Grades 4-6
24 activities – 176 pages

The mysteries of electricity will be revealed. This revised edition of Electrical Connections is divided into four sections—Static Electricity, Circuits, Electromagnetism, and the History of Electricity. Each section has students discovering the principles of electricity through engaging, hands-on activities. Also included are rubber-band books—small books the students assemble and hold together with a rubber band along the spine—that are ideal in providing necessary content in a succinct, creative format.

In the Static Electricity section, students discover that like charges repel while unlike charges attract. They learn that static electricity occurs when electrons are transferred from one object to another through friction, giving a positive or negative charge to the objects. In one activity, watch as the students are awed by the effect that static electricity has on thread as it dances like a cobra; on salt as it rains up and down and up and down; and paper clips as they wiggle on end and follow the movement of plastic wrap.

The Circuits section has students building series and parallel circuits, dimmer switches, and circuit breakers. They learn that in order for an electric current to flow, it must have an uninterrupted conducting path. In one learning activity, students will create a circuit using a battery, paper clip and light bulb. They’ll be startled by how hot the paper clip gets if they do not correctly include the bulb in the circuit and thus find themselves making heat energy instead of light energy!

The Electromagnetism section introduces students to the relationship between electricity and magnetism as they build a galvanometer, a model electric motor, and more.

Finally, students are introduced to people and events in the History of Electricity. There are rubber band books for reading in the content area, an electricity time line, and an interview with someone older to provide perspective on how the use of electricity has changed.