Guide

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Lesson2:SeriesandParallelCircuits
Summary and Background Knowledge:
In this lesson, students will build on their existing knowledge regarding circuits by experimenting with
Squishy Circuit materials to discover the differences between parallel and series circuits. The circuits
students created in Lesson 1 were simple circuits, meaning that they comprised of a power source, a
single energy output (LED or motor), and an optional switch.
Series and parallel circuits are more intensive, and contain more than one output. If a circuit is
connected in series, the electrical charge passes through each output (use LEDs of the same color) in a
consecutive order.
The circuit created in lesson was a series circuit. If one output is removed in the circuit, all future
outputs will no longer turn on. This is because the circuit is no longer complete, and the electrical charge
cannot reach those other LEDs. Users will notice that the LEDs are also dimmer. This is because the 6
volts from the batteries must be shared by all the LEDs. Each LED requires ~2.5v to turn on, so if you
have three LED lights connected in series, they require more voltage than the batteries can provide and
likely won’t turn on at all!