How to introduce circuits to aspiring engineers?

STEM learning has opened up a wide avenue for students to further their careers, improve their creativity, innovation, collaboration, communication, and cognitive abilities. This is why engaging youngsters in inquiry-based and interactive STEM activities is significant. A part of it comprises of knowledge about electrical circuit. Learning about them and how they function will help youngsters pursue hardware, electronics, electrical or mechanical engineering. Here’s how circuits can be introduced to tech aspirants. 

Introducing the basics  
Before moving on to circuits, youngsters must first be introduced to the concept of static and dynamic electricity, and their differences. This can be done through simple analogies, sound theoretical grounding, and hands-on experiments. Students must also be able to figure out the similarities and connections between different yet related concepts like attraction and repulsion of magnets, electricity, and circuits. 

Exploring the world of circuits  
Before introducing circuits to young students, ensure that they understand the safety precautions that need to be maintained. Thereafter, engage them into interactive sessions, dividing them into groups. Provide every group with a complete circuit block and ask each to focus on one element: Wires, switches, and batteries of light bulbs. Help them learn the importance of each element and their connection with each another. One important aspect that students must know about circuits is that they have batteries, the ends of which should be connected in the right order to light up the bulb.  

One interesting way of explaining circuits to youngsters is comparing them with train tracks. Just like a train is dependent on its tracks to run, electrical flow is dependent on circuits. A train won’t be able to function if tracks are broken or disconnected. Similarly, the flow of electricity will be disrupted if the circuit doesn’t work.  

Explaining electricity  
Once students figure out the basics of circuits, they can be introduced to dynamic electricity, and how the conversion from one form of electricity to other leads to the working of the circuits. Explain that when the blocks are scattered, static electricity is already present inside them in an invisible form. Later on, when the blocks are arranged and connected in the right order, a complete circuit is created, which in turn helps to turn on the batteries and convert the flow of static electricity into dynamic/current electricity, lighting up the bulb.