Ding! There's something immensely satisfying in connecting a basic circuit to make a light bulb . . . well, light up. It's definitely much more fun than reading about the flow of electricity in a dry, boring textbook! That's the basic idea behind the Electricity Discovery Pack from Supercharged Science, a small but fun kit that teaches kids the basics of wiring their own electrical circuits. The kit includes most of the materials you need to complete the experiments as well as a DVD with instructions on how to make simple circuits ranging from light switches to "jitterbots"! The real "meat" of the kit, scientifically speaking, comes from the workbook (downloadable online in PDF format), which provides explanations for all the experiments and additional ideas for further exploration. The Electricity Discovery Pack ($50) is one component of a much larger Science Mastery program, but it works very well as a stand-alone product. To complete some of the more advanced exercises in the workbook, you will need to purchase some additional items, such as a telephone cord, switches, buzzers, etc. However, all of the basic projects can be constructed with what is included in the kit and some common household items (such as index cards or Styrofoam).

The Electricity Discovery Pack (along with everything else produced by Supercharged Science) is designed specifically for the homeschool, created to help parents who might not be scientifically inclined teach their kids the basics of science--while having fun at the same time! This particular kit would probably be best used for the elementary school level, though parents will have just as much fun playing with their kids' creations. Younger kids will definitely need help completing their projects, though the low voltages used mean that nobody's going to be electrocuted. This kit is designed for scientific exploration more than as a curriculum per se. However, the experiments make the most sense if they're completed in order, and the workbook could easily be adapted for use in a "classical" school setting.

On the whole, I found this kit to be a fun, engaging, and educational way to learn more about electricity on an elementary level. I enjoyed the emphasis on actively "doing" as opposed to passively "receiving"--a common failing in all too many science curricula these days. The experiments themselves, while basic, are interesting and fun! The only fault I can find with this kit (beyond the cost, which is a tad high for the amount of materials) is the fact that multiple additional materials are required for some of the more interesting experiments in robotics. However, I think the benefits outweigh the costs in this regard, and I would wholeheartedly recommend the Electricity Discovery Pack for use in your family's homeschool.

Product review by Josiah Wright, son of Dr. Anne Margaret Wright, Senior Product Reviewer, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, March 2010