First-Graders Explore Electricity with Hands-On Projects

At CGK International School, our Thursday first-grade Afterschool class embarked on an exciting journey during the 2024 school year to understand electricity. Starting with the question, “What is electricity and how does it work?” students explored static electricity, circuits, and electrical components through hands-on experiments. Over several weeks, they progressed from simple observations to building their own functional electric creations.

The students began by experimenting with static electricity, using balloons to lift hair and influence water streams. As their curiosity grew, they explored the role of electricity in daily life, identifying electronic devices around the school. They then moved on to circuits, constructing their first simple circuit with batteries, wires, and light bulbs. Week by week, they learned about switches, circuit diagrams, and the differences between series and parallel circuits, deepening their understanding through trial and error.

With this knowledge, the students designed and built their final projects, showcasing their creativity and problem-solving skills. Their inventions included a battery-powered electric car, a motorized helicopter with LED lights, a mushroom-shaped night lamp, and a multicolored flashlight. Each project demonstrated their ability to apply what they had learned in a fun and meaningful way.

For their presentation day, students built different circuits from scratch, each highlighting a key electrical component. When parents arrived, the young engineers excitedly guided them through hands-on demonstrations, encouraging them to interact with the circuits they had built. The event concluded with a live demonstration of their final projects, as students proudly showcased their electric car, helicopter, flashlight, and lamp in action. It was a joy to see their confidence and enthusiasm as they explained their creations.

This project was more than just learning about electricity—it was about exploration, teamwork, and creativity. Watching our students take ownership of their learning, problem-solve, and engage with their families made this experience truly special. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and look forward to seeing where their curiosity takes them next!