In the electricity strand, I will have students figure out how an electric lighter works. I am using this device as the anchoring phenomenon as it combines concepts from both static and current electricity. Students will model how the top part of the lighter works after we complete static electricity, and as we are learning about circuits, they will propose a design for how they think the circuit works in the lighter.

A feature of the lighter I use is the battery indicator lights. I tell them that the lights go out as we use the lighter, but will come back on after the battery is recharged. I ask them to use their knowledge of series/ parallel circuits as well as electrical quantities to explain how that might happen. This is extremely sophisticated thinking and application, and I am constantly impressed with how well students rise up to the challenge each semester I've done it!