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How John Magiro Built a Mini-Hydropower Station for His Neighbors

Provided by: The Kid Should See This |Published on: July 23, 2022

Articles/Websites Grades 6-8, 9-12

Synopsis

This short video and article describe how John Magiro built a hydropower generator for his rural community in Kenya using scrap metal, a magnet, and a car alternator.
Students will learn how John Magiro started by building a small generator and then expanded the generator to provide power to his whole community.

Related Teaching Resources

Subjects: Physics, Engineering

Authors: The Kid Should See This, BBC World Service

Region: Africa

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Positives

This video highlights how one individual can make a difference in their community through innovation and engineering.
This resource is a great way for students to explore the engineering design process. Students will learn that working with different mechanical parts and being curious about how things work can lead to solutions with a serious impact.
There are links in the article to John Magiro's website and additional related resources.

Additional Prerequisites

Students should have a basic understanding of types of energy sources and renewable versus nonrenewable resources.

Differentiation

Consider having students draw out the steps of hydroelectric power generation. Students could research different scales and types of hydroelectric power generation and compare and contrast their drawings.
If students are not familiar with the importance of renewable energy to combat climate change, lead a discussion or investigation to explore its importance.
Other resources on this topic include this resource that provides data on hydropower generation and this video on creating hydropower using existing infrastructure.

Scientist Notes

Teaching Tips

Standards

Resource Type and Format

About the Partner Provider

The Kid Should See This

The Kid Should See This is a Webby award-winning collection of over 7,000 kid-friendly videos, curated for teachers and parents who want to share smarter, more meaningful media in the classroom and at home. Selections are grown-up-friendly, too. And thanks to TKSST members, it’s free and ad-free for everyone. Start conversations, spark questions, and inspire offline exploration for all ages.