Electricity is everywhere in the modern world. Almost everything in our homes and offices use it, and it's important for kids to understand how it works. The best way to teach them is through at-home electrical projects that explain the concepts. Introductory projects don't require a complex kit and don't need to be expensive. In fact, you can teach a child a lot about electricity for less than $20.
Motor
For this project, you'll need one small motor (3-volts), a 2 AA battery holder and 2 1.5-volt AA batteries. You can use 1.2-volt batteries instead, but the motor will spin more slowly. Connect the wires of the battery holder to the wires of the motor. You can just twist the exposed portion together, but make sure you match the colors. Put the batteries in the holder.
Use this project to explain to the child basic electrical concepts like voltage and current. The motor is a 3 volt DC motor. Each AA battery is 1.5 volts (or 1.2 volts). Ask him what he thinks would happen if you removed a battery (too little voltage) or added another (too much voltage).
Buzzer Switch
For this project, you'll need one small piezo siren (3 volts), one normally closed switch (12VDC maximum), a 2 AA battery holder and 2 AA batteries. Connect the black wire from the battery holder to the "power" terminal on the switch, and the black wire from the buzzer to the "ground" terminal on the switch. Connect the red wires from the battery holder and buzzer. Insert the batteries. When you press the button on the switch, the siren should blare.
Ask the child to explain how it works. Make sure she discusses how the switch stops the flow of the electricity to the buzzer. Explain the voltage tolerance of the switch (up to 12 volts). What does she think would happen if more than 12 volts went through the switch?
LED Throwies
These are probably the most fun project for kids, as it involves making something shiny that you can throw. You'll need a 10mm LED of any color, a 2032 button-cell battery and a small rare-earth magnet (if you want the throwie to stick to metal). Touch the long LED lead to the positive side of the battery and the short lead to the negative side. The LED should light up. Wrap some clear tape around the battery to hold it in place. If you're using a magnet, tape it to the positive side of the battery.
If you completed the first two projects with your child, there's very little learning here. You might discuss how LEDs work or what would happen if you reversed the leads of the LED (it would short). A better idea is to let your aspiring electrical engineer make a handful of these and toss them from a high-up location in the dark. If he does it while his friends are around, you can rest assured that they too will become interested in electronics.
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