Simplicity of Electricity Lab

Simplicity of Electricity

Grades: 4-8
Duration: 90 minutes

Available Times: 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on school field trip operating days

*Start and end times may be flexible. Please speak to the Group Reservations specialist when booking.

Concepts/Skills: Circuits, static electricity, direct current electricity, cause and effect, energy and matter

 

Explore properties of static and current electricity with everyday objects. Students investigate conductors and insulators as they tinker with electricity through the creation of circuits.

Lab Guide

Design a robust learning experience by selecting resources from this guide that fit the needs of your students. Reinforce learning before, after and even during your visit by diving deeper into some of the science and engineering concepts.

Lab-Related Activities

Lessons marked with an orange gear icon address engineering within the Next Generation Science Standards.

Drawing Circuits

Grades 4-8

Build circuits and draw out diagrams of those circuits using your own key.

Lesson: 45-60 minutes

The Math Behind Circuits

Grades 4-6

Explore different types of circuits and make calculations to gain practical skills in building, visualizing, and understanding circuits.

Lesson: Two 60-minute sessions

Vocabulary Choice Board

Grades K-12

Vocabulary activities to pair with one of our labs or other STEM activities.

Lesson: 20-30 min

Simplicity of Electricity Lab

Exhibit Connections

Make connections between learning from the lab and the exhibits and programs found in The Tech Interactive’s galleries. For more exhibit connections, see the Lab Guide above.

Standards Connections

Next Generation Science Standards  
Grades Engineering Design
Physical Sciences Disciplinary Core Ideas Crosscutting Concepts Science and Engineering Practices
4 3-5-ETS1-1 3-5-ETS1-2 3-5-ETS1-3 4-PS3-2
4-PS3-4
PS3.A
PS3.B

ETS1.A
ETS1.B ETS1.C
Energy and Matter 1, 2, 3, 6
5 3-5-ETS1-1 3-5-ETS1-2 3-5-ETS1-3   PETS1.A ETS1.B ETS1.C Systems and System Models Influence of Engineering, Technology, and Science on Society and the Natural World 1, 2, 3, 6
6-8 MS-ETS1-1 MS-ETS1-2 MS-ETS1-3 MS-ETS1-4 Forces and Interactions MS-PS2-3 ETS1.A ETS1.B ETS1.C Structure and function 1, 2, 3, 6