How to Make Electricity Easily for Kids

You can use a lemon to generate electricity.

Teaching children about the magic and dangers of electricity is important to their safety and their education. There are simple ways to make electricity that will intrigue kids and adults alike. You can use basic items found in your home to teach children about electrical power. This will lead to interesting discussions about voltage strength, static electricity, what objects conduct electricity and the wonders of science.

Things You'll Need

• Soap
• Towel
• Fresh lemon
• Sharp knife
• A penny and a dime (or you can use zinc and copper strips)

Instructions

1. Clean the penny and dime thoroughly with soap and warm water and then dry them off with a towel.

2. Roll the lemon on a table or countertop. This will release the juices. Explain to the children that you are creating a lemon battery.

3. Cut two slits into the lemon. Make these cuts about a half inch apart.

4. Slide the clean dime and penny into the slits you cut into the lemon.

5. Hold the lemon to your mouth and touch your tongue to the penny and dime at the same time. You will feel a tingling sensation. This is electricity.

6. Discuss with the children how one of the coins has a positive electrical charge and the other one has a negative electrical charge. This is because the acidity in the lemon reacts differently with the two metals, according to the US History website. The tongue is moist, so it acts as a wire and allows the circuit to be complete by conducting or guiding the electrical charges.

References

• US History: The Electric Ben Franklin