Simple Circuits Curriculum

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This lesson introduces conduction and insulation to prepare students to think about resistance and why the filament in a light bulb behaves differently than the copper conduction wires. The lesson invites students to explore a variety of materials to determine their level of conductivity. There are versions of this lesson in most elementary science programs.

 

Section 3: Understanding Goals

Subject Matter

  • Some materials allow electrons to move more freely along them than others. This has to do with the nature of their bonds.
  • Materials that allow electrons to move freely are called conductors. Materials that do not allow electrons to move easily are called insulators.

Causality

  • Material types affect current flow, comprising a form of passive causality.