Electricity

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Home : 2001 : August : 5

Electricity
By Suzie

Deb,

I often begin my electricity unit by talking about open and closed circuits. I use an Energy Ball to demonstrate the concept. The children stand in a circle holding hands. One child in the circle puts a finger on
one side on the energy ball and another child does the same thing on the other side of the ball. (Just make sure the two students on either side of the energy ball are not touching each other.) Then I explain that this is a closed circuit. The Energy Ball will light up and make an erie sound. Then I have two students in another part of the circle stop holding hands. The Energy Ball

will not light up or make an erie sound. This is an open circuit. The children love this activity. You can purchase an Energy Ball from any science store. (They are very inexpensive.)

I also use a unit that was developed from Madison Onieda Boces to teach electricity. They have a website that you can check out.

Suzie