Circuit

An electrical circuit is a complete path which electrical energy can flow through.

What is a circuit? What components are needed to make a circuit? What is the history
of the circuit? What is a simple circuit board for kids? All these questions and more are
answered below!

What is a Circuit for Kids

There are countless devices in our children's lives that conduct electricity and somehow
maintain this energy! Electricity can only flow around a complete circuit that has no
gaps. Current electricity is the flow of electrical charge through materials. And how
does electricity move throughout a device? Well, through circuits of course!

A circuit is a device made of other, smaller electrical devices that can move the flow of
electricity through itself to power larger devices. Every complete circuit must have a
power supply. The power supply could be the mains, or it could be a battery.

For a circuit to be complete, there must be wires connected to both the positive and
negative ends of the power supply.

A simple circuit can be made from a battery, a bulb and wires.

What is the History of the Circuit?

In the 1800s, a man called Alessandro Volta created the first-ever battery which could
provide a continuous flow of current. This source for a flow of current made the very
first circuits a possibility. Renew Now ×
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Volta discovered that you could create a continuous flow of electricity by connecting
bowls of salt solution with metal strips. Then he used discs of copper, zinc and
cardboard that had been soaked in Renew
a salt solution
Now to create the first battery, which was
called the Voltaic Pile.
The early uses for this new discovery were for circuits to provide electricity for lighting
just before the bulb was invented by Thomas Edison.

What is Needed for a Complete Circuit?

1. There is a power supply (the battery).

2. There are no gaps anywhere, so the electrical current can flow around the
entire circuit.

3. The wires connect to both the positive and negative ends of the battery.

What causes an incomplete circuit?

1. There is a gap in the circuit, so the electrical current cannot flow around it.

2. The wires do not connect to the positive and negative ends of the power
supply (the battery).

Series Circuits and Parallel Circuits

There are two main types of circuits: series and parallel circuits. In these simple circuit
diagrams, the two lines represent a battery and the circle with a cross represents a
bulb.

Series Circuit

All of the current flows through each part of the circuit in a series circuit. All of the
components are connected together one after another. If one of the components
breaks or doesn’t work, then the whole circuit will not work.

In a series circuit there is one single pathway through which the electricity flows. This
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means that the amount of current is the same at every point in a series circuit.
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However, the amount of current that flows through each device varies because, as
more devices are added, Ohthe
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of current flowing through each device decreases.
You can see this if you add more lights to a series circuit because each light will shine
dimmer the more you add. Renew Now
Parallel Circuit

The current is divided into several paths in a parallel circuit. Each component in a
parallel circuit is on a separate branch. One of the components, such as a bulb, can be
switched on or off without affecting the others in a parallel circuit.

There are different paths through which the electricity flows in a parallel circuit, so the
amount of current is different at different points in the circuit. Each branch of a parallel
circuit is separate from the last, so adding more bulbs does not affect the amount of
current on each branch. This means that each light you add to a parallel circuit will
shine as brightly as the others, as long as the bulbs are added on separate branches. If
one of the bulbs in a parallel circuit breaks or stops working, the others will keep
working.

Alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC)

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There are two forms of electric power used by circuits. One is called alternating current ×
(AC) and the other is called direct current (DC). AC is generated by power stations and
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usually powers large appliances, membership
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DC powers battery-operated machines.

Direct current means that electricity flows in a single direction from the positive to the
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negative terminals. DC always flows in the same direction.
Alternating current is one that varies direction and magnitude (size) so the direction of
the current is constantly being reversed back and forth. It is cheaper and easier to
make electronic devices with AC power because the current can be increased and
decreased very easily.

Simple circuit boards for kids

Almost all of the electronic devices we use today contain circuit boards. A circuit board
is a base with electronic components attached. The base is made of a material that
does not conduct electricity, such as fiberglass, so that a circuit can be built on top of
this base. Electricity flows through the circuit but not the base.

