Summary

In this lesson, students will learn about the raw materials that are used to create batteries and the locations on Earth where they can be found. Students will also explore battery recycling options and brainstorm ways to reduce battery waste.

Grade Level

Middle School

NGSS Alignment

This lesson will help prepare your students to meet the performance expectations in the following standards:

• MS-PS1-3. Gather and make sense of information to describe that synthetic materials come from natural resources and impact society.
• Scientific and Engineering Practices:
  • Analyzing and Interpreting Data
  • Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
  • Engaging in Argument from Evidence
  • Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

• Explain the role of the anode, cathode, and electrolyte in a battery.
• List the raw materials that are used to make batteries.
• Identify the geographic locations where the components for batteries are found.
• Describe appropriate disposal procedures for batteries.

Chemistry Topics

This lesson supports students’ understanding of:

• Electrochemistry
• Anode
• Cathode
• Energy
• Chemical Reactions

Time

Teacher Preparation: 15 minutes
Lesson: ~ 2 hours

• Part 1: 30 minutes
• Part 2: 30 minutes
• Part 3: 30 minutes
• Part 4: 30 minutes

Materials

• Student worksheet
• Objects that use batteries (cell phone, watch, flashlight, etc.) or different types of batteries
  • If you are unable to obtain items, use pictures as an alternative option.
• Device/Access to online sources (linked throughout the Teacher Notes section)

Safety

• If batteries are used as visual aids, students should be carefully supervised. Batteries should not be punctured or heated.

Teacher Notes

• This activity was created to support the celebration of Chemists Celebrate Earth Week (CCEW), and the 2024 theme, “Batteries: Get a Charge out of Chemistry”.
  
• If access to online sources is limited, the teacher can create a printed packet of information from the online sources for each of the various types of batteries.
  

Classroom management tips

• This lesson was designed to be completed in four 30-minute parts/classes but can be modified, as needed, based on the teacher’s needs.
• The activity portions are designed to be completed by small groups of 3-4 students.
• Teachers can modify the list of battery types. For example, rather than exploring all five types of batteries, the types of batteries researched can be limited or expanded.

Lesson Instructions

Part 1: Battery Basics

• Begin the lesson by asking students to make a list of different types of items that use batteries. To maximize participation, students should be encouraged to make their own list and then work together to make a class list. Students can record their thoughts on the introductory section of the student worksheet.
• Once the class has made the list, ask the students to draw a picture of a battery that might be used in one of the items on the list. Students may draw a variety of different battery types from coin cell batteries to batteries for electric cars.
• Students should share their drawings with their group and the class can have a brief discussion about the shapes and sizes of the batteries that were drawn.
• After students share their battery pictures, ask them to draw a cross-section of what they think the inside of the battery they drew might look like. At this point it is important to tell students that they should never cut into or break a battery because it is very dangerous.
• When the students have had a chance to draw their own cross-section of a battery, show a diagram of the inside of a battery. The Anatomy of a Battery from the American Chemical Society provides a helpful diagram of the inside of a battery.
• Explain to the students that batteries contain a cathode, an anode, and electrolytes, which can be made of a variety of materials. The Anatomy of a Battery webpage can be used to help students understand the primary parts of a battery.
• Ask the students to share their ideas about the materials that might be used to make batteries, both the inside and outside of the battery.
• If Needed, the AACT resources listed below can be used to provide students with a deeper understanding of how batteries use chemical energy to produce electrical energy.
  • Battery Basics
  • How Far Can We Go?
  • Columbia Dry Cell Battery
  • Galvanic/Voltaic Cells
  • Galvanic/Voltaic Cells 2

• Alternate Introductions:
  • Have groups of students complete a matching game where they match a picture of a battery with a picture of a device the battery operates.
  • Bring in devices that contain batteries and have students make guesses about what type of battery the device uses before opening the device to view the battery.

