Part of Lesson Plan: Create a Basic Bread Board Parallel Electrical Circuit

Activity Overview / Details

Lesson Three ( A Basic Parallel Circuit)

Students have completed lesson ONE and TWO so they have an understanding of how to build a circuit.

Students can work in teams of two or independently. NO MORE THAN TEAMS OF TWO

Visual Aid: Slide #9  "of the power point "Creating Basic Bread Board Circuits".

Have slide #9 "A Parallel Circuit" up on the screen for everyone to see as they walk in the classroom.

Supplies: Have your supplies out for students to choose what they need to build their series circuit.

    Students will need:

   1. Their Engineers Notebook

   2. Bread Board - plastic or wood (your choice) see lesson ONE of "Creating Basic Bread Board Circuits"

   3. Three - 1 inch wide strips of foil, approximently 10 inches long, folded in half length wise (in place of wire)

    4. Three - Christmas lights of any kind (small LEDs)

          I have the lights cut up into a single light with some of the wire stripped on wither side.

          For the Series Circuit they will need two LEDs

    5. 14 - 2 inch straws or  14 - 1 inch nails

          I had a small plastic block with a grid of holes to work with, so I used split up the middle 2 inch long straws for my posts.

         You may need to use the block of wood instead, and use 1 inch nails as posts. Students will pound the nails 1/2 in. into the wood, leaving 1/2 inch or so exposed to wrap the foil around.

   6. Hammer

        If you have to use wood as a bread board you will need a small hammer for students to nail in their posts.

    7. AA Battery

Storing materials: In lesson ONE I suggested storing all materials in separate bins. This way students can pull their own materials and also put away their materials. The only product I passed out myself on the second series circuit is the foil, so students don't waste.