1. Lesson 1: Simple Circuits
Energy Basics
Mr. Conkey Physical Science/Project Recharge Unit 1
Lesson 1: Simple Circuits

2. Essential QUestions What is electricity?
What evidence do we have that electricity exists if we cannot see it?
What makes a circuit?

3. Activity 1: Inquiry Paperclip Circuit Challenge
How can you get the lightbulb to light using four different methods with only a battery, paperclip, and a lightbulb?
Draw diagrams with labels of each of the different methods you come up with.
Did you figure it out? Show me!
Ask the students which way the electrons are flowing; have them draw this using arrows as indicators (electrons are negative and are repelled from the negative end of the battery and flow toward the positive end).

4. Electricity Electricity is a result of charged subatomic particles
Electrons = negatively charged particles
Orbit the nucleus of atoms
Protons = positively charged particles
One of the major building blocks of an atoms nucleus

5. Unbalanced Charges
An atoms charges are usually balanced (equal #s of protons & electrons)
Energy is available when charges are not balanced
One form of potential energy is static electricity
Charges are separated and are not moving to regain balance

6. Electric current
Electric current – the movement of electrons (e­­ˉ) from a place of an electric excess to one of an electric deficit
In the previous activity the D-cell battery was the source of electric current
Inside the battery: chemical reaction causes eˉ s to move from one terminal (end) to the other; when the chemical reaction stops the battery is “dead”
Borrowed from Project Recharge (Envirolution)

7. Activity 2 : Lighting the bulb with Wires
How will you change your set up in order to light the bulb with two wires instead of a paperclip?
Is there more than one way to achieve this?
When you have successfully completed the activity, draw a diagram of your set up and label it!
Review diagram types expected of students to draw again; ask about electron flow again (as with the intro activity)

8. Activity 2 : post QUestions
Where did you connect the wires to the battery?
Where did you connect the wires to the light bulb?
What happens when you touch the wire to the glass part of the bulb and why?

9. Electricity Receiver
Anything that uses electricity to do something is an electricity receiver
The lightbulb produces light when it receives electricity as eˉ s flow through the whole circuit
Draw a couple of large bulbs, then ask two students to draw a battery and connections showing how to light the bulb. Ask class to evaluate critically and decide on one to draw in the first box of their Diagrams and Schematics sheet.

10. Circuits and circuit types
Circuit – the pathway through which the electricity flows from the D-cell to the light and back
The circuit must form a complete circle from one end of the D-cell to the other in order for electricity to flow
The individual parts of the circuit are called components
Current flows from the negative end of the battery through the circuit, and then to the positive end.
Use student pic and trace the pathway from negative terminal of battery to bulb, then from silvery side of bulb to the other terminal, then through the battery to the starting point and ask what general shape was drawn (circle).

11. Schematic Drawings of Circuits
Schematic diagrams – drawings used by electricians/electrical engineers to record their circuits
They use symbols that are easy to draw for the components
Check these out!
Guide students in drawing a schematic for a circuit with a battery, two wires, and a bulb. This goes into the second box on the Drawings and Schematics sheet. Inform: Schematics are always drawn with square corners to keep them neat.

12. Activity 2 Extension: Lighting the bulb (yes, again)
Can you light a bulb with just one wire and battery?
You did it? Great! Show us…
After success: ask students to draw a picture using schematics symbols of their circuit on a piece of paper, including arrows representing how they think the electricity flows through the circuit.

13. Bulbs Filament – the part of the bulb that makes it light
When electricity flows through it, it gets so hot that it gives off light

14. Activity 3: Closing and Opening Circuits with Switches
You will need two bulb holders, one cell holder, and one circuit base 1
Figure out how to use what you have been given to create a circuit where you do NOT have to hold it together 2
Next, study the bulb circuit carefully (i.e. electricity through the wires, bulb holder, and the filament) 3
After step 3, ask the students how electricity goes through the bulb content. *Optional: show students a burnt-out lightbulb, break the bulb and discard it, then have students look and note where the wires go from the top and side of the bulb to the filament.

15. Circuits and Switches What does a switch do to a circuit?
You will need one switch
Once you have succeeded, summarize how a switch works
Hold up a switch and demo how the handle moves back and forth. Show how it fits on the circuit base. After students get switch, wait until they inform you they need another wire; Allow for several minutes of switch exploration.

16. Closed and Open Circuits
Closed circuit – a circuit where the electricity flows freely and the lightbulb lights (when the switch handle is touching the clip)
Open circuit – a circuit where the electricity cannot flow and the lightbulb does not light (when the handle is not touching the clip)
Discuss where switches are found in the classroom, at home, and in cars and their uses. Blank out the slide and ask the students to draw their battery-switch-bulb circuit using schematic symbols.

17. Simple Circuits Quiz Questions (Answer on a separate sheet of paper)
What components are needed to make a complete circuit?
How many wires connect to the battery, and where do they connect to make a complete circuit?
How many wires connect to the bulb, and where do they connect to make a complete circuit?
How did you get the bulb to light with only one wire?
How can you get electricity from a source to a receiver?
What does a switch do in a circuit?
How do people use schematic drawings?
Close with relating simple circuits made in class to those at home, in cars, and personal electronics. Intro: next class we will explore different ways to connect components of a circuit to make series and parallel circuits. (remind students: only 1.5 volt batteries are used, wall sockets off limits!)