Halloween Themed STEM Lesson-Series Circuit

My classes loved this activity! I have used it for many grade levels and many reasons. If you have a two column matching worksheet you can make this fun game. I am including two worksheets to download for free below. One is matching colors and the other is matching witch hats for Halloween! Stay tuned for another BLOG post where I teach you how to make a trio of light up pumpkins using the same concept of series circuits!

Materials needed:

• Two column matching worksheet
• Aluminum foil
• Clear gift tape
• Hole puncher
• 3 Double sided Alligator clips or 3 pieces of wire with the ends stripped
• 1 LED light bulb or one light cut from a holiday string light with the wire ends stripped
• 1 9volt box battery
• 1 toilet tissue tube (optional)

The purpose of this activity is to demonstrate a series circuit. Students should understand that a series circuit like a train on a track. The electricity flows along one path like a circle. If the track is broken anywhere the train stops. 

Watch the tutorial on YouTube

Step One:
Use the hole puncher to create a hole beside each choice in both columns on your worksheet.

Step Two:
Cut aluminum foil strips as long as needed to connect the holes for the correct pairs - left to right column. One strip for each pair.

Step Three:
Connect the correct answers with foil on the back of the paper. 

Step Four:
Fully cover the holes with the foil and tape the foil down to the paper completely covering it with tape. (If the foil is not completely covered with tape the game will not work.)

Step Five:
Clip one alligator clip to the positive side of the 9volt battery and another alligator clip to the negative side of the same battery.

Step Six:
Clip the free end of  one of the alligator clips to one end of the light bulb. Clip a third alligator clip to the the free end of the light bulb.

Step Seven:
(Optional) Stuff the free wire from the battery to the light bulb into the toilet tissue tube so the light bulb is dangling out of the tube. Tape the tube to the table so it stays upright.

Download One of the Worksheets Below to Create the Game

Play the Game!
Touch the free end of the alligator on the left to one of the foil answer circles in the left column. Touch the free end of the alligator clip on the right to the matching answer choice foil circle in the right column of your worksheet. If the answers are correct the light will light! 
​
Trouble shooting:
If your light isn't lighting and you know the answer is correct, you may have not taped each strip of foil completely on the back of the paper. Your series circuit isn't complete. Try redoing this step. Re-watch the video below to  make sure you have connected all of your wires properly, too. If any of  the wires are touching (including the light bulb wires) this will cause the circuit to be incomplete and the light bulb will not light. 

REMEMBER- You are completing a circle of electricity from the battery through the light and your answer choices by touching the connected foil circles. If the circle isn't complete, your circuit is not complete.

Watch the Tutorial Video Below

Tell me about your experience with this activity in the comments! Be sure to let me know what you want to see next.