Wow, it works!

Introducing electricity to children

Katarina Susman, David Rihtari, Ana Gostinar Blagotinek, Mojca epi
Faculty of Education, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
katarina.susman@pef.uni-lj.si

Who does not know the kids toys that start to work at the moment when one simultaneously touches the two contacts? Connecting the two contacts through human body, toys usually start to emit light and/or sound. But, how does it work, what is
inside the toy? An investigation reveals that the electronic circuit is rather complicated to unravel.
In this contribution we present an electronic circuit that has similar effects as the complicated circuits in the toys. The objectives of the teaching sequence lay a great stress on students active learning, where they develop motoric skills, identify the
electronic elements, getting to know the electric circuits with its basic components and connect their knowledge with a daily life.
The proposed electronic circuit is made on a small wooden plate on which the electronic elements and wires are fixed by nails. The sketch of an electronic circuit is applied directly on the wooden plate, with marked points for nails, contacts and elements. Nails are suitable for contacts and they also protect the electronic elements from mechanical damages. The device is made of easy accessible materials which allows for a robust and consequently long lasting device. It includes LED that emits
light when one touches the contacts. If students hold their hands and contacts are connected through the human chain students can realize that a human body is electric conductor. With the device the electric conductors can be distinguished
from electric insulators.
Strong points of the teaching sequence are in students awareness that they are able to make device on their own, and that the device actually works. The knowledge they gain through experimental work and testing the device is applicable and
helps to understand the modern technology devices. Furthermore the device is based on the light emission which enables that the device indicates current when the contacts are connected and cases to emit light when they are not. The proposed
device is in contrast to the toys which play sound whenever someone touches the contacts. The problem of understanding of current occurs since the toy stops to play even if the contacts are still connected.
However the electronic circuit can be used in lower classes of primary school as well, if it is used as a detector of electric properties of materials. Since the performance of the device is in this case left to the teachers, we presented the topic in a national workshop for teachers. The responses on the workshop were promising and motivative for further activities.

LOOK HOW INTERESTING

HMMMM... HOW

TOYS! IF YOU TOUCH IT

DOES IT WORK?

PROPERLY THEY SING OR

LETS SEE

INTEGRATED

WHATS INSIDE!

CIRCUITS !?

EMIT LIGHT!
1

ILL ASK MY
5

ARE WE ABLE TO DO
SOMETHING SIMILAR?

ILL TRY TO DO IT, WHAT DO

I NEED?

TEACHER FOR
HELP!

THIS SHOULD DEF-

FINITELY WORK, SAID

MY TEACHER.
7

9
A DIODE, MOSFET, TWO
RESISTORS, WIRES...
BUT I NEED ALSO A BATTERY,
NAILS, WOODEN PLATE, PINCERS,

THIS CIRCUIT CAN

AND A HAMMER.

BE USED TO TEST
THE ELECTRICAL
10

CONDUCTIVITY.
WILL IT SHINE,
IF MY FRIEND
TOUCHES THE
BLUE WIRE?
11