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Description

Activity to learn about electric energy for the cubs scientist badge that can be adapted to run with a more limited amount of equipment

Resources

Crocodile Clip wires
small bulbs and bulb holders
battery packs and the correct batteries
(optional- paper, coins or other safe materials to test the conductivity of)

Instructions

Part 1- Group discussion about electricity
Prompting questions- does anyone know what electricity is? what is it a type of? what to we use it for? find out what the pack already knows and what they want to find out- write their questions out and save for later

Part 2-
Split into pairs/groups based on the number of circuit sets you have available. (alternatively, do it as a group with a leader picking a cub to do each part of the circuit
Each group needs 2 crocodile clips ( or 3 if you have enough), a battery pack and batteries and a bulb and holder.
give each group a copy of the diagram to copy.

there should be batteries in the battery pack, a crocodile clip connecting it to one of the metal screws on the bulb holder. the bulb should be screwed in. Then a second crocodile clip wire should be attached to the other screw and the battery pack to complete the circuit.
when the circuit is complete, the bulb should be lit.


Part 3-
Give groups extra crocodile clips, a piece of paper (not necessarily a whole sheet) and a coin- some copper, some not.

Cubs should detach one clip from the bulb holder so that the light goes off- this tells us that air doesn't normally conduct electricity- bonus points if they can give an example of when it can (very high voltages such as lightning)

Attach the now empty croc clip to a piece of paper. Attach another clip to the paper and the bulb holder to complete the circuit. The bulb shouldn't light which shows paper doesn't conduct electricity

Replace the paper with a coin. Some of the bulbs should light while others don't. give the opportunity for cubs to see if they can spot why. pennies are copper, which is a conducter, and other coins are made of other metals like nickel brass and steel.

Part 4-
recap what we have learnt. did it answer our earlier questions? sit together and try to find answers to other questions- eg with group tablets/laptops or just a leader and their phone

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Badge Links

• Scientist - Other