Theme 2: Energy and the Environment

This theme has been developed in conjunction with Dr. Dave Irvine-Halliday, an Electrical Engineer with the University of Calgary. Dr. Irvine-Halliday, along with students from his engineering classes, wants to include Canadian and Nepalese students in his project to study the feasibility of low-cost "picopower" for the citizens of Nepal.

Dr. Irvine-Halliday's Nepal Light Projects will provide the opportunity to study the culture of Nepal and the potential impact of his experiments for the Nepalese people. In relation to the theme of Energy and the Environment, classes will conduct experiments to investigate the production and conversion of electricity into various forms of useful energy. Dr. Irvine-Halliday will be travelling to Basecamp, testing devices developed by his Engineering students and by students in classrooms across Canada.

Activity List
Nepal Light Project Challenge
Each group of grade levels (Divisions I to IV) of students will be offered at least one challenge in phases 1 and 2 regarding electricity, light and the environment. These challenges involve grade-appropriate investigations conducted in conjunction with Dr. Irvine-Halliday's Nepal Light Project.

Light and Electricity activities
Each Nepal Light Project Challenge is met through a series of smaller light and electricity activities. These activities provide students with the knowledge and skills to complete their Challenge. This core of information is built upon and applied throughout each of the five phases. The only exception is for students in Division IV (grades 10 to 12) who will work directly on their challenge through a telecollaborative effort with Dr. Irvine-Halliday and his students at the University of Calgary.

Division I (Kindergarten - grade 3)
Each Nepal Light Project Challenge is met through a series of smaller Light and Electricity activities.

Nepal Light Project Challenge:

1. Make a Compass

Light and Electricity activities:

1. Who needs a compass?
2. Discovering the "Law of Magnets"
3. Why does a compass always point North?

Nepal Light Project Challenge:

1. Design an Environmentally Friendly Battery

Light and Electricity activities:

1. Electricity in Our Daily Lives
2. Find Electrolytes
3. Make your own Voltaic Pile

Nepal Light Project Challenge:

Design a Hand Powered Generator

Light and Electricity activities:

1. Construct a Galvanometer
2. Calibrate the Galvanometer
3. Make a Generator
4. Study Variables Affecting the Generation of Current