Part 2: Researching Raw Materials

• Begin by asking the students to name the general parts of a battery (anode, cathode, electrolyte, casing) and identify what types of materials those items might be made out of.
• Have the students brainstorm where those materials might be found on earth.
• Explain that the students will be working in groups to learn more about the raw materials that make up different types of batteries: lead-acid, alkaline, nickel-cadmium, zinc-carbon, lithium-ion.
• Place the students into groups of three or four students. Groups can be assigned a specific battery, select a type of battery from the list, or even draw the name of a battery type out of a box.
• Students should work with their groups to complete Part 2 of the student worksheet.
• Each group member will be responsible for completing their own page of the assignment. To facilitate group work, each group member could be tasked with completing one row of the chart and sharing the information with their group.

Part 3: Map Making

• Begin this portion of the lesson by asking students to share one component of their assigned battery with the rest of the class (they can use the data table from Part 2). As the students share, write their responses on the board/record them for everyone to see.
• When the students have finished sharing, have the class look at the list. Ask the students where they think the raw materials listed on the board come from. Once students have shared their initial ideas, explain that the groups will spend time researching the geographic origins for the raw materials.
• Groups should identify at least one geographic location where each battery material can be found.

Part 4: Dead Batteries

• Ask the students what happens to batteries when they no longer work. They may explain that some batteries may be recharged. If so, ask them what happens to batteries that no longer hold their charge.
• Explain that different batteries can be disposed of or recycled in different ways.
• Have the students get back into their groups to read Recycle that Battery and answer the questions on part four of the worksheet.
• If time allows, students can share their flyers with the class.

Answer Key

• An Answer Key document has been provided for teacher reference. It provides answers and possible results for five different types of batteries: lead-acid, alkaline, nickel-cadmium, zinc-carbon, lithium-ion.

Resources about Recycling Batteries

• Students can use Recycling Laws By State from Call 2 Recycle to learn more about the battery recycling rules in their state.
• Battery Recycling Processes from Urbana’s Recycling Program includes information about how different types of batteries are recycled.
• Recycling Batteries from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation provides guidance about types of batteries that can be recycled.
• Earth911 - More Ideas, Less Waste can be used to find battery recycling facilities by zip code.

Resources for Lead Acid Batteries

• What is Lead-Acid Battery? - Working, Construction & Charging with Videos
• Types of Batteries
• BU-201: How does the Lead Acid Battery Work?
• Lead Acid Batteries | All About Batteries

Resources for Alkaline Batteries

• Types of Batteries
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Alkaline Batteries
• Pros and Cons of Alkaline Batteries
• Alkaline | All About Batteries

Resources for Nickel Cadmium Batteries

• Nickel–cadmium battery
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Nickel-cadmium Batteries
• Ni-Cad Batteries (Nickel Cadmium) | All About Batteries
• Nickel Cadmium Batteries

Resources for Carbon Zinc Batteries

• Eveready Carbon Zinc Battery Application from Energizer
• Zinc–carbon battery
• Zinc/carbon batteries
• Sustainability - Zinc Battery Initiative

Resources for Lithium Batteries

• Lithium-ion battery
• Lithium batteries
• Types of Lithium Ion Batteries
• Li-Ion (Lithium-Ion) and LiPoly (Lithium Polymer) | All About Batteries

Resources for Raw Materials

• Lead - Lead - Minerals Education Coalition
• Sulfuric Acid - Sulfuric acid - Wikipedia; Sulfur global production by country 2023 | Statista
• Zinc - Zinc - Minerals Education Coalition
• Manganese - Manganese - Minerals Education Coalition
• Potassium - It's Elemental - The Element Potassium
• Iron - Iron - Minerals Education Coalition
• Graphite - Graphite - Minerals Education Coalition
• Nickel - Nickel - Minerals Education Coalition
• Cadmium - Cadmium - Minerals Education Coalition
• Cobalt - Cobalt - Minerals Education Coalition
• Lithium - Lithium - Minerals Education Coalition

Overview

• Comparison Table of Secondary Batteries
• The 2 Battery Types You Should Know About (Pro vs Cons)