Makey Makeys

Electricity flows through materials called CONDUCTORS. Most metals are conductors of electricity. That is why wires are made of metals like copper and steel. Another conductor that many people do not think about is WATER.

Think of a time when you were swimming outside while a thunderstorm was approaching. Why did the adults tell you to get out of the water? There could be lightning. Lightning is static electricity. It could strike the water and the electricity would flow through your body, which also means that YOU are a good conductor of electricity.

Materials that do not conduct electricity well are called INSULATORS. Examples of insulators are wood, glass, plastic and rubber. Rubber or plastic coats the wires to protect us from the flow of electricity through our bodies.