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The Challenge!
A circuit is a pathway that electrical energy flows through. In this challenge, we challenge you to make different pathways to light a lightbulb. In order to work properly, the electrical energy must flow from the negative end (flat side) of the battery, through the circuit and then back to the positive end (side with the bump) of the battery.
Challenge Constraints
Challenge Constraints
1) Using NO MORE THAN 1 battery, 1 light bulb and 2 wires, make the bulb light.
2) Can you make the bulb light with LESS THAN 2 wires?
3) Make predictions for each of the drawings on the Lighting Bulbs activity. Either try these circuits yourself with the materials AND/OR use Tinkercad to prototype and test the simulations. TAKE THE QUIZ to check your answers.
4) Challenge: Build a circuit that lights 2 bulbs. Can you build it so that when one bulb is removed, the other still lights?
Student Skills In Focus
Student Skills In Focus
Learning Goals
Learning Goals
Students will:
Demonstrate that energy can be transferred from place to place by electric currents, which can then be used to produce light.
Test solutions to problems that control variables and provide evidence to support explanations or design solutions.
Use evidence (e.g., measurements, observations, patterns) to construct explanations.
Use the challenge to develop the Pillar Skills in focus.
Questions To Ask Students:
Questions To Ask Students:
What does the basic structure of a circuit look like?
Why doesn't attaching both wires to the positive side of a battery allow for energy flow?
What are your reasons for your predictions in the Lighting Bulbs activity?
What small changes could you make to the circuits that didn't light up the bulb in the Lighting Bulbs activity?
Essential Questions:
Essential Questions:
How does energy transfer in a complete circuit?
What is needed to light the bulb and transfer energy?
NJ Student Learning Standards:
NJ Student Learning Standards:
4-PS3-4 Apply scientific ideas to design, test, and refine a device that converts energy from one form to another.
4-PS3-2 Make observations to provide evidence that energy can be transferred from place to place by sound, light, heat, and electric currents.
8.2.5.ED.2: Collaborate with peers to collect information, brainstorm to solve a problem, and evaluate all possible solutions to provide the best results with supporting sketches or models.
8.1.5.DA.1: Collect, organize, and display data in order to highlight relationships or support a claim.
8.1.5.AP.6: Develop programs using an iterative process, implement the program design, and test the program to ensure it works as intended.
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