Electric circuits

This lesson can be run in a structured or unstructured format.
As an introduction, or after some experimentation discuss what electricity actually is to allow students to visualize what is happening in their circuits: a flow of electrons (or tiny particles/a piece of an atom) along the wires. Students can follow their path around their circuit and through any branches that they make. Younger students may understand the analogy of water flowing through a pipe.
Some things allow electrons to move through them (conductors, like tin foil), some things don’t.

Allow students to freely experiment with home made wires and bulbs, showing the younger students exactly how to make a loop to light a bulb.
The youngest students will enjoy turning the light bulb on and off.
Or follow with a game turning the light on and off: morse code game or the steady hand game.

Or test for conducting electricity to find out which materials in the classroom do and don't conduct electricity.

Or add another component to the circuit: Motor free play.

For a lesson on energy transformation, start with free play electric circuits, then do motor free play. End with discussion and board summary of the kinds of energy transformations happening.