Complete Circuit, Circuit Board Project

This Instructable covers standards in Science for grades 3,4, and 7. I use this activity with my fourth graders and have used it in the fifth and sixth grade several years back.

Use your circuit tester (direction to build here) to help build a circuit board. We will build a simple circuit board to “spark” students interest and discuss key concepts.

Below are 3rd and 4th grade standards covered by this Instructable!

Heat, electrical energy, light, sound and magnetic energy are forms of energy. (3) … Electrical circuit or solar panel models can be used to demonstrate different forms of energy and the source of the energy… (3) Energy can be transformed from one form to another or can be transferred from one location to another. (4) Electric circuits require a complete loop of conducting materials through which an electrical energy can be transferred. (4) Electrical energy in circuits can be transformed to other forms of energy, including light, heat, sound and motion. (4) Electrical conductors are materials through which electricity can flow easily. Electricity introduced to one part of the object spreads to other parts of the object. (4) Electrical insulators are materials through which electricity cannot flow easily. Electricity introduced to one part of the object does not spread to other parts of the object. (4) In order for electricity to flow through a circuit, there must be a complete loop through which the electricity can pass. When an electrical device (e.g., lamp, buzzer, motor) is not part of a complete loop, the device will not work. Electric circuits must be introduced in the laboratory by testing different combinations of electrical components. When an electrical device is a part of a complete loop, the electrical energy can be changed into light, sound, heat or magnetic energy. Electrical devices in a working circuit often get warmer. (4)
Electrical energy transfers when an electrical source is connected in a complete electrical circuit to an electrical device. (7) An electric circuit exists when an energy source (e.g., battery, generator, solar cell) is connected to an electrical device (e.g., light bulb, motor) in a closed circuit. The energy source transfers energy to charges in the circuit. Charges flow through the circuit. Electric potential is a measure of the potential electrical energy of each charge. (7)