Copper is used to connect the components on the circuit board because it allows
electricity to flow through it (copper is a good conductor). When a power source, like a
battery, connects to the circuit board, electricity flows to each of the components on
the circuit board.

Circuit boards contain many different components that all have their own properties
and serve different functions. Some of these components are: resistors, batteries,
fuses and more.

How many devices have you used today that contain circuit boards? Probably a few!
Circuit boards are used in computers, mobile phones and TVs.

How can I teach children about circuits?

Circuits are taught to children during certain science lessons on electricity. The best
tools to use to simplify electric circuits for kids to understand are circuit diagrams and
simple circuit models! Circuit diagrams give an outline of the circuit in clear, precise
terms that are easy to understand, and circuit models allow students to have tactile
interaction with circuits, build some for themselves, and understand the significance of
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Students can learn theOh no! Your
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symbols so that they understand what
each component of the circuit is and what it is used for. Students should also be
prompted to draw their own circuit diagrams.
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It is important to explain to students the dangers of electricity when teaching this
subject, as although small model circuits cannot harm a child, electric wires can still be
dangerous. When explaining electric circuits for kids, be sure to explain in clear terms
that electrical systems should not be used as a toy.

The equipment that is needed for a common classroom circuit model includes wires
with crocodile clip attachments on both ends, batteries and battery cases, a switch, a
small light bulb, and a small motor. There are other additions to electrical circuit kits
which can be included such as LEDs, transistors, resistors and capacitors.

There are countless ways to teach your students about circuits, as mentioned above,
but one of the best way to introduce the concepts in a way that feels hands on and is
still safe for younger kids to do is through a super fun potato circuit experiment!

Circuit Activity for Kids

One of the most popular and safest circuit activities to do with your students is the
Potato Lightbard Experiment!

In a safe envoirnment away from open flames, prepare a potato, two pennies, some
small copper wire, a small light bulb and two zinc-plated nails. Help your students cut
their potatoes in half, then make additional splits that can hold your two pennies. Then,
have them take their pennies and (if not pre cut) snip their copper wire into three
halves. Each penny will be wrapped with an individual piece of copper wire, leaving the
third to be used to wrap one of the nails. Make sure you stick the wrapped pennies into
the slits made for them!

Once the nail is wrapped, stick it into one of the cut potatoes. Now, wrap one of the
penny's wires into the wire of the nail. Do the same with the remaining nail and the
other penny and plug the nail into the other half of the potato. Once everything is
connected, take the end of one of the wires and hold it to the light bulb to make it glow!
There you go, you made a potato circuit with house hold items!

Circuit Video for Kids

Use this super entertaining and engaging video to teach your students even more about
the power of circuits!

Resources to About Circuits for Kids

Twinkl is the place to be for when you're struggling to think of your next lesson plan!
Not only do we have countless science resources for you to choose from for your next
science unit, but we also have amazing resources all about electricity and, of course,
circuits! Here are some of our favorite circuit-related resources and activities for kids!

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Make a Circuit Activity PowerPoint

If you need a super simple and super fun circuit experiment to do with your class, this
Make a Circuit Activity PowerPoint is an excellent resource and presentation that will
make all your dreams come true! With super engaging and easy instructions, beautiful
illustrations and enlightening photography, this presentation will allow your class to
easily create their own circuits to see how this process works!

Labeling Electrical Circuits Activity

Help your students discover the inner workings of electrical circuits with this Labeling
Electrical Circuits Activity. Offering illustrated examples and a simple prompt, your
students will go about correctly naming each part of the circuit to complete this
assignment! This is a great acivity to use for busy work during your electricity units!

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Find the Problem With the Electrical Circuit Cards

Want another activity to help your students discover the inner workings of circuits? This
Find the Problem With the Electrical Circuit Cards offers prompts and illustrations that
will have your students solving the issues apparent in the cards offered! this is a great
resource to wake up your student's problem solving skills and introduce the concepts
of circuits in general!

Some resources you might like...

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