1. Divide the girls into groups of four girls. Each group is to strip the ends of the Christmas tree lights so that there is a half inch of exposed wire leads.
2. Next, have the girls attach the wires to the Christmas tree lights so that they make a string of lights.
3. The girls will then connect the two ends of the string of lights to the battery.
4. Everyone is to observe what happens to the lights. Have the girls explain what they think happened. Ask the girls if they think the circuit is complete.
5. Now have the girls remove one light bulb from its base. Have the girls try to explain what happened. Ask them if they still have a complete circuit.
6. Let the girls experiment by removing different lights and observing what happens. Have the girls draw a picture of the various light configurations they try. Make sure the girls record what happens for each test.
7. What conclusions can the girls make about a series circuit? Ask them if they need all the lights to work to complete the circuit. Have them provide a definition for a series circuit. You may want to use the series and parallel circuits data collection sheet to help them define a series circuit.
Circuits can be wired so that electric current flows in a single path
through one or more resistors or lights. This is called a series circuit
and any break in the path will stop the flow of the current in the circuit.
In a series circuit, only one wire connects with each light, so if any one
light is removed, the circuit is broken and all of the lights will go out.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| HomePage | Table of Contents |
Program Overview |
Starting a Girls RISE |
Explorations | Girls on the RISE |