Written by Stephan Aarstol
The discovery of electricity dates back to 600 BC, when the ancient Greeks discovered that rubbing fur on amber produced a type of electricity called static electricity. However, it wasn't until many centuries later that people invented things like capacitors and batteries, as the science of electricity and electromagnetism began to be uncovered and people developed technologies that let them harness this power for different uses. Today, electricity is essential to kids around the world, powering everything from simple toys to televisions and computers, but many kids don't fully understand how it works or the science behind it. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to remedy this, whether it's through hands-on experimentation or playing educational games online. Through these types of activities and others, kids can learn about static electricity, conductors and insulators, how currents are constructed, and how to be safe around electricity.
- Balloons and Static Electricity: This interactive shows how static electricity works: Rub the balloon against the sweater to see how the charges within it change and what happens next.
- Electric Dough and Circuits (video): Sugar dough and salt dough are used to show how different materials conduct electricity better or worse than others.
- Renewable Energy Sources and How They Work (PDF): Using this lesson plan, you can teach kids about energy and how we can get it from different renewable sources.
- Causes of Static Electricity: Despite being familiar with static electricity, do we really know what creates it? Learn more on this page.
- Static Electricity and Static Discharge: Understanding the difference between static electricity and a static discharge can help kids learn about how a lightning bolt works.
- How to Create an Electromagnet: This activity asks kids to make a simple electromagnet and teaches about how electromagnetism works.
- How an Electromagnet Works (PDF): This article explains electromagnets and how they're different from regular magnets.
- How to Build an Electromagnet: Follow these instructions to make an electromagnet out of a few simple things you might already have in the house.
- Materials That Conduct Electricity: Conductors are materials through which electricity can pass easily.
- Uses of Static Electricity (PDF): As long ago as 1910, people were looking to harness the power of electricity to treat medical conditions.
- Wired Game: This video game helps demonstrate concepts about electricity.
- How to Make a Homemade Wobblebot: With a few simple electronics and easy-to-find supplies, kids can make a small robotic creature.
- Make an Electromagnet: Follow these steps to create an electromagnet at home.
- Electricity Game: Kids can play around with a circuit to understand more about how circuits work.
- How to Make a Battery With Pennies: Younger kids might need help with this experiment, but the result is a real working battery made from things found around the house.
- How an Electric Circuit Works (video): Kids can watch this simple video to learn more about how an electric circuit works.
- Electricity Quiz: Test your knowledge about electricity with these questions.
- Electricity 101 for Kids: What is electricity, and how does it work? Kids can find out by reading this page.
- Who Discovered Electricity? This page explains how people first learned about electricity.
- The History of Electricity: There's a long story behind how people have learned about and used electricity, and it's told on this page.
- Making Electromagnets: This experiment lets kids create an electromagnet at home.
- How Does Electricity Affect the Environment? Electricity itself is a part of nature and all around us, but when humans generate electricity, they often create pollution that hurts the environment.
- Good Projects for a Sixth-Grader Interested in Electrical Engineering: This article looks at different projects you can try at home with a student who's fascinated by electricity and might want to be an engineer someday.
- Electric Play Dough: With the power of electricity, kids can make a dough sculpture move or light up!
- Electric Circuits: This lesson plan guides students as they create diagrams of circuits and test the conductivity of different materials.
- Electricity Safety Game: Electricity is fun to learn about, but it's also important that kids learn about how dangerous it can be.
- Virtual Circuit-Builder: Kids can use this interactive to play around with creating their own circuits.
- Electric Joint: In this game, players need to draw a complete circuit, connecting all of the nodes properly so the circuit works.
- Static Flyer: Using the power of static electricity, kids can make things levitate.
- Does Water Conduct Electricity? With this simple experiment, you can see how the minerals in tap water help it to carry a current.
