Electricity Hands-On Homeschool Science Activity

We have been getting all science-y around here because Tiny has been loving the book Air Is Not Oxygen: Essential Science You Should Have Learned … But Probably Didn’t. We have been reviewing it, but I accepted it because it is chock-full of easy hands-on science for all ages. Did I mention it is a quick read and for adults too?

Electricity Hands-On Science Activity

As I got some of my organization projects done this past month (where did the month go), Tiny has been reading Air Is Not Oxygen: Essential Science You Should Have Learned … But Probably Didn’t and planning the easy hand-on activities he wanted to try.

First, Tiny read about the different forms of electricity. I thought there was just one kind, the kind that comes from the outlet. (you know I run from science).

Anyway, thank goodness the kid knows more than his mother.

But then again, this book has been making it easy for me him to learn about the different forms of electricity.

Look at what he did today that he thought was pretty cool and look at how what we used as we changed this activity a bit to make a low voltage circuit:

• Rayovac 6 volt batter from a lantern (because Dad had it). The original activity called for a simple D cell battery.
• 1 red alligator clip
• 1 black alligator clip
• red side light from a trailer (because its way cooler than a tiny flashlight bulb, which the original activity called for. The trailer light was cheaper too)
• bread tie (connected as a ground wire to light)

This is pretty easy with a fun wow factor. First, take the bread tie and wrap it around the metal part of the light fixture to make a ground wife.

This wasn’t on the original activity but it made for a bit more ingenuity for Tiny.

Then, Tiny hooked the black alligator clip wire to the negative side of the battery and then hook the red alligator wire to the positive side of the battery.

Then connect them to the wire feeding the light bulb. Easy peazy and I can do this.

It’s better to do than to just read about this quick and easy activity that really any kid or adult can do to understand what is a circuit.

When it comes to science, me and Tiny are all hands-on instead of worksheet. A little bit of thrill goes a long way with us.

I have another activity or two coming on this book that we are lapping up!

Hugs and love ya,