Students are first introduced to the basic properties of electricity as they learn about electric circuits and the parts of a light bulb. Next, students learn about conductors and insulators and about the symbols used to represent the parts of a circuit in circuit diagrams. Students also explore 
different kinds of circuits, learn about switches, construct a flashlight, and investigate the properties of diodes. Finally, students apply their knowledge and skills to wire a cardboard house.
Trainer Tips:
- "What's wrong with the Circuit?" What to look for when trouble shooting problems:
1) look to ensure wires are hooked up properly and securely
2) check batteries and holders (check connections and positive to negative order)
3) ensure bulb is screwed in tightly and touching the metal plate
- Diodes and Transistors - A diode allows current to flow in only ONE direction. It is a device that blocks current in one direction while letting current flow in another direction. Diodes can be used in a number of ways. For example, a device that uses batteries often contains a diode that protects the device if you insert the batteries backward. The diode simply blocks any current from leaving the battery if it is reversed -- this protects the sensitive electronics in the device. Diodes are also used to provide a fixed "reference voltage" from a supply voltage that varies. They are widely used in regulated power supply circuits.
- The Final Assessment - Use the houses as a procedural knowledge assessment. (They have to use ALL of their knowledge that they learned throughout the unit.) Make up your own declarative knowledge assessment with vocabulary and a tie-in to the standard of "energy".
- Problem getting the household light bulb to light? Things to watch for:
• Make sure that all your batteries are positive to negative and have a good connection
• Because the batteries are in series, make sure ALL batteries are good. Even one bad battery can cause failure.
• Make sure you have one wire on the negative side of the last battery and one wire on the SIDE of the light bulb with the bottom soldered tip of the light bulb on the positive side of the battery.
• Turn the lights out to make the room slightly darker, to see the faint glow of the filament. You should only see it glow a faint red due to the lack of low voltage batteries.
If your school district has never used the Einstein Electric Circuits units, and is a WPS electric customer, you can apply for a grant to pay for your first year of kit use, plus teacher training! Details here.
Interactive Activities for the Electric Circuits unit (Media - Movies - How a Light Bulb Works)
Additional Photos
Parent Letter - English
Parent Letter - Spanish
Electric Circuits Storyline (pdf)
Literacy / Book Lists
Teacher Recommended Resources
Recommended Websites
Unit Certificate
We wish to acknowledge your student's accomplishment in completing the unit through the use of this unit completion certificate, and hope that he or she enjoyed learning about science through The Einstein Project's hands-on science.
"You can see the cause and effect – not just someone telling you – like the electric circuits. We built flashlights and we had to complete the circuit correctly or it wouldn't turn on. If it didn't work, you had to figure out why, not just read about it." said Greta Pearson, former Green Bay, Wisconsin student, who now has a degree in Aquatic Biology & Broad Field Science from UW Superior, and is currently working part-time for the college on plant research for the Pokegama Reserve (wetland).
Free Resource:
Classroom Connection is a new e-newsletter that will be published four times each school year, with FREE energy education-related resources for educators. Classroom Connection is created and published by WPS. Sign up for your free copy at http://www.wisconsinpublicservice.com/company/classroom_connection.aspx.
Sponsorship Opportunity
Sponsor the Electric Circuits unit! Please contact Lori Kaufman, development director, about this and other sponsorship opportunities. You can reach her at 920-884-8800 or lori@einsteinproject.org.
What are people saying about the Electric Circuits Einstein science unit?
"The more I do this, the more fun I have and so do my students! Thank you!"
-- Mary Jo Stangel, Grade 4 teacher at Valders Elementary School, Valders, Wisconsin
"The first day I heard 'I love science' - 'This is awesome'!
--Lori Lauerman, Grade 4 teacher at Lincoln Elementary, Appleton, Wisconsin
"We had tremendous success with the circuits and the houses."
-- James Bayard, Grade 4 teacher at McAuliffe Elementary School, Green Bay, Wisconsin
