A few years ago, I had the opportunity to drive my first all electric vehicle. It was a strange experience to sit behind the wheel of a 100% electric car and realize I didn’t have to put gas in it. Instead, the car dealership representative just plugged it in! At the moment, it was mind-blowing. Hence, I knew right then and there, I wanted to go home and tell my son all about it!
Top 5 Virtual Field Trips About Electricity
Once at home, my son asked me all sorts of questions such as “What it was like to drive an electric car?”, “How was it made?”, “Who invented it?” and more. Since my son already had a rudimentary understanding of the subject, I decided to take him on a virtual field trip to dive deeper into the topic. So here are the Top 10 Virtual Field Trips About Electricity that we watched and discussed together!
Energy 101 by Alliant Energy Kids
Take this virtual field trip and learn what happens before you plug in and play or flip the light switch on. Travel hundreds of miles away to the power plant and gas refinery where energy is created. Follow along as energy travels through electric lines and natural gas pipelines all the way to your house. Along the way, you will learn the difference between renewable and non-renewable resources, and why it’s important to use energy wisely.
During this virtual field trip, children learn how and where electricity is made. They see the whole process up close, from the early days of coal mining to today’s electrical grid.
How to Make a Super fast Mini Toy Electric Car using DC Motor
In this cute video children learn how to make their very own electric toy car. Adult supervision is required.
The Magic School Bus – Getting Energized (Energy) Episode
During this episode of The Magic School Bus, it’s school carnival time! But the electrical cord on the class ride – the Double Trouble Wheel of Wonder – has shorted out. The kids need a different source of energy to power the Ferris wheel, and fast. Carlos’s brother, Mikey, has a clever idea: Drop rocks into one set of the double seats. The push of the falling rocks will turn the wheels. Will Mikey’s plan succeed? With trial and error, the class learns to harness nature’s energy. The Wheel of Wonder is ready to roll!
Energy 101: Electricity Generation
In this video an animated correspondent “Little Lee Patrick Sullivan” follows electricity from its source to the light bulb in your home, explaining different fuels, thermal power generation, transmission and the grid. Recommended for children ages 12 years old and up.
Powering the Planet | Nature Works Everywhere
We use energy to power our lives every day—to boot up our computers, fuel our cars, charge our cell phones, flick on a light switch, and in a myriad of other ways. Join scientist Alex Wegmann as we embark on a Virtual Field Trip to explore a compelling question: How can we get the energy we need without harming nature? By harnessing renewable sources of energy, such as sunlight and wind, scientists are finding ways to do just that.
Virtual field trips are an amazing teaching tool for the 21st century. Check out SoCal Field Trips Virtual Field Trips Pinterest Board with over 200+ videos to learn why!
Happy Field Tripping!
Jilleen