Exciting Children's Electronics - Easy Circuitry Projects for Young Minds
The BBC Terrific Scientific campaign, a primary science education initiative, is engaging children and families in scientific learning through fun and accessible investigations. This campaign, which aligns with national curriculum goals, offers DIY science experiments that children can conduct at home, fostering curiosity and developing scientific enquiry, observation, and problem-solving skills.
Designed for primary school children, the resources provided by the BBC Terrific Scientific campaign are tailored to support their learning stage. One such experiment involves simple circuits, demonstrating how electricity powers appliances and toys.
In this activity, a model street is created using small houses, blocks, pipecleaners, tape, decorations, and the circuits themselves. Each house in the model street is lit up when its corresponding circuit is activated. The circuits can be as simple as a battery pack with wires connected to the positive and negative ends, or they can include switches to control the flow of electricity.
It's important to note that electricity can be extremely dangerous, and it's crucial to ensure none of the wires are damaged or exposed, and hands are dry before starting. Adult supervision is required for this activity.
The houses in the model street can be lit using a series circuit, where multiple bulbs or other features are added to the same circuit without increasing the power, causing the bulbs to be dimmer than one alone. This concept can be further explored by experimenting with the number of houses that can be lit using one circuit with bulbs in series and adding extra batteries to overcome resistance.
The BBC Terrific Scientific website offers a wealth of additional science investigations for children, including a DIY section for home investigations. The campaign, which is part of the BBC's broader commitment to enhancing science education, is celebrated for making science accessible and enjoyable, aiming to inspire the next generation of scientists through hands-on, investigative learning.
The Terrific Scientific campaign consists of ten classroom-based investigations using minimal equipment. These investigations, which vary each season, typically involve experiments related to topics like environmental science, physical and biological sciences, and everyday chemistry, designed to be safe and fun with clear instructions.
For more detailed descriptions or examples of the DIY investigations, the BBC's official education or Terrific Scientific website would be the optimal source for the latest materials and guidance. The campaign is celebrated for making science accessible and enjoyable, aiming to inspire the next generation of scientists through hands-on, investigative learning.
This article was last updated on June 30, 2025, by Emma Vanstone.
- The BBC Terrific Scientific campaign offers a wealth of science investigations for kids, including DIY activities that can be conducted at home, aligning with national education goals and supporting primary school children's learning stage.
- One such experiment involves creating a model street using simple circuits, demonstrating how electricity powers appliances and toys, fostering curiosity and developing scientific enquiry, observation, and problem-solving skills.
- It is important to ensure that none of the wires are damaged or exposed and that hands are dry during this activity, as electricity can be dangerous, and adult supervision is required.
- The Terrific Scientific campaign also consists of ten classroom-based investigations using minimal equipment, each season featuring experiments related to topics like environmental science, physical and biological sciences, and everyday chemistry, designed to be safe and fun with clear instructions.
- For more detailed descriptions or examples of the DIY investigations, the BBC's official education or Terrific Scientific website would be the best source for the latest materials and guidance, making science accessible and enjoyable, aiming to inspire the next generation of scientists through hands-on, investigative learning.
