JediBoy has been clamoring for more hands-on science experiments, having had his fill of nature study for the time being. This week, we decided to explore electricity: we visited Radio Shack and bought several batteries, small bulbs, wires and bulb holders. (Is it just me, or was the do-it-yourself section of Radio Shack bigger and much more exciting when we were kids?)
I pulled out a neat old text I have: Addison-Wesley’s STEM Science. This bright red text from 1977 features activities on Space, Time, Energy and Matter. I would guess it’s aimed at young primary students (5-7 years old, maybe?). I like it because its activities are centered around questions and open-ended explorations.
The section on Electric Light Circuits begins on page 62, and we briefly read that page (it’s a big cartoon on top and then a simple introduction at the bottom) before turning to the next page. Here, we found eight drawings of different types of batteries connected to different types of bulbs using different configurations of wire (or sometimes no wire at all, just the bulb pressed against the battery). The text reads, “Not all of these bulbs will light, but four will. Can you predict which four?“
So JediBoy made his predictions, studying the pictures intently, and then we set out to try all the connections shown, and different combinations of our own. He discovered that the two parts of the bulb (side and bottom) have to be connected to the two different poles of the battery. (He discovered that by playing with the parts - the text didn’t spell it out for him. See why I like this book?)
We went on to pull out The Big Book of Experiments: An Encyclopedia of Science (with the price tag in Rands on the back, which means this one was a gift from my Dad). On page 140, the book shows how to make a conduction-tester. Simply screw two metal brackets onto a piece of wood and set up a circuit: bracket A - battery - lamp - bracket B. Now you can place a material touching the two brackets: if it is a conductor, the circuit is complete and the lamp lights. If it is not a conductor, the lamp won’t light. Here’s what ours looks like:
JediBoy had the most marvelous time with this tester. He figured out, as you can see above, that a quarter will wedge perfectly between the brackets and just leave the lamp lit. He tested everything he could think of. He already had some understanding that metal conducts electricity, but some things he thought were metal weren’t. He tried the screwdriver, our scissors, a metal tin from mink oil (only the rim worked), a soda can, the lead from a mechanical pencil (this one does conduct electricity and he was amazed!), the fridge, the metal spring on BabyGirl’s ladybug scooter, doorknobs and hinges and heating grates, a flashlight, several kinds of toys, and all sorts of other things.
My hope is that after we spend this week working together, putting together different kinds of circuits and learning how everything works, his box of bits and tools will become an easy-access source of science fun for him.
BabyGirl wanted to be a part of this, but for safety’s sake (she still sometimes pops odd things in her mouth) she had her own set of “batteries” and “wires”: Montessori cylinders and yarn!
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