National Battery Day is recognized annually on February 18 – yes, it’s really a thing – which made us consider what science, tips, and activities we could share with you.
We use batteries every day, and don’t usually think much about them unless our remote, car, or phone goes dead. It’s truly amazing how many things we use that rely on batteries – your lawnmower, clock, wireless devices, smoke detectors, surge protectors, holiday decorations, toys, and on and on. There might be as many objects that use batteries as there are topics to cover about batteries. So, here are a few resources to help you narrow it down to the basics for your learners.
Sometimes it’s helpful to start with history, and this TED-Ed video uses a unique approach to explore the origins of the electric vocabulary we use to talk about energy.
Of course, not all batteries are created equal. They can have different chemistry, voltage, and uses. So you can use this video to help learners understand just how batteries work.
The evolution of batteries is still happening. Who knows where we’ll be in another 50 years? For some insight into where we’re headed, check out this list of research projects related to energy. This video also shares a direction we’re headed.
There are a wide variety of battery-related activities available for all grade levels. Most take some planning to make sure you have the supplies you need. But, there are a few you can try with items you might already have wherever your teaching is happening. Try these out:
Get some tips about rechargeable batteries from our “Avoid early battery death with maintenance” blog post.
And remember, batteries aren’t the only things that can need recharging! You and your students might need to take a little break to build up some energy before tackling a new project.