In this activity, students will create a timeline that demonstrates their understanding of how ideas about electricity have changed. This is a great way to look at how the scientific method works in the real world. You can highlight how science needs scientists to collaboratively work together to share findings to further human understanding as well as how scientific discoveries can directly benefit the human race and lead to important inventions. Students should aim to select at least six of these contributors to include in their timeline.
For an alternative to the timeline layout, have students create a timeline poster to incorporate into a presentation or gallery walk. You can add more than one template to this assignment to give students lots of options and adjust the instructions accordingly.
Extended Activity
Have students do more in depth research into one of the scientists of their choosing and create a biography poster that details their life and their important contributions to science. Students can present their work to the class in a regular presentation format, or they can be hung in the room for a gallery walk!
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a timeline that demonstrates your understanding of how and why ideas of electricity have changed over time