learning goals

Be able to draw and build a series and a parallel circuit.
Explain how the two circuits are different.

Build a circuit with two bulbs in parallel.
Build a circuit with two bulbs in series.
Option: bulb plus paper clip in series, bulb plus paper clip in parallel. Latter demonstrates that the current is greater along the easiest path.

Discovery question

How do you light up several bulbs at once?
Cannot resolve external resource into attachment.

Make a circuit that will light several bulbs with a battery.

Engage

Electric current is created when electric charges move along a wire. This electric current is very useful because it can move energy from one place to another and do many valuable tasks.

Think of an example in your house for each of these tasks:

• Electricity produces light.
  ANSWER BOX
• Electricity produces heat.
  ANSWER BOX
• Electricity makes something move.
  ANSWER BOX
• Electricity produces sound.
  ANSWER BOX

Materials

• AA or D size battery
• 2 pieces of wire about 10 cm long
• 2 holiday lights

  note to teacher: You could use a string of holiday lights that has been discarded because one of them burned out. Or you can buy a new set. Prepare each holiday light by stripping the ends of the wires.

Explore

Batteries push electric charges through a circuit. They store electrical energy, and the current carries that energy to such things as lights, heaters, and motors.

Every battery has a positive end and a negative end. At the positive end there are extra positive electric charges, and at the negative end there are extra negative charges. Look at your battery and identify the positive and the negative ends. How do they look different? How can you tell them apart?
ANSWER BOX

To work, electric devices need a circuit, which is a loop that allows the current to flow in a continuous circle.
Here is a picture of a light bulb and a battery. Using the pencil tool, draw where you think you should run wires to make the bulb light up.

DRAWING TOOL WITH BACKGROUND IMAGE: BATTERY AND HOLIDAY LIGHT WITH TWO WIRE CONNECTIONS

Experiment with the holiday bulb, the wires, and the battery to make a circuit that lights up the bulb. If you have trouble, click on the for suggestions.

need thoughtful scaffolding here

Explain

Draw a picture of your circuit.

DRAWING TOOL

scaffolding could include specific instructions of what to draw, ie draw the battery and the bulb. Draw in the wires to show how they are connected.

When your drawing is complete, draw a red line in a loop to show the path of your circuit.

Elaborate

Draw a picture of how you can use your circuit to test whether a material allows electric current to flow.
DRAWING TOOL
Now test several materials and record your results. For example, try a paper clip, a plastic pen, a penny, or a wood pencil.
Materials that allow electricity to flow are called conductors. If they don't allow electricity to flow, they care called insulators.
TABLE
Material Conductor Insulator
line
line
line
line

Evaluate

Explain why electrical devices such as lights and appliances need two wires, not just one.
ANSWER BOX

If you have already done the activity Model of a circuit, answer the questions below.

Compare your model circuit with your real circuit. Are they the same?
ANSWER BOX

Which is more fun to work with, the circuit model or the real circuit?
ANSWER BOX