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How Might We Design A Battery That Reduces E-Waste

A lemon cut in half with the red probe from a multimeter in one half and the black probe of a multimeter in the other half.
Phenomena: The Story of Electronics

Students will start their exploration of e-waste with “The Story of Electronics”. They will build on this experience with the creation of a circuit and reading about e-waste.

Learning Goals:

  1. Students will learn about the phenomenon of e-waste through online resources to explore the history of electronics.
  2. Students will ask questions and define problems involving the environmental impact of electronics and human impact.
  3. Students will evaluate and obtain information about electronic waste from online resources such as news articles and videos.
  4. Students will learn (or review) knowledge of circuits to design a model and explain how a circuit works.
Materials List

Handouts

  • See-Think-Wonder charts
  • Student Science Journals
  • Chart paper for class summary chart
  • Optional: Printouts of news articles

Classroom Supplies

  • Scissors
  • Transparent tape
  • Safety goggles

Group Supplies

  • 4-5 button batteries, 3V CR2032
  • 2 Alligator clip test leads
  • 3 inch by 5 inch index card
  • 1 LED per student

Important Links

Lesson 1 of 3 / Time: Four 40 min periods

During this introductory lesson in this series, students will explore the guiding phenomenon to understand e-waste and connect it to battery design. Students will utilize online resources to learn about problems from e-waste around the world and the environmental impact of electronic consumption. The focus will be for students to ask questions, define problems and communicate information about e-waste. Students will read articles and define problems about the planet and human impact and review circuits to prepare for further exploration into electronics and battery design for the next lesson portion.

Understanding E-Waste Through Battery Design

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