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Description

Build a simple electric circuit and test what materials can and can't complete the circuit

Resources

Battery holders
Lamp holders
Lamps
Batteries
Wires/crocodile clip test leads
Variety of materials (metal, plastics, wood, plasticine, salty water)

Instructions

Beavers construct a simple electric circuit using the battery holder, wires and lamp. Discuss with the Beavers how electricity needs a complete circuit for the battery to "push" the electricity around. Get them to see what happens when the circuit is broken.
Now, using the crocodile clip leads, test completing the circuit with different materials to see what conducts electricity. A fork does. Wood doesn't. Test a variety of materials, and see if the Beavers can predict what will and won't conduct/complete the circuit.

If you're scientifically minded you can explain why metals conduct. Salty water should conduct for the same reason, but clean water will not.

Tags

• circuit
• electricity
• experiment

Badge Links

• Experiment - Experiment