Mains Electricity

• electricity from the power station is transferred in a circuit to our homes and back to the power station.
• a power station needs a source of energy.
• the source of energy in a power station can be a fuel such as coal.

• Greet the learners.
• Ask learners the following questions :
  • Which appliances in their homes use electricity [Possible answers: kettle; stove; television; iron; fan; etc.].
  • how do they feel when their area has load shedding.
  • if they have seen a power station.
  • whether they know the function of a power station.
  • if there is a substation in their area.

• Give the learners an opportunity to express their own opinion about illegal electricity connections.
• Show Presentation 2.
• Emphasise the importance of electricity.
• Remind learners to pay attention because they will receive a worksheet that is based on the PowerPoint presentation.
• Hand out Worksheet A for the learners to complete
• Ask the learners how electricity comes from its sources to the light bulbs in their homes and at school.
• Mention load shedding, sitting in darkness, not being able to study, etc.
• Show Video Clip 1 (5:15 minutes). 

Following electricity from its sources to your light bulb in your house and explaining different fuels, thermal power generation, transmission and the grid.

• Instruct the learners to write one word down to complete the following sentence: Electricity is made from ……………………..
• They must fold the paper in four and give it to the person who sits next to them.
• Tell the learners that you will show them a video.
• They must keep the folded piece of paper and only open it at the end of the video.
• Show Video Clip 2 (1:54 minutes).

The video shows the process of manufacturing electricity from coal.

• The learners open their friend’s piece of paper [they are surely very inquisitive to see what their classmate had written down].
• A discussion can follow.