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Grounded in Safety: The Science of Energy and Downed Power Lines

Color illustration of a boy in a red shirt and blue ball cap with a blue backpack saying, "STAY BACK!". to the left of a girl in a pink shirt, brown pony tail and blue shorts standing on the left saying, "IT COULD BE LIVE!" On the right are a blonde boy with orange shirt, brown shorts, and green backpack saying "CALL 911!" To his right is a girl in a purple ball cap with a black pony tail, yellow shirt and purple shorts and backpack saying "DON'T GO NEAR IT!" In the middle and background is a yellow dashed line that says 30 FEET BACK! in front of a broken power pole base with fire around it. At the bottom in a black bar is yellow text underlined in red that reads "STAY BACK 30 FEET - CALL 911!"
Phenomena: Downed Powerlines Start Fire

Watch: A short video or news clip of downed power lines in Portland after a storm. Video Link Phenomena

Discuss: After a winter ice storm or wind event in Portland, power lines sometimes fall to the ground or onto trees — even after the storm passes, those lines can still carry dangerous electrical energy. Why do these lines remain energized, and how does electricity move through the ground or nearby objects?

Learning Goals:

  1. The students will learn to identify a downed power line while understanding the dangers this poses to our community.
  2. They will see the connection between downed power lines and how energy can be transferred from one place to another through sound, light, heat, and electric currents.
  3. They will report on this topic by creating a poster or PSA to raise awareness.
Materials List

Handouts

Classroom Supplies

  • Steve Spangler energy stick

Group Supplies

  • Metal wires with rubber coating
  • AA batteries
  • LED lights
  • Duct or electric tape
  • Aluminum foil
  • Screws
  • Sticks
  • Straws
  • Posterboard or graphic design application and computer

Important Links

Next Generation Science Standards

Next Generation Science Standards

  • 4-PS3-2: Make observations to provide evidence that energy can be transferred from place to place by sound, light, heat, and electric currents.

Time: 60-75 mins or 1 class period

Students will be introduced to the safety concerns with downed power lines, aligned with grade-level standards.

Students will learn to understand the connection between downed power lines and how energy can be transferred from one place to another through sound, light, heat, and electric currents. They will report on this topic by creating a poster or PSA to raise awareness.

 

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