I have a fun electricity hands-on science activity. We’re making a low voltage circuit.
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?
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.
Next, look at some of these books about electricity.
BOOKS ABOUT ELECTRICITY FOR KIDS
I prefer living books when I can find them.
5 Electricity Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To
Learning about electricity is a fascinating subject for kids to learn about. Add one or two of these books to your home library.
Why do the lights in a house turn on when you flip a switch? How does a remote-controlled car move? And what makes lights on TVs and microwaves blink? The technology around you may seem like magic, but most of it wouldn’t run without electricity. Electronics for Kids demystifies electricity with a collection of awesome hands-on projects.
In Part 1, you’ll learn how current, voltage, and circuits work by making a battery out of a lemon, turning a metal bolt into an electromagnet, and transforming a paper cup and some magnets into a spinning motor. In Part 2, you’ll make even more cool stuff as you:–Solder a blinking LED circuit with resistors, capacitors, and relays–Turn a circuit into a touch sensor using your finger as a resistor–Build an alarm clock triggered by the sunrise.
Read and find out about electricity in this colorfully illustrated nonfiction picture book.
It seems like magic! It's not—it's electricity. But how does a light actually work? In this clear and simple book learn all about electricity, how it's produced, and how it can be used.
At the end you'll learn how to conduct safe, fun experiments that will let you generate electricity yourself!
- Size: Battery case: ( L X W X H): 57 x 30 x 13 / 2.24 x 1.18 x 0.51inch.
- Material: The mini bulb is a kind of tungsten wire bulb, made of glass, metal, insulation materials.
- Application: Used for electrical experiments in primary and middle schools/home DIY circuit test.
Start with Science books introduce kids to core science concepts through engaging stories, fresh illustrations, and supplemental activities. When Oscar the kitten finds a tractor in a field and accidentally turns on the windshield wipers, he is full of questions about electricity. Luckily, Bird knows the answers! With the help of his friend, Oscar finds out how electricity is made and stored, which machines need electricity to work, and why we always need to be careful around wires, batteries, plugs, and sockets. Back matter includes an index and supplemental activities.
Electrical engineer and inventor Nikola Tesla (1856–1943) was indeed an electrical genius. In language suitable for both young and old, author Arthur J. Beckhard describes all aspects of Tesla’s personal and professional life, including Tesla’s childhood and his education at primary school, at the Higher Real Gymnasium, and at the Polytechnic Institute; his years working for the telegraphic engineering department of Austria, then as an engineer in Paris, and then as an employee of Thomas Edison in America; his substitution of alternating current for direct current—a simpler and more economical method of converting electrical into mechanical energy; his rotary magnetic field, which was used in transmitting the power of Niagara Falls to nearby cities; his independent research at his own electrical laboratories in New Your City; and much more. Originally published in 1959 as part of Messner Publications' "Men of Science" series.
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.
MORE ELECTRICITY HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS
- How to Make a Homemade Electrical Switch
- Popsicle Stick Flashlight Activity and Facts About the Amazing Nikola Tesla
- Electricity Hands-On Homeschool Science Activity
- Electricity STEM: Lighting Up a Shoebox Tiny House
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:
Electricity Hands-On Science Activity
- 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!
