Shocking Truth Worksheet Shocking Truth
Part 1: How Electricity Flows
Name:
Date:
What is Electricity?
Electricity is a type of energy . It flows through wires like water flows through a pipe. This flow is called a current . It can turn on lights, heat up toast, and charge your phone!
How does it move?
Water in a pipe
Electricity in a wire
Word Match
Draw a line to match the word to its meaning.
Energy
Current
Wire
The "path" electricity travels on.
The power to do work.
The flow of electricity.
Choose the Best Answer
1. What is electricity used for?
To make water disappear
To power things like lights and computers
To grow flowers faster
2. When electricity flows, it is called a ________.
River
Current
Battery
3. Most electricity in your house travels through:
Plastic straws
Cotton strings
Metal wires
Electricity Detective
In the box below, draw one thing in your classroom that uses electricity.
Shocking Truth Slides Shocking Truth
Electricity & Flow
? What is Electricity?
It is a type of energy.
Energy is the power to do work.
It helps us light up our world!
Go with the Flow
Water in a Pipe
Electricity in a Wire
This flow is called a CURRENT.
Electricity is Everywhere!
Entertainment
Keeping Food Cold
Communication
Zap and Snap Teacher Guide Zap and Snap
Teacher Facilitation Guide & Answer Key
Instructional Strategies
For 2nd-4th Grade Levels
Concrete Analogies: Use the "Water Pipe" (Current) and "Race Track" (Circuit) analogies consistently.Visual Support: Rely on the icons and drawings in the slides and worksheets to anchor vocabulary.Repetition: Reiterate the "Opposites Attract / Like Repel" rule daily during the magnet lesson.
7th Grade Context
Age-Appropriate Visuals: While the reading level is low, keep graphics clean and "cool" (e.g., the Iron Giant/Lab theme) rather than "childish."Hands-On Focus: Allow students to touch and feel the forces (magnets, heat from wires) as primary learning evidence.
Answer Keys
1: Shocking Truth
Word Match:
Energy → The power to do work
Current → The flow of electricity
Wire → The "path" electricity travels
Multiple Choice:
1. Power things like lights/computers
2. Current
3. Metal wires
2: Magnetic Magic
True/False:
1. True | 2. True | 3. True
Magnet Hunter (Circles):
Paperclip, Iron Wrench, Iron Nail
3: Power Path
Will it Light Up?:
Check "Circuit B" (The closed circle)
Labeling:
Wrench → Conductor
Eraser → Insulator
Penny → Conductor
Stick → Insulator
Lab Safety & Success Tips
Heat: Remind students that short circuits (connecting battery terminals directly) generate heat. The wire and battery may become warm. Encourage the use of electrical tape or rubber gloves if needed.
Wire Wraps: The more wraps around the nail, the stronger the magnet. If a student's magnet is weak, have them count their wraps and try to double them.
Battery Drain: These experiments drain batteries quickly. Tell students to disconnect one side of the wire when they aren't actively testing to "save" the battery.
Magnetic Magic Worksheet Magnetic Magic
Part 2: North and South Poles
Name:
Date:
Invisible Force
Magnets have an invisible "force field." They have two sides called poles :
North Pole (N)
South Pole (S)
North
South
Push or Pull?
S
N
S
N
Same poles PUSH away! (Repel)
S
N
N
S
Opposite poles PULL together! (Attract)
True or False?
Circle the correct answer.
1. All magnets have two poles.
TRUE FALSE
2. A North pole and a South pole will pull together.
TRUE FALSE
3. Magnets can pull objects through a glass of water.
TRUE FALSE
Magnet Hunter
Which of these items will a magnet pick up? Circle the ones that are magnetic .
Paperclip
Apple
Iron Wrench
Pencil
Iron Nail
T-Shirt
Field Sketch
Draw the invisible force field around this magnet. Use curved lines to show the field reaching from one pole to the other.
N
S
Magnetic Magic Slides Magnetic Magic
Invisible Force
The Two Poles
Magnets have two ends called POLES.
NORTH
SOUTH
Opposites Pull Together
N
S
They ATTRACT!
Same Poles Push Away
N
N
They REPEL!
Power Path Worksheet Power Path
Part 3: Circuits and Materials
Name:
Date:
The Circuit Circle
Electricity needs a complete path to travel. This path is called a circuit . It must be a closed circle for the power to flow and turn things on!
Conductor (GO)
Lets electricity pass through easily.
Example: Metal
Insulator (STOP)
Blocks electricity from passing.
Example: Plastic
Will it Light Up?
Check the box for the circuit that will work.
Broken Path
Closed Circle
Conductor or Insulator?
Label each item as a Conductor (electricity goes) or Insulator (electricity stops).
Metal Wrench
Rubber Eraser
Copper Penny
Wooden Stick
Inside a Wire
Most wires have metal on the inside and plastic on the outside. Why do you think we put plastic on the outside of a wire?
Power Path Slides Power Path
Circuits & Materials
The Circuit Circle
Electricity needs a Closed Path to work.
It is like a Race Track.
If there is a gap, the power STOPS!
Complete Circuit
Conductors: The Green Light
METAL
These materials let electricity FLOW easily.
Iron, Copper, Gold
Insulators: The Red Light
Plastic
These materials BLOCK electricity.
Plastic, Wood, Rubber
Iron Giant Lab Guide Iron Giant Lab
Making an Electromagnet
Team:
The Mission
"Can we turn a simple iron nail into a magnet using electricity?"
Materials
D-Battery
Large Iron Nail
Copper Wire
Paperclips
The Steps
1
Wrap the Nail
Wrap the wire tightly around the nail. Leave about 4 inches of wire loose at both ends.
2
Connect to Battery
Tape one end of the wire to the (+) side of the battery. Tape the other end to the (-) side.
3
Test Your Magnet!
Touch the tip of the nail to a paperclip. Does it stick?
Careful: The wires can get hot! Use tape or gloves.
Iron Giant Slides
Iron Giant
Building an Electromagnet
The Science Secret
When Electricity flows through a wire...
...it creates an Invisible Magnetic Field around the wire!
How to make it Stronger?
More Batteries
More Wraps of Wire
Giant Electromagnets
Used in Junk Yards!
They can pick up heavy Steel Cars when the power is ON.
When the power is OFF, the car DROPS!
