Snap Circuit Lesson Plan - MTU Mind Trekkers

MIND TREKKERSSnap Circuit Lesson PlanAmount of time Demo takes: 3 minMaterials:1. *Battery Packs2. *Resistors3. *Switch4. *Diodes5. *WiresNote: All asterisked materials are in the snap circuit kit.Set up instructions:1. Set up the snap circuits as shown below:SAFETY!:1. Do not short out battery packs! They could blow up.2. Keep young children away from small pieces.Lesson’s big idea:● Show how a battery pack powers circuitsInstructional Procedure:1. Show the students that when the circuit is complete a charge can run through the set up butwhen the switch is open the light will not receive electricity so it cannot light up.2. Change the resistance to make the light brighter and dimmer.3. Discuss why a circuit works and talk about the flow of electricity.Assessment:Sample questions you can ask:

1. Why does the LED change brightness?2. What is the purpose of the switch?Clean UpDon’t lose any snap pieces. They are expensive!Between demos, reset the snap board back to the original set up so that you can facilitate thedemo from the beginning and properly teach the students.Clean up between demonstrations if needed. When completely finished gather all materials listedfor this demonstration and make sure everything is accounted for. If something was used up,broken or damaged, let someone know so it can get replaced or fixed.References:KNEX snap circuit bookNational Standards:K-4 Content Standard B: Physical Science, Light, heat, electricity and magnetism5-8 Content Standard B: Physical Science, Transfer of energy, Motions and forces9-12 Content Standard B: Physical Science, Motions and forces, Interactions of energy andmatter