely and inspiring teaching ideas that you can apply in your classroom
    • Our Story
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Testimonials
    • Contact Us
  • Pricing
  • School Access
    • Your school or district can sign up for Lesson Planet — with no cost to teachers
      Learn More
  • Sign In
  • Try It Free

Hi, what do you want to do?

Create a lesson plan
Create a lesson plan
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Generate resources with 80+ AI teacher tools
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Search 200,000 instructional videos
Find a teaching resource
Find a teaching resource
Probes of Prior Knowledge Lesson PlanProbes of Prior Knowledge Lesson Plan
Publisher
Bonneville
Resource Details
Curator Rating
Educator Rating
Not yet Rated
Grade
2nd - 5th
Subjects
Science
4 more...
Resource Type
Lesson Plans
Audience
For Teacher Use
Duration
1 hr
Instructional Strategies
Collaborative Learning
2 more...
Technology
Presentation
Usage Permissions
Fine Print: Educational Use
Lesson Plan

Probes of Prior Knowledge

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet
This Probes of Prior Knowledge lesson plan also includes:
  • Probes of Prior Knowledge (.html)
  • Making Electricity PowerPoint (.pptx)
  • Student Worksheets part 1: Making Electricity (.pdf)
  • Student Worksheets Part 2: What Things Use Electricity? (.pdf)
  • Activity
  • Join to access all included materials

A bright future learning about electricity awaits. Future scientists conduct two probes to investigate electrical energy. The first requires them to think about how electricity is made, while the second has them identify appliances that run on electricity.

11 Views 7 Downloads
CCSS: Designed

Concepts

electricity, energy, generating electricity, appliances

Instructional Ideas

  • See if someone from a power company can give a presentation to the class

Classroom Considerations

  • Second of seven installments in the Understanding Science and Engineering unit
  • Resource indicates that the lesson can be split over two different days if time is an issue

Pros

  • Includes a PowerPoint presentation to use with the class
  • Provides student worksheets for each part of the activity

Cons

  • None

Common Core

RI.2.1 W.2.8 SL.2.2 RI.3.1 W.3.8 SL.3.4 RI.4.1 W.4.8 W.4.9.a RI.5.7 W.5.8 W.5.9.b

See similar resources:

Lesson Plan

Water – Changing States (Part 2)

Center for Learning in Action
Here is part two of a two-part lesson in which scholars investigate the changing states of water—liquid, solid, and gas—and how energy from heat changes its molecules. With grand conversation, two demonstrations, and one hands-on...
2nd - 4th Science
Worksheet

Can You See the Light?

Curated OER
Third and fourth graders use this worksheet to help them draw their own version of a fully functioning circuit. They see the battery, the light bulb, and two wires with clips. They must draw the complete circuit, using these elements, on...
3rd - 4th Science
Worksheet

Circuit Diagrams: Switching Circuits

Curated OER
Use a lab sheet on circuit diagrams in your electricity unit. Fifth graders draw two series circuits with diagrams, based on two examples. A science experiment prompts learners to use 3x5 cards to illustrate the way a series circuit works.
4th - 6th Science
Lesson Plan

Two Button Buzzer Circuit

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Learners explore circuit structure, draw a schematic for it, and construct a two button buzzer model out of wires, a battery, buttons (switches), and a buzzer.
3rd - 8th Science
Interactive

Study Jams! Current Electricity & Electric Circuits

Scholastic
Set to upbeat instrumental background music, eight slides present pictures of electrical wires, batteries, and appliances, Each slide is accompanied by a few sentences that introduce viewers to concepts related to current electricity....
4th - 8th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Lesson Plan

Two-Cell Battery

Curated OER
Students build their own two-cell battery and determine which electrolyte solution is best suited for making a battery. They discuss background information for their experiment, construct and test their battery, and using the chart on...
3rd - 5th Science
Lesson Plan

Conserving Electric Energy

Curated OER
Another fantastic lesson on energy is presented by the American Coal Foundation. This one focuses on electricity; how it is produced, how it is delivered, and how it is used. Some excellent handouts are embedded in this fine plan which...
3rd - 8th Social Studies & History
Interactive

Balloons and Static Electricity

PhET
Like all electricity, static electricity flows at the speed of light, or 186,282 miles/second. The interactive simulation shows how like charges repel like charges and opposites attract. The user can choose either one or two balloons, a...
4th - Higher Ed Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Interactive

Study Jams! The Senses: Hearing

Scholastic
How does this sound? It's a rockin' video starring two teenage girls talking about music, hearing, and the ear. Listeners hear that the ear does not only gather sound waves, but also helps us maintain balance. They also will get an...
3 mins 4th - 9th Science
CCSS: Adaptable
Activity

Teach Engineering: Two Cell Battery

TeachEngineering
In this hands-on activity, students build their own two-cell battery. They also determine which electrolyte solution is best suited for making a battery.
3rd - 5th Science
Try It Free
© 1999-2026 Learning Explorer, Inc.
Teacher Lesson Plans, Worksheets and Resources

Sign up for the Lesson Planet Monthly Newsletter

Open Educational Resources (OER)

  • Health
  • Language Arts
  • Languages
  • Math
  • Physical Education
  • Science
  • Social Studies
  • Special Education
  • Visual and Performing Arts
View All Lesson Plans

Discover Resources

  • Our Review Process
  • How it Works
  • How to Search
  • Create a Collection

Manage Curriculum

  • Edit a Collection
  • Assign to Students
  • Manage My Content
Contact Us Site Map Privacy Policy Terms of Use