Potato batteries are fun for all age groups! It can work as a demonstration but is best as an interactive activity. It’s difficult not to be captivated by the amazing way chemical reactions between the metal pieces and the potato juices which cause an electric current to go around the wires. This lights up a bulb!

For very young children, this is a nice way to engage them with how fun science can be.

Before the activity

Make sure you have all the ingredients/kit ready

• Potatoes chopped in half – 4 halves per child
• Battery kit per child (can be found easily online)
• Worksheets spread out on tables

Health and safety

Sharp edges on the metal, tell the children to be careful

How you can introduce the activity

1. We’re going to make a simple battery. Does anyone know what a battery is? Get the kids to give some ideas. Where might you use a battery? 
2. Batteries produce electricity to power things. What things use electricity?
3. Real batteries are a lot more complicated than potato batteries but we can still use a potato battery to power something!

Activity

2. Use the wires to join the potatoes together like this. Always connect copper to zinc.

3. Now we’ll connect our bulb! Can you see there is a long wire and a short wire on your bulb?

4. Make sure copper (gold colour) joins to the long wire on the bulb

Troubleshooting

• Make sure all the wires are joined up exactly as in the picture. 
• Make sure none of the crocodile clips are touching each other.
• Make sure the wires from the bulb are not touching – you can bend them outwards. 
• Make sure the metal pieces are not touching each other.

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