The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project
Fun with Circuits
Fun with Circuits
An 8th to 11th Grade STEM Lesson
Ramon Cid
1/27/2024
Notes for Teachers
Context:
This lesson takes place inside or outside the classroom.
Groups of 2 students
Duration:
3 Periods of 48 minutes
In this lesson students will understand what a circuit is and the difference between parallel and series circuits. Students must design and build a prototype where a circuit can be used.
List of Materials
AZ Standards
Physics
PI.1.2
Explain and analyze simple arrangements of electrical components in series and parallel DC circuits in terms of current, resistance, voltage and power. Use Ohm’s and Kirchhoff’s laws to analyze DC circuits.
8th Grade Physical Science
8.P4U1.3 Construct an explanation on how energy can be transferred from one energy store to another.
Science and Engineering Standards 6 -8
Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
The goal of science is the construction of theories that provide explanatory accounts of the world. The goal of engineering design is to find a systematic solution to problems that is based on scientific knowledge and models of the material world.
Technology Standards
Standard 4. Innovative Designer
6-8.4.b. Students select and use digital tools to support a design process and expand their understanding to identify constraints and trade-offs and to weigh risks.
9-12.4.b. Students select and use digital tools to plan and manage a design process that considers design constraints and calculated risks.
6-8.4.c. Students engage in a design process to develop, test, and revise prototypes, embrace the iterative process of trial and error, and understand setbacks as potential opportunities for improvement.
9-12.4.c. Students develop, test and refine prototypes as part of a cyclical design process.
Objective(s):
Construct a series and parallel circuit in a breadboard.
Understand the difference between series and a parallel circuit.
Design and build a prototype with a circuit.
Agenda (lesson time)
Day 1: 48 minutes
Gathering materials
Review vocabulary
Model circuits with Tinkercad
Day 2: 48 minutes
Construct series and parallel circuits in a breadboard
Research implementation of circuits in real life
Design a prototype using graph paper
Day 3: 48 minutes
Build your prototype
Prototype presentation
Circuits Overview
Circuits are an important part of our daily lives. All electronics devices we have use circuits to function. Also electricity needs them in our home for all appliances, imagine what will be your life if circuits weren’t invented.
There are two types of circuits: series and parallel. During this lesson you will learn to differentiate between the 2 circuits and build a prototype that uses circuits.
Hands-on Activity Instructions
Use the design process to design and build your prototype.
Differentiation
Explanation must be given each day. Instructions must be clear. Feedback between teacher and students may be needed to verify comprehension of the topic.
If needed, pictures and notes from the Teacher Guide can be use as a reference for students.
Remediation
Extension/Enrichment
Students can add as many LEDs and push buttons as they want to explore. They can guide themselves with the pictures in the Teacher Guided Notes.
Students are encouraged in the final project to design complex circuits.