This document provides instructions for constructing a simple electric circuit using common household materials like a wooden base, light bulbs, batteries, switches, and wires. It explains that you can mount the components to the base and connect them with wire to complete the circuit. It also describes how to test different materials to identify conductors that allow electricity to flow versus insulators that do not by seeing if a light bulb lights up when an object is placed in the circuit.

1. HOW TO CONSTRUCT A SIMPLE ELECTRIC
CIRCUIT

2. Materials Needed
 wooden base
 Light Bulbs
 lamp holder
 Battery holders
 Simple Switch
 Connecting wires

3. Steps to Construction
Step One -
Use screws to mount switch, battery holder and lamp to wooden base.
Step Two -
Using the wire make the circuit connections as shown .
Please be careful loosing screws and stripping the end
of the wires!
Step Three –
Place a D battery in holder, lower the switch and watch your light shine

4. Conductors and Insulators
Identify conductors and insulators around you. It is
important to know what materials are conductive and
what materials are not. The test is simple. Open the
switch and place the object between the poles of the
switch. If the light comes on, then the object is
conductive. You may try this with metals (coins, paper
clips, nails, etc.) and non-metals (glass, plastic, stone,
wood, etc.)

5. Simple test
Materials Directions
 Simple electric circuit
 Comb
 Fabric
 Metal Spoon
 Rock
 Electrical Tape
 Copper wire
 Turn off switch
 Remove wire from switch
going to lamp.
 Replace with additional wire
 Attach object to the two wires
between lamp and switch
 Turn on Switch – be sure not
to touch object

6. Results
 Fill out chart:
Object Light on Light off Conductor or
Insulator
Comb
Fabric
Metal spoon
Penny
Rock

7. Results
 Fill out chart:
Object Light on Light off Conductor or
Insulator
comb insulator
fabric insulator
metal spoon conductor
penny conductor
rock insulator

8. Final Thoughts
 How does a flashlight work?