The following is a list of recommended books that provide a wide range of reading and research resources for this unit. Collect as many as you can for your classroom science library, or provide the list to your school or local public librarian.
If you have a budget for purchasing books, the Science Companion recommends the following titles to supplement the Electrical Circuits module:
Gail Blasser Riley. (2004, Scholastic Children’s Press)
This biography covers Benjamin Franklin’s accomplishments through his entire life, including his signature on the Declaration of Independence, but it also provides good coverage of his scientific experiments and inventions relevant to electricity.
Mary F. Blehl. (2006, Pearson Education, Inc.)
A Scott Foresman Science Leveled Reader (Grade 4, On-level). With clear photographs, this book introduces static electricity, electric current, and circuits.
Karen J. Donnelly. (2001, Capstone Press)
This concise book introduces the career of an electrician, discussing educational requirements, duties, work environment, and other aspects of the job.
Carol Levine. (2006, Pearson Education, Inc.)
A Scott Foresman Science Leveled Reader (Grade 5, Below-Level). This book introduces the idea of electric current, gives some clear examples of electric circuits, and includes a discussion of how electromagnets work.
Steve Parker. (1992, DK Publishing)
With the photographs and other illustrations that make the Eyewitness Science series stand out, this book provides a comprehensive overview of electricity. It begins with early ideas and discoveries, and includes the many ways electric charges are collected and used.
Darlene R. Stille. (2004, The Child’s World, Incorporated)
This book gives an overview of electricity, including how it was discovered and how batteries are made. It includes a brief biography of Benjamin Franklin.
Peter Riley. (1999, Scholastic)
This book explains simple circuits, generating electricity, and motors, and their uses in everyday life. It also includes experiments to show how electricity works.
Sam Brelsfoard. (2006, Pearson Education, Inc.)
A Scott Foresman Science Leveled Reader (Grade 5, On-Level). This book discusses conductors and insulators, as well as circuits and electromagnets. It includes clear diagrams of simple and more complex circuits.
Kim Fields. (2006, Pearson Education, Inc.)
A Scott Foresman Science Leveled Reader (Grade 4, Below-Level). With color photographs and simple diagrams, this book provides a basic introduction to static electricity, electric current, and magnetism.
Adele Richardson and Phillip W. Hammer. (2006, Fact Finders)
Written for ages 8 to 12, this book introduces electricity and its generation, components, movement, and function. Its questionand- answer format makes it a useful reference for the Science Center.
Darlene R. Stille; illustrated by Sheree Boyd. (2004, Picture Window Books)
Appropriate for ages 6 to 10, this book describes and illustrates how electricity powers the appliances in a house.
Brian Williams; illustrated by David Antram. (2003, Barron’s Educational Series)
Michael Faraday discovered the relationship between electricity and magnetism, which led him to develop the first electric motor and electric generator. With cartoon-like illustrations, this book tells the story of Faraday’s discoveries. Each two-page spread is supplemented with a sidebar called "Here’s the Science.”
Barbara Seuling; illustrated by Nancy Tobin. (2003, Holiday House)
In simplified terms, this book describes electricity and introduces some key inventors, including Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, and Alessandro Volta.
Rosalyn Schanzer. (2002, HarperCollins Publishers)
This picture-book biography describes Benjamin Franklin’s various inventions and scientific experiments, culminating in his capture of lightning’s electric power. Endpapers show some of Franklin’s original drawings of electrical experiments.
Lillian Duggan. (2006, Pearson Education, Inc.)
A Scott Foresman Science Leveled Reader (Grade 5, Advanced). Color photographs illustrate a history of the discovery of electricity, electromagnetism, and the invention of the incandescent light bulb.
Joanna Cole; illustrated by Bruce Degan. (1997, Scholastic)
Ms. Frizzle and her class visit an electric power plant, and learn how electricity is generated and how it travels. The book is packed with information that goes beyond the scope of the unit, but it is entertaining and may stimulate students’ further interest. My Light
(2004, Blue Sky Press)
Beautifully illustrated, and narrated by "your sun," this book focuses on four scenarios in which the generation of electricity can be traced back to the sun: a hydroelectric dam, wind turbines, a coalburning plant, and solar cells.
Lisa J. Aldrich. (2005, Morgan Reynolds Publishing)
Appropriate for grades 5 and up, this book describes Tesla’s discovery of the rotating magnetic field and includes his great inventions, such as early remote controls, radio, and alternating current equipment.
Patricia Walsh. (2006, Pearson Education)
A Scott Foresman Science Leveled Reader (Grade 4, Advanced). This well-illustrated book gives extended coverage of static electricity, electric current, and magnetism.
Margaret Cousins. (1981, Random House)
This biography tells the story of inventor Thomas Edison. By the end of his career, Edison had invented the light bulb, motion pictures, and the phonograph, and made improvements in almost every other means of communication used today.
Melvin Berger; illustrated by Carolyn Croll. (1990, HarperCollins Children’s Books)
Recently reissued, this book explains in simple terms how electricity is produced and transmitted, how generators supply electricity for cities, and how electricity works in homes.
Wil Mara: (2004, Children’s Press)
This middle grade biography describes the life of Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb, phonograph, and movies with sound. It includes a "Words You Know" section that highlights terms and concepts from the text, and illustrates them with photos.
Lola M. Schaefer. (2002, Capstone Press)
Appropriate for early elementary students, simple text and photographs highlight major events in the life of Thomas Edison. A timeline feature at the bottom of each spread captures details one at a time, culminating in a complete summary of his life on the final page.
Sally Morgan and Adrian Morgan. (1993, Facts on File)
This book describes how energy is extracted from its sources Electrical circuits are discussed throughout.
C. Vance Cast. (1992, Barron’s Educational Series)
"Hi. I’m Clever Calvin". We all use electricity every day, but we hardly ever stop to think about what it is or where it comes from. Accompanied by humorous illustrations, Clever Calvin finds out how electricity is generated and brought to our homes.
Dennis Brindell Fradin; illustrated by John O’Brien. (2002, Penguin Young Readers Group)
Written for grades 3 to 5, this book introduces all of the important contributions and inventions Benjamin Franklin gave the world, including the lightning rod and his experiments with electricity.