Part of Lesson Plan: **Fabricate a simple electrical switch (updated) by Ramon C. Iniguez

Activity Overview / Details

To start the lecture, I ask students if they know what materials an electrical wire is made of.  Eventually, most will say metal and plastic, or something similar.

I explain that the wire is classified as a conductor and that the plastic is classified as an insulator. I further explain that a conductor allows electricity to pass through it while an insulator does not.

Examples of conductors are metals and liquids.

Examples of insulators are plastics, rubber and wood.

At this point I ask the students if they remember the parts of the atom. I draw the part of the atom on the board as they mention them. I explain that conductors have electrons at the outermost valence that are free to move from one atom to another while insulators have electrons at the outermost valence that can not move from one atom to another.  

Use the attached animation to help you explain the movement of the electrons between the atoms.

Class activity:

Ask the students to locate conductors and insulators that are around their seats and or that they have on their position. Then ask them to name items that are conductors…next, ask them to name items that are insulators.