Module 1: Power up

We rely on electricity for just about everything. It keeps our fridges humming and our toasters toasting. Scientists predict we’ll use electricity more in the future, which means we’ll need to make even more of it to keep the lights on.

STEM superstars to the rescue

From towering turbines, to solar panels soaking up the rays of te rā (the sun), innovators across the world are reimagining how to generate more electricity in ways that are friendlier for the planet.

Let’s check in with STEM superstar Gene to hear more.

Now it’s time for you to harness the power of electricity and engineer your own solution to our challenge pātai (question):

I wonder how to power a brighter future?

Meet your support crew

First thing’s first – it takes a whole tīma (team) to unlock the potential of power! Your Wonder Project ambassador and kaiako (teacher) are here to help you as you move through each module of the Power Challenge.

Say kia ora to your ambassador and listen to their incredible STEM story.

Unpack your power kit

The Wonder Project has hooked you up with the tools you need to charge through this challenge.

Unpack your power kit as a class. What do you think the different bits are for?

You'll also need to collect a few things as a class for your journey:

• A fan – a 40cm desk fan will work best
• A desk lamp or strong torch
• And recyclable materials for your turbine blades.

Smile for the camera

At the end of the Power Challenge, your kura (school) will have the chance to make and share a short video or poster of your challenge experience to be in to win a super sweet prize!

Make sure you’re documenting your Power Challenge journey with heaps of videos and photos and start thinking about the story you want to tell.

Energy makes things happen. It makes machines work and living things grow. People use energy to talk, run and think. In fact, every time we do anything, we use energy!

Energy is defined as the ability to do work.

Can you think of some things you do that use a lot of energy?

Energy forms

Energy comes in many different forms. We can group these forms into two main categories:

• Potential energy – energy that is stored, waiting to make things happen
• Kinetic energy – working energy that something has because of its motion

Think of a rollercoaster…

Let’s check in with Gene to discover more:

Energy transformation and transfer

Now we know that energy can't be created or destroyed, but it can be transformed and transferred.

• Energy transformation – when energy changes form to do work
• Energy transfer – when energy moves from one place to another, or from one object to another

It’s time for you test some transformations for yourself.

At the flick of a switch, we use electrical energy to turn on the lights, charge our phones, heat our whare (houses) and keep our kai (food) cold in the fridge.

Electrical energy can easily transform into many other forms, and be safely and efficiently moved all over Aotearoa. That’s part of the reason why it’s one of our most used forms of energy!

See for yourself by creating a basic electrical circuit.

Electrical paper circuit

An electrical circuit is simply a path for electricity to move from one location to another. Every electrical circuit is made up of three basic things:

Mīharo. Today you:

• Met your ambassador
• Unpacked your power pack
• Learned about all things energy
• Discovered and tested energy transformations
• Shone a light on electricity
• Created a simple paper circuit