4th Grade Science Lesson Electric Circuits - Jackrabbit McCabe - Morse Code

Learn about electricity and circuits! Integrate STEM and literacy with this 4th-grade STEM activity.

In the story Jackrabbit McCabe and the Electric Telegraph by Lucy Margaret Rozier, the character uses his own energy to carry messages to people in other towns. When the telegraph was introduced, the townspeople saw that there were more effective ways to send messages.

For this 4th-grade STEM challenge, students create a popsicle stick flashlight to learn about potential and kinetic energy. Then, they use their flashlights to send their own message using Morse code.

This STEM Challenge aligns with NGSS Standards for Fourth Grade Earth Science 4-PS3-4 but can be used in 3rd-5th grade.

Material List:

• large popsicle stick
• coin cell battery
• LED light
• conductive cloth fabric adhesive tape (or copper tape)
• transparent tape
• binder clip

Includes:

• Teacher Instructions
• Student STEM Journal
• Student Instructions
• Morse Code Key
• STEM Activity
• Vocabulary Words
• Student Reflection Sheet
• Rubric

Learning Objective

I can design a device that converts energy from one form to another.

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