Build a Circuit
TEKS Objective
The student is expected to demonstrate that electricity travels in a closed path, creating an electrical circuit, and explore an electromagnetic field.
Essential Understanding
The student knows that energy exists in many forms and can be observed in cycles, patterns, and systems.
Science Background
Circuits: California Energy Commission (website) - Explanation of basic electrical circuits.
Circuits
California Energy Commission, www.energyquest.ca.gov
How Electromagnets Work: HowStuffWorks (Website) - Overview of the relationship between electrical current and magnetism.
How Electromagnets Work
HowStuffWorks, science.howstuffworks.com
Electric Circuits: All About Circuits (website) - Series of explanations and illustrations present the basic concepts of electricity. This page also includes links to information about many other topics related to electricity.
Electric Circuits
All About Circuits, www.allaboutcircuits.com
How Does Current Flow in an Electric Circuit? Innovate Us (website) - Brief explanation of different kinds of electrical circuits and how they work.
How Does Current Flow in an Electric Circuit?
Innovate Us, www.innovateus.net
Signature Lesson
Circuits and Electric Light: PowerSleuth (website) – Students examine a flashlight and make their own circuits using a battery, wire and a bulb. (HINT: Holiday light sets are a great source of insulated wire and bulbs for electricity activities. Simply cut the string of lights into sections. Be sure to leave about 3 inches of wire on both sides of each bulb to make the ends easy to connect.)
Circuits and Electric Light
PowerSleuth, www.powersleuth.org
- Supporting Lessons
- Extensions
- Assessment Ideas
- Literature Connections
- Related
TEKS - Additional Resources
Supporting Lessons
Flashlight: PBS Kids (website) - Instructions for building a simple homemade flashlight.
Elaboration Lessons and Extensions
Squishy Circuits: University of Saint Thomas (website) - Make electrical circuits with homemade Play Dough.
Squishy Circuits
University of Saint Thomas, www.courseweb.stthomas.edu
Circuits and Switches: Intel (website) – Online activities and animations that teach how electricity works.
Circuits and Switches
Intel, www.intel.com
Make a Circuit Board: Museum of Science and Industry (website) - Build a mystery circuit board that challenges students to figure out path of each circuit.
Make a Circuit Board
Museum of Science and Industry, www.msichicago.org
Electricity: The Tech Museum (website) - Activities on conductors, insulators and other topics related to electricity, with interactive animations and self-checks.
Assessment Ideas
Have students demonstrate all possible configurations using two wires, a battery, and a bulb. Then, have students draw illustrations showing which of these configurations will light up the bulb.
Literature Connections
Electricity. Mullins, M. (ISBN: 978-0531265819)
Making a Circuit. Oxlade, Chris (ISBN-13: 978-1432956790)
Cool Circuits, Martineau, Susan (ISBN-13: 978-1615334049)
Dear Mr. Henshaw. Cleary, Beverly (ISBN-13: 978-0688024055)
Discovering Electricity. Bains, Rae (ISBN-13: 978-0893755652)
The Story of Electricity. Bailey, Jacqui (ISBN-13: 978-1404811294)
Additional Resources
Energizer Science Center: Energizer (website) - Learn about circuits, flashlights, batteries and more at this commercial website, home of the famous “bunny.”
TEKS Navigation
Grade 4
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