Think of a series circuit as a single row of lights. It is one complete pathway with no other alternativepathways. If one light goes out, then the rest will go out as well because the flow of electricity has stopped.The burned out light opens the circuit so that the current cannot pass through. To illustrate this point, havesome students or the entire class sit in a single circle facing the center of the circle while holding a rope toillustrate the wire connection. Two students will pretend to be the light bulbs and another student, thebattery. Start the flow of electricity by passing 10 small balls one at a time around the circle. They shouldstart with the child pretending to be the battery. Give two students light bulbs hats to wear while they arereceiving the flow of the current of electricity. Let the students pass the balls to show the flow ofelectricity. Ask one of the light bulbs to move out of the circuit and take off the hat to show that the lightwent out. Electricity cannot “jump” over the gap in the circle, so the balls should accumulate at the personright before the burned out light bulb. The other light bulb is receiving no electrical energy (the balls), sothat student should take off the hat as well to signify that the light went out. If a light bulb goes out in aseries circuit, it opens the circuit so that the other bulbs will go out s well.

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