Hands-On Learning: 8th Graders Revisit Scrappy Circuits Ahead of Arduino Unit

Eighth grade Science students recently reviewed foundational electricity concepts before starting their unit on computer-controlled electronics.

Back in 4th grade, this class learned about electricity using Scrappy Circuits, a project that uses cardboard, binder clips, and paper fasteners to build working components. Before moving on to Arduino, an open-source electronics platform that combines easy-to-use circuit boards and simple software to help you build interactive hardware projects, students revisited these basic building blocks to build and test simple circuits.

This refresher allowed students to practice fine motor skills while reinforcing key concepts. By building their own circuits, students saw how complete paths let power flow while broken paths stop it. They also tested everyday materials to discover which items allow electricity to pass through, and which ones block the current.

By working to understand simple circuits first, these 8th graders have built a strong foundation for their upcoming work with Arduino coding, sensors, and hardware.

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