Technology 1-Activities

• Ask your child to tell you what he/she knows about electrons moving along wires. Why is electricity important?

• You may want to discuss how electricity is a wonderful tool but it must be used with great care.

• Talk about safety issues regarding electricity in your home, such as electricity and water do not mix, never put foreign objects into an outlet, do not touch hot light bulbs.

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• FasTracKids performed an experiment demonstrating how electricity is generated from a power source (battery) and conducted (by the wire and nails) to generate a spark (burning the steel wool).

• Click on the picture here and ask your child to explain to you what is happening. What happens when the wires touch the nails? What happens to the steel wool? Why?

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• Walk around your house and have your child point out different tools/appliances that are used daily. Which use batteries? Which use electricity? What tools use 'kid power'? What are the differences and similarities (i.e., plug vs. no plug, portability, long life, etc.)?

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• When laundry is being washed, stop the machine during its different cycles and show your child what is happening in the machine.

• Ask your child to think about and tell you how clothing might have been cleaned before someone invented the washing machine.