Spark Starter: What Powers You?

Think about electricity for a moment. What comes to mind?

1. List three things in your home or school that use electricity:
1.


2.


3.


2. In your own words, what do you think electricity is?






3. Imagine you have a battery, a light bulb, and two wires. How would you connect them to make the bulb light up? Draw a simple picture or describe it.

Electricity Explainer Script

Welcome & Warm-Up Review (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning/afternoon everyone! I hope you're ready to power up your brains today because we're going to talk about something that literally powers our entire world: electricity!"

"Let's start by looking at our Spark Starter Warm-Up. Can anyone share one thing they listed that uses electricity?" (Pause for student responses, acknowledge them.)

"Great examples! From our phones to the lights in this room, electricity is all around us. Now, based on your initial thoughts, what did you write down for what electricity is? No wrong answers here, just what you think!" (Pause for responses, guide them towards the idea of moving energy or flow.)

"Excellent ideas! It sounds like we have some budding electricians in the room!"

Introduction to Electricity (10 minutes) - Refer to Power Up! Slides

Teacher: "Let's dive a little deeper. Take a look at our first slide: Power Up! Understanding Electricity. Today, we're going to explore this invisible force that makes so much of our modern life possible."

(Advance to 'What is Electricity?' slide)

Teacher: "So, what is electricity? Simply put, electricity is the movement of tiny, tiny particles called electrons. Think of it like a river: the water flowing is similar to how electrons flow, carrying energy. It's the energy that powers nearly everything around us!"

"Can you imagine a day without electricity? What would that be like?" (Allow for a few short student answers.)

(Advance to 'Key Players: Current, Voltage, Circuits' slide)

Teacher: "To understand electricity, we need to know a few key terms. First, we have Current. Current is like the flow of electric charge. If our river analogy works, current is how much water is moving past a point in a certain amount of time. The faster the water, the stronger the current."

"Next, Voltage. Voltage is the push or pressure that makes those electric charges flow. Think of it like the water pressure in your pipes at home. Higher pressure means the water gets pushed harder. In electricity, higher voltage means a stronger 'push' for the electrons."

"And finally, a Circuit. A circuit is a complete, unbroken path that electricity travels in. Just like a race track has to be a full loop for a car to go all the way around, electricity needs a complete circuit to flow from its source (like a battery) and back again. If there's any break in the path, what do you think happens?" (Pause for answers - e.g., 'it stops', 'nothing', 'the light won't turn on').

Teacher: "Exactly! The electricity stops flowing. We'll be building some simple circuits in our activity today."

(Advance to 'Conductors & Insulators' slide)

Teacher: "Now, some materials let electricity flow through them easily, while others don't. This brings us to Conductors and Insulators.

"Conductors are materials that love electricity and let it pass right through them. Think of metals like copper, which is used in almost all wires, or aluminum foil. They're good at conducting electricity."

"On the other hand, Insulators are like bouncers at a club for electricity – they resist the flow! Materials like rubber, plastic, and glass don't allow electricity to pass through easily. This is why electrical cords have plastic or rubber coatings – to keep the electricity safely inside the wire and prevent shocks."

"Can anyone think of a reason why it's important to know the difference between conductors and insulators in our daily lives?" (Guide discussion towards safety, how devices work.)

Activity Introduction (1 minute) - Refer to Power Up! Slides

(Advance to 'Activity Time: Circuit Challenge!' slide)

Teacher: "Alright, now it's your turn to be electrical engineers! In a moment, you'll get into small groups for our Circuit Challenge Activity. You'll be given a battery, wires, a light bulb, and a collection of different objects. Your mission is to build a simple circuit and then test which of these everyday objects are conductors and which are insulators."

"Listen for instructions on how to form your groups and get your materials. Good luck, and let's get those circuits buzzing!"

Circuit Challenge Activity

Goal: Work in your groups to build a simple circuit and test various materials to see if they are conductors or insulators.

Materials per Group:

• 1 battery (e.g., D-cell or AA with holder)
• 2-3 alligator clip wires
• 1 small light bulb (e.g., miniature screw-in bulb with base or small LED)
• Various test objects: paperclip, aluminum foil, rubber eraser, plastic ruler, penny, key, piece of wood, fabric scrap

Instructions:

Part 1: Build a Simple Circuit (5 minutes)

1. Connect the Battery to the Bulb: Use the wires to create a closed loop that connects the battery to the light bulb. Remember, for the bulb to light up, the electricity needs a complete path from one end of the battery, through the bulb, and back to the other end of the battery.
2. Test Your Circuit: Once you think you have a complete circuit, observe the light bulb. Does it light up? If not, carefully check all your connections to ensure the path is complete.
   • (Hint: Make sure the wires touch the correct terminals on the battery and the base/tip of the bulb.)

Part 2: Test Materials (5 minutes)

Now that you have a working circuit, you will use it to test different objects. In your circuit, leave a small gap where you can place the test objects.

1. Testing Procedure: Place one of your test objects into the gap in your circuit so that it completes the path. If the bulb lights up, the object is a conductor. If the bulb does not light up, the object is an insulator.
2. Record Your Findings: Use the table below to record your observations for each object.

Discussion Questions (Be prepared to share with the class):

1. What did you notice about the materials that were conductors? What did they have in common?
   
   
   
2. What did you notice about the materials that were insulators? What did they have in common?
   
   
   

Current Check: Exit Ticket

1. In your own words, what is a simple electrical circuit?
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Name one conductor and explain why it is a conductor.
   * Conductor:
   
   
   • Explanation:
     
     
     
3. Name one insulator and explain why it is an insulator.
   * Insulator:
   
   
   • Explanation:
     
     
     
4. Why is it important for us to understand the difference between conductors and insulators? Give one real-world example.