• 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.

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.

This resource addresses the listed standards. To fully meet standards, search for more related resources.