Analyzing Energy Transformation

Pak Sudirman, a science teacher for Class VIII, SMP Negeri 1 Ma'rang, Pangkep tells of his experiences in facilitating contextual science learning.

THIS lesson is designed to motivate students to understand the relevance of energy transformation in their daily life. I developed Basic Competency 5.3. Explaining the correlation between energy and its transformation, laws of force and energy and their application in our daily life. This lesson aims to help students to be able to find different forms of energy and to apply the concept in their daily life. To support the effectiveness and productivity of our lesson, I facilitated the students by using cooperative learning to solve problems.

The lesson went as follow: First, I divided the students into six groups where they had to solve a problem by doing a simple experiment. I prepared 6 different worksheets and each group was given one worksheet.

Maxwell Group: Design a device that can be used in an archipelago-based tourism activity. This group created a Boat. The following materials were provided: batteries, dynamo, wires, switch, plastic glasses, styrofoam, straws, sticky tape and glue.

Joule Group: Design a device that cools you down in a room. This group created a Fan using a battery, dynamo, wires, switch, plastic glasses, styrofoam, straws, sticky tape and glue.

Newton Group: Design a device that lights up your room when you study at night. This group assembled an electrical installation that lights up a bulb. Tools provided: Batteries, wires, light bulb, a piece of bamboo, switch, sticky tape and gift wrap.

Ampere Group: Design a device that you can use to decorate and light an area at the same time. This group made a set of decorative lamps. Tools provided: Batteries, wires, light bulb, plastic glasses, switch, sticky tape and gift wrap, ice cream sticks.

Lorenz Group: Make a device that you can use to go from one island to another in Pangkep. This group created a Boat. They used batteries, dynamo, wires, switch, plastic glasses, styrofoam, straws, sticky tape and glue.

Galileo Group: Design a tool that you can use to make fruit juice quikly. This goup made a simple blender. They used: Battery, dynamo, wires, switch, water bottle, styrofoam, pieces of metal and sticky tape.

Following the experiment students presented their work. At this stage they identified the forms of energy that they were associated with the devices that they made and they also described the energy transformations occurring. I facilitated their discussion on the energy transformation that they found through their experiments. Maxwell group identified three different types of energy and their transformation from chemical energy to electric energy to movement.

Lastly, the students wrote a report of their experiment and the steps to making their devices. At this stage, they not only showed their abilities to present their work, but they also expressed how much they enjoyed the learning processes.