Learning Goals:

1. Students will explore methods to produce energy from everyday items such as potatoes, lemons, pennies, and cola.
2. Students will explore battery design and transfer of energy through hands on experiments with household items.
3. Students will measure voltage and experiment methods to increase voltage.
4. Students will extend lessons to test out a variety of other materials such as varieties of fruits, vegetables, and sodas to compare different voltage produced.
5. Students will collect and record data from all their experiments to compare the different voltage produced.
6. Students will display data in charts or graphs to analyze the outcomes of their experiments.

Handouts

• Student Science Journals
• Chart paper for class summary chart
• Potato Battery Handout (in lesson plan)

Classroom Supplies

• Trays/bins for organization
• Cleaning materials (towels & cleaning solution)
• Assortment of batteries (example: old cell phone lithium ion battery, AA, AAA, D-cell, 9 Volt batteries)
• Reusable cups for solutions
• Wire strippers
• Knife to cut fruits and vegetables
• Safety Goggles
• Alligator clip wires

Group Supplies (3-4 students)

• 1 multimeter

Lemon and Potato Battery

• 2 Potatoes (or 1 potato cut in half)
• 2 Lemons (or 1 lemon cut in half)
• 2 Short lengths of copper wire
• 2 Galvanized nails
• 3 Alligator clip wires

Cola Battery

• 1 Can of cola soda
• 2-6 Reusable cups
• 1 Zinc rod/nail
• 1 Copper strip/nail
• 1 Alligator clip wire
• Optional: Other soda types, pH test strips

Penny Battery

• 5 Pieces of flannel, felt, or cardboard cut into 1 inch squares
• 1 gallon of white vinegar
• 1lb Salt
• 1 LED
• 1 Piece of sandpaper (to sand pennies – recommended to do in advance)
• 1 Small strip of aluminum foil

Important Links

• Lesson Plan
• Lemon Battery Instructions
• Potato Battery Instructions