Battery Stack activity components

Energy

A compilation of energy public engagement resources and activities; topics focus on energy sources, transmission, and storage including: electricity, solar photovoltaic panels, batteries, electromagnetic spectrum, and transmission using graphene. Also included are resources for annual events including Static Electricity Day, Nuclear Science Week, Earth Day, and National Chemistry Week

Activities and Programs

Learner demonstrates how an electroscope interacts with static electricity

Exploring the Universe: Static Electricity

In this activity, learners will discover how static electricity works by building a simplified tool that detects invisible forces on Earth and in space.
Person looking at a thick test tube filled with static charged styrofoam beads

Exploring Forces - Static Electricity

In this activity, learners discover that electrostatic forces cause smaller balls to be suspended in a tube while larger ones fall to the bottom.
Facilitator demonstrates a magnetic field with a small model of Earth

Exploring the Solar System: Magnetic Fields

In this activity, learners use magnets and metal items to learn about magnetic fields of the Earth, the Sun, and other objects in the universe.
Young learner experimenting with washers to build a battery

Build a Battery

In this activity, learners learn build their own batteries with metal and felt washers.
Hands holding wires connected to a battery over container of liquid in Exploring Fabrication - Electroplating activity.

Exploring Fabrication - Electroplating

In this activity, learners coat a nickel coin with nanometer-thin layers of copper using the electroplating process.
Family engaged in electric squeeze hadns-on activity

Exploring Properties - Electric Squeeze

In this activity, learners investigate the properties of piezoelectric materials using an ammeter, piezo disk, and piezo buzzer.
Mary Shelly, her monster, and visitors using the battery stack activity

Battery Stack

In this activity, learners investigate how to make a voltaic pile, the first kind of battery.
Faciltator showing physical molecular models

The Electric Squeeze

In this activity, learners explore piezoelectricity by making electric sparks, looking at molecular models, and listening to cheesy music from a greeting card.
A facilitator loads a small plastic tube with fizzing solution that will pop the cap off in front of an audience of learners

Rocket Reactions

In this activity, learners experiment with finding the best mix of "rocket fuel" by making miniature baking soda and vinegar "rockets" that shoot plastic caps into the air.
Participant's hands touching the steel and copper plates, connected to a multimeter

Spark of Life

In this activity, learners create a battery from two kinds of metal and their own body.
Children with surprised faces and adults using the Frankenstein kit Battery Stack activity - adults dressed as Mary Shelley and the Monster

Frankenstein 200 Kit

Hands-on activities and professional development resources that encourage creativity and reflection about responsible innovation, developed in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the publication of Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein.
solar cell wired up to a meter

Dye Sensitized (Raspberry Juice) Solar Cell

In this activity, learners build a dye-sensitized solar cell using nanocrystalline titanium dioxide and raspberry juice.
Field of solar panels

Tiny Solutions to Our Big Energy Problem

In this stage presentation, learners hear a brief overview of energy sources and our current energy crisis and discusses a variety of ways that nanotechnology can improve the situation.
Faciltator showing physical models of carbon and liquids in jars on a cart

Intro to Nano Cart Demo

In this activity, learners explore the basics about nanotechnology by mixing chemicals, turning potatoes black, generating electricity, and seeing invisible light in several demonstrations and experiments.
Children's hands exploring electrical conductivity with wires using cloth printed with graphene ink showing carbon structure model

Exploring Materials - Graphene

In this activity, learners will use tape and graphite to make graphene and test the conductivity of graphite.
Moon Adventure Game players solving a challenge reconnecting the power with various conductive materials

Moon Adventure Game

In this collaborative game, players will work together to solve a series of challenges grounded in real science about living and doing research on the Moon. Living in an outpost on the Moon is dangerous. Survival on the Moon will require teamwork!

Forums

A solar panel on a grey stand.

Energy Challenges, Nanotech Solutions?

In this forum, learners take the role of a governmental funding agency and asks them to consider how nanotechnology should fit into the timeline and scope of future national energy policy.

Related Collections of Resources

Half of the blue marble for Earth Day hero

Earth Day

A compilation of resources for engaging the public in the Earth, Earth Day, and Earth science. Resources can be used for celebrating Earth Day April 22, Earth Week, and Earth Month.
Cumulonimbus cloud over Africa

Climate Change

A compilation of climate change public engagement and professional learning resources for informal science educators.
National chemistry week logo

National Chemistry Week

National Chemistry Week is a community based program of the American Chemical Society (ACS). NISE Network has compiled a set of resources and activities suitable for National Chemistry Week, Chemists Celebrate Earth Week, and chemistry events.
Polarized Light activity with hands holding paper and polarizing tape materials up to the window

Light Activities

A compilation of public engagement activities that explore light visible to our eyes and other wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum.
Learner holds up an atomic structure model of graphene

Carbon

Elemental carbon has many different structural forms including graphite, diamond, carbon nanotubes and buckyballs. The arrangement of atoms at the nanoscale dramatically impacts a material’s macroscale properties and behavior. Hands-on activities explore: observable phenomena such as conductivity of graphite; molecular model-building of different forms; and how new technology may affect society.

Posters

Nanotechnology and society poster - Does nanotechnology belong in toys showing a child holding Benny the bear

Nano & Society Posters

Posters featuring the science and society connections for nanotechnology; accompanied by a facilitator guide.

Graphene - Conducting Electricity

A molecular model of graphene

Nobel Winning Experiment

In this O Wow Moments video, Mr. O re-creates a Nobel Prize winning experiment with graphene.
Children's hands exploring electrical conductivity with wires using cloth printed with graphene ink showing carbon structure model

Exploring Materials - Graphene

In this activity, learners will use tape and graphite to make graphene and test the conductivity of graphite.
Poster illustration a zoomed image from graphene pencil line down to the molecular level

Zoom into a Pencil Line of Graphene with an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) - Illustration

This poster feature zoomed images of a pencil line down to the molecular level.
Faciltator showing physical models of carbon to a visitor at a NanoDays event

Forms of Carbon

In this activity, learners interact with models of four different forms of carbon to explore how the nanoscale arrangement of atoms dramatically impacts a material’s macroscale behavior.

Scientific Image - Graphene models

Vector illustrations of ball-and-stick models of a graphene structure.

Annual Events

More Resources

Working with STEM Experts Guide cover including an image of expert puring a liquid and using a strainer with a girl and her family at a museum public event

Finding STEM Experts