Battery Basics Curriculum Modules

Battery Basics is five short, carefully sequenced videos with coursework.  Upon completion, your students will understand battery design, function, chemistry, and vocabulary for all modern battery technologies.

These lessons were developed through a partnership between the National Science Foundation CREATE National Energy Center and the Wisconsin Public Service SolarWise for Schools Program.

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Battery Basics

Lithium Basics Battery Connections

Lithium is currently used in many modern battery technology products.  This short video and lesson reviews and demonstrates important physical and chemical properties of Lithium.

Lesson One – Lithium Basics (YouTube)

Student Response Guide (Microsoft Word)

Instructor Answer Key (Microsoft Word)

Introducing the battery - REDOX Reaction

This short, but vital video and lesson provides a platform for understanding all battery technologies.  Critical processes, concepts, and vocabulary are taught.

Lesson Two – Introducing the Battery (YouTube)

Student Response Guide (Microsoft Word)

Instructor Answer Key ( Microsoft Word)

The Pickle Battery - Pickle with chargers.

It’s a battery anyone can make.  Quickly and easily learn the foundational chemistry for any battery technology from the pickle.

Lesson Three – The Pickle Battery (YouTube)

Student Response Guide (Microsoft Word)

Instructor Answer Key (Microsoft Word)

The Primary Battery - Lots of small batteries.

Move one step closer to understanding how rechargeable batteries work.  Here you’ll thoroughly review the major concepts, chemistry, and geography of a primary (non-rechargeable) battery.

Lesson Four – The Primary Battery (YouTube)

Student Response Guide (Microsoft Word)

Instructor Answer Key (Microsoft Word)

See and learn how secondary (rechargeable) batteries work.  Use what you learned earlier in this course along with this clever animation to graduate from Battery Basics.

Lesson Five -The Secondary Battery (YouTube)

Student Response Guide (Microsoft Word)

Instructor Answer Key (Microsoft Word)

Battery BAsics Supplemental Materials - Electric Batteries

From pickle batteries to rechargeables, Battery Basics gives students a useful understanding of battery vocabulary, chemistry, electricity, design, and function. – Here you will find the supplemental materials for all lessons. 

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