Yesterday, the fifth graders performed an experiment to test whether various common classroom materials were electrical conductors or insulators. Using some alligator clip wires, we hooked up a battery to a small flashlight bulb. Then, students attempted to complete the circuit by touching the wires to opposite ends of objects like paper clips, popsicle sticks, colored pencils, different coins, jewelry, and many other things we found around the classroom. If the lightbulb glowed, we knew that the material completed the circuit and therefore must allow electricity to flow through it, making it a conductor. Today, we will analyze our results and try to distill some conclusions about what types of materials make good conductors of electricity and which materials insulate electricity.
As an added bonus, Mr. Powers stopped by to experiment with us. He lent some excellent insights into our explorations and even took us to observe the school’s new 3-D printer! It was busy printing a test cube at the time. The students were super excited to brainstorm ways we might be able to use it to enhance our classroom activities!