Circuits Unit Text Set

Ardley, N. (1991). The science book of electricity. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
This book contained supplemental ideas and experiments for the students who would
finish early. They would be able to explore the book independently to find something to
test or I could use the ideas as differentiation for students who finished sooner than
others. The students got to experiment with things involving electricity besides their
circuit kits which was can be very beneficial.

Berger, M., & Croll, C. (1989). Switch on, switch off. New York: Crowell.
I liked that this was more of a story book than an informational text. It made electricity
seem less scientific and made it more doable for the students. The students saw it in

their lives and saw that it was a technology that had a heavy influence on their lives. It
also discussed one of the more complicated portions of the unit which included the
switch.

Gordon, M., & Gordon, M. (1996). Electricity and magnetism. New York: Thomson Learning.
One lesson involved inquiring about how electricity would affect magnetism. In the
lesson students were able to explore using a compass how electricity and magnetism
work together. The book explained the science behind what was happening along with
providing a different experiment to try to see how electricity and magnetic objects
interact.

Middleton, H., & Morris, T. (1997). Thomas Edison: The wizard inventor. New York, NY:
Oxford University Press.
Thomas Edison had a drastic impact on electricity and its uses. The students learned
about one of his most important discoveries, the light bulb, but also some of his other
important breakthroughs along with some autobiographical information so they can see
how he came about those breakthroughs. One of the best parts of this book is that it tied a
lot of his inventions together to show his growth and importance to science.

Midthun, J., & Hiti, S. (2012). Electricity. Chicago, IL: World Book.

This book was informational but also slightly fictional, and was much more engaging to
students. The book personifies electricity to engage students and also explain more about
how it works. The book did a good job of discussing what electricity does beyond circuits
and providing power to human needs. The way the book explores electricity in natural
scenarios is important for the kids to notice.

Parker, S. (1992). Electricity. London: Dorling Kindersley.

The students were able to explore some of the more concrete examples of electricity in
the world around them. The book is part of the classic collection, with similar features,
and provides much of the history of how electricity came to be discovered and how
people continued to create new things using it. The students are able to get a good system
of background and basic knowledge before building into more specific and difficult
topics of electricity.

Parker, S. (1995). Thomas Edison and electricity. New York: Chelsea House.
This book was another source of information about Edison the inventor. This book was
slightly less about his experiments with the light bulb and more so about his general work
with electricity at Menlo Park. It discusses his work with phonographs and making
moving pictures. The book also mentions Menlo Park itself more than the other texts,
which provides students the chance to explore his working space.

Spilsbury, L., & Spilsbury, R. (2013.). Electricity. London: Raintree.

The students will have a similar experience to the electricity book by Parker, but focuses
on the physical science behind what creates electricity and how it exists, rather than the
hardware that goes with it. This book shows students how electricity is created in nature.

Spilsbury, L., & Spilsbury, R. (2013). Energy. London: Raintree.

This book was used so that students could start to see the connection between electricity
and energy. Since electricity is a form of energy it is important that they notice how else
electricity will have multiple forms of by-products such as light and heat. They will see
that these two forms of energy will interact and can come from the same force, electricity.