Who Knew?

A couple of weeks back I was lesson planning for science class and being disappointed that my Earth and Space Unit was coming to and end. The students were fascinated by the planets, moon, and outer space in general, and I enjoyed teaching it. As I was looking through my science book, I peeked ahead to the next chapter, and read:  Electricity and Magnetism.

Sigh.

I do not find electricity to be an entertaining subject, and I do not enjoy teaching it. To get my students excited about it, I knew I needed to be excited about it. Clearly explaining electricity to 4th graders is another matter entirely. Flowing electrons? Really?

We got a new science curriculum this year, and I was browsing through some of the online activities when I found a rap about electricity. I watched it and deemed it a little ridiculous. Then I watched it again. It grew on me just a little. After one more viewing, I knew I had hit the jackpot. I would pump up the Electricity Rap and sell it to my students.

What happened next was a cause and effect that soon got out of control. We listened to the Electricity Rap no less than four times a day. My students sang it in the hallway. I hummed it as I walked around the classroom. I caught myself singing it in the kitchen. When I asked a question during science class, students would silently go through the song in their head to see if the answer to my question was answered in part of the rap. The best part is that many times the answer would be in the song.

During reading class we have been doing a poetry unit. Earlier this week we were working on a group acrostic poem and we needed a topic to write about. Multiple students suggested we write about electricity. So we created what my students have declared a masterpiece. I quite agree with them. Check it out:

What happened next should be of no surprise. My students wanted to dance to the song. A competition was created. A week was given to practice. And then this happened:

Here is one of the performances:

Who knew electricity could be so cool?