This 4-session hands-on course shows learners how to build electrical circuits with play dough and LEDs! The course uses Squishy Circuits, a highly intuitive, fun and child-safe way for kids to start exploring electricity and circuits. We'll first discuss what electricity actually is on a quantum physics level (a current of electron charges), and explore how it travels through a parallel circuit and a series circuit. Then we'll delve into the nature of conductivity, and test several items to determine which materials are conductive or non-conductive (insulators). We will also practice how to draw circuit designs on paper. Students will build their own creative light-up circuits to share in-class and with their families! 

Session 1: What is Electricity? Building Parallel Circuits 
Session 2: How Do Batteries Work? Building Series Circuits
Session 3: Getting Crafty - Testing and Building with Conductive and Non-Conductive Household Items
Session 4: Building Vertical Circuit Sculptures Using Insulators

The course uses a Squishy Circuits Lite Kit, which includes a specially-designed battery holder with electrical leads, LEDs (red, green and blue) and conductive dough. A Squishy Circuits Lite Kit can be purchased on Amazon (search "Squishy Circuits Lite Kit") for $15. This kit can be re-used many times, and the class includes instructions for ongoing circuit-building activities. Please note: the battery holder requires 4 AA batteries (not included in the kit). Other brands may also be substituted, as long as they include a battery pack, play dough and LEDs.

For easier clean-up, it is recommended that students use a piece of cardboard, paper or flat plastic (such as a plastic placemat) to build their circuits on. Student will also need a stable tabletop surface for building.