What are ways to learn/play with electricity at 6 years of age?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around ways to introduce a 6-year-old to the concepts of electricity and electronics through engaging and safe activities. Participants explore various educational kits and hands-on experiments that can facilitate learning while ensuring safety and enjoyment.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests looking for kits that include components like light bulbs and electromagnets, but expresses concern about the absence of capacitors and inductors in some kits.
  • Another participant mentions a specific kit, Snap Circuits, which uses rigid conducting bars for easier assembly and suggests that adult supervision is necessary for effective learning.
  • A different viewpoint emphasizes the importance of basic concepts before introducing more complex components like capacitors and inductors, advocating for unguided play as a learning method.
  • Some participants share personal anecdotes about their early experiences with electricity, highlighting both the risks and learning opportunities involved.
  • There are suggestions for alternative learning experiences, such as visiting science museums to stimulate curiosity in STEM topics.
  • Concerns are raised about the appropriateness of certain kits for a 6-year-old, with some participants suggesting that they may be too advanced or not engaging enough.
  • Humorous remarks about risky experiments in childhood are made, but some participants caution against discussing dangerous practices in the context of learning.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the need for adult supervision and guidance when introducing electricity concepts to young children. However, there is no consensus on the best approach or specific kits, with multiple competing views on what is appropriate for a 6-year-old.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the complexity of certain kits and whether they would be suitable for a child of this age. There are also references to personal experiences that highlight the risks associated with unsupervised experimentation.

Who May Find This Useful

Parents and educators looking for safe and engaging ways to introduce young children to the concepts of electricity and electronics.

  • #31
fluidistic said:
and a vague notion about complex numbers
Expect a note from the school teacher some day soon about him calling numbers imaginary.
 
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  • #32
Mark44 said:
Capacitors are also called condensers, but not "condensators," at least not in English. Back in the days when cars had points ignitions, a condenser was part of the ignition system, along with a coil.
Cars are - correct that - were a good source to learn about stuff - fluid dynamics ( hand out the window feeling the moving air ), sound ( honking the horn when your dad has his head under the hood ), and electricity ( when he got you back by telling you to hold this plug wire and see if it sparks ).
 
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  • #33
Mark44 said:
Capacitors are also called condensers, but not "condensators

If, in UK English, one can orientate (instead of orient) oneself, I see no reason why a Leyden jar cannot condensate charge.......who invented this language!?
 
  • #34
hutchphd said:
If, in UK English, one can orientate (instead of orient) oneself, I see no reason why a Leyden jar cannot condensate charge.......who invented this language!?
I'd judge orientate and condensate (as a verb) as back formations, namely words formed unnecessarily from longer words such as the nouns orientation and condensation.

Condensate, as a noun, is a word, but two online dictionary definitions that I looked at list it only as a noun, not a verb. There is no need for "orientate," since "orient" (verb) has exactly the same meaning and has the advantage of being shorter. Unfortunately, it will probably creep into the language.
 
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  • #35
hutchphd said:
I see no reason why a Leyden jar cannot condensate charge.......who invented this language!?
Two guys named Bose and Einstein? :wink:
 
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  • #36
Perhaps something like this. I'm not sure if this would be considered a "snap" circuit, but what is talked about in this video by Steve Mould seems like it might be useful for younger ages.
 
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  • #37
You have a lot of good suggestions in the earlier posts. Do not worry about inductors, and capacitors. A six-year old is not (likely) ready for Ohm's law, impedance, phasors, and differential equations.
 
  • #38
Regarding touching a 9 volt battery to the tongue. This seems harmless and I did it hundreds of times, but when I got older, I used to listen to the radio with a rechargeable 9-volt battery. The instructions on the battery warned, do not carry in your pocket where coins can short the battery and produce burns. I never got burns but they did get uncomfortably warm. I would not want that on my tongue.
 

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