How Do You Light a Bulb?

This was the question I posed the kids.  I gave them one battery, two wires, and one small light bulb.  Our students soon learned that electricity must flow in a complete circuit - from negative to positive.  The light bulb acts as a receiver, and the path of electricity must flow all the way from one side of the battery to the other.  This was a brand new concept to the majority of our kids, and they did an incredible job developing plans, trying out their theories, revising their thinking, and working with their partner.  I was proud of their persistence and critical thinking.  Here is a video of our scientists at work...