Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Electricity: Building Circuits in Elementary Science Class
In this exploration activity, students compare the difference between series circuits and parallel circuits using wire, light bulbs, and D batteries.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Parallel Circuits
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] In this module, students learn what a parallel circuit is and how it differs from a series circuit.
Concord Consortium
Mobile Inquiry Technology: Parallel Versus Series Circuits
For this lesson, students actively investigate the differences between parallel and series circuits and how the brightness of bulbs is affected.
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Simple Circuitry and Series Circuit
A teacher lesson plan which could be easily converted into an idea for a student project or presentation. This page describes an activity in which the basic nature of a circuit and the concepts of a series circuit are investigated....
National Geographic
National Geographic: Building Circuits
In this lesson, students build series and parallel circuits and test their conductivity. Includes handouts with diagrams, and a vocabulary list with definitions.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Put a Spark in It! Electricity
Uncountable times every day "with the merest flick of a finger"each one of us calls on electricity to do our bidding. What would your life be like without electricity? Students begin learning about electricity with an introduction to the...
TryEngineering
Try Engineering: Series and Parallel Circuits
The core of this lesson is simple circuits and the differences between parallel and series circuit design. Students perform experiments to test the differences between the two circuit designs using low voltage light bulbs.
Other
Tech Topics: Electricity: Circuits
What is a circuit? How does it work? The animated diagrams and accompanying text will make it easy to understand the concept of circuits!
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Introduction to Circuits and Ohm's Law
Students will explore the basics of dc circuits analyzing the light from light bulbs when connected in series and parallel circuits. Ohm's Law and the equation for power dissipated by a circuit will be the primary equations used. Using...
Concord Consortium
Concord Consortium: Measuring Voltage in Series Circuits
Measuring the voltage in a circuit is like measuring the drop in pressure across two points. Learn more with this tutorial.
Read Works
Read Works: Electricity & Energy Circuits
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about electric circuits. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Light Your Way
When there is a power failure, or when we go outside at night, we grab a flashlight so we can find our way. What happens inside a flashlight that makes the bulb light up? Why do we need a switch to turn on a flashlight? Have you ever...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Ohm's Law I
Students will work to increase the intensity of a light bulb by testing batteries in series and parallel circuits. It analyzes Ohm's Law, power, parallel and series circuits, and ways to measure voltage and current.
PBS
Pbs Kids:activities and Videos: Electricity
This PBS site offers videos and activities are hands-on challenges that focus on the engineering design process. They use simple materials, allow for multiple solutions, and are ideal for ages 9-12.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physical Science: Series and Parallel Circuits
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] What series and parallel circuits are and how they differ.
Other
Easyphysics: Chapter 14 Basic Circuit
Learners investigate circuits. Some topics examined are a series circuit, parallel circuit, and Joule?s law. The resource includes practice problems with solutions and a chapter quiz.
Physics Classroom
The Physics Classroom: Electric Circuits: Circuit Connections: Parallel Circuits
When two or more electrical devices in a circuit are connected, it is known as a series connection or a parallel connection. When all the devices are connected using parallel connections, the circuit is referred to as a parallel circuit....
Other
Southwest Tech: Combination Circuit
Explains what a combination circuit is and how to calculate the resistance and amperage values in this type of circuit.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physics: Electrical Systems Study Guide
A study guide covering electrical systems.
Khan Academy
Khan Academy: Advanced Circuit Analysis
Practice analyzing circuits using Kirchhoff's laws and Ohm's law with series and parallel resistors.
South Carolina Educational Television
Etv: Circuits
This colorful site will help you understand series and parallel circuits.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Lighting the Way: Electrical Circuits and Lamp Wiring
Through a series of self-guided activities, students will explore basic electrical circuits and then build a working model of a circuit through the process of wiring a lamp. They will understand the flow of electrons through a circuit,...
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Ap Physics 1: Electric Circuits
In this unit students discover the meaning and some applications of electric potential, commonly known as voltage, and how it powers some simple circuits.
Georgia Department of Education
Ga Virtual Learning: Electric Current and Circuits
Students have the opportunity to explore the basics of current and circuits in this online module. Some of the activities include interactive animations, informational text, practice problems, and lab experiments.