Electrifying Minnesota: Teacher Tools

The Bakken Museum has created eight classroom activities to help students learn about the topic of electricity.

Blackout activity

This activity has the students reflect about life without electricity. Blackout Activity (PDF 693 KB) 

Build your own generator

Have your students explore Michael Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction! Build Your Own Generator (PDF 434 KB) 

Electrons!

More science to talk about! Electrons! (PDF 255 KB) 

Energy conservation game

Engage your students in a board game that will help them learn how to make thoughtful choices, use less energy, and have a positive impact on the environment.

• Instructions (PDF 484 KB)
• Gameboard (PDF 186 KB)
• Spinner (PDF 183 KB)

Mystery object activity

Help your students connect to a time when modern electric conveniences were just entering our homes and lives. This activity can include: a matching game like “memory”, a sorting and classification lesson, or a Visual Thinking Skills activity. 

• Instructions (PDF 968 KB)
• Contemporary Images (PDF 3 MB)
• Vintage Images (PDF 3 MB)

Pitch for electricity

Create an ad to promote Green Energy or Conservation. This lesson can be used as a response to the Red Wing Films if your class will be going on a field trip to view the Electrifying Minnesota exhibit. Pitch for Electricity (PDF 1.5 MB)  

Simply Energy Audit

How energy efficient is your classroom? Simply Energy Audit (PDF 146 KB)