The information presented here will give you a general idea of how to do the project, but doesn't walk you through all the steps as is done with the penny project. Don't forget that you'll need to follow the steps of the scientific method if you're going to work on one of these projects.

While the title of this science fair project sounds a little strange, it's actually pretty neat, and not difficult to do.

You'll need a piece of special equipment called a multimeter or a DC (direct current) microammeter. These measure electrical current in a circuit, and can be found at your local Radio Shack store for about $12.

In this experiment, you'll be your very own control. Your variables could be friends, or wet hands, or gloves, and so forth.

What you're trying to make happen is to have electrons travel through your body from one metal to the other. If you can do this, you're a human battery.

To do this, mount a piece of copper metal to a piece of wood, and a piece of aluminum metal to a different piece of wood. You can find these materials at a building supply store if they're not already in your garage.

Connect one end of the multimeter to the copper, and the other to the aluminum.

Your role in this experiment is to complete the electrical circuit from one metal to the other. By placing one hand on the copper and the other on the aluminum, the slightly acidic sweat on your hands provides the correct medium for this reaction to occur. You should see an electric current register on the multimeter. If you don't, reverse the connections and try it again.

Experiment a little bit now to find out how the current changes if you wet your hands before placing them on the metal. Doing so decreases the resistance to the flow of the electricity, causing the reading on the multimeter to be higher. You also can find out whether your friends or family members are better electrical conductors than you are.

Introduce your pupils to the world of batteries with this printable science activity. Pupils use a multimeter or direct current to turn themselves into human batteries with this science fair project.
Grades
5
6
7
8

Featured Middle School Resources

History of Earth Day Reading Passage and Quiz

ACTIVITIES

Earth Day Activities: History of Earth Day Reading Passage and Quiz

Help your students work on their reading comprehension skills while learning all about Earth Day with this reading compr...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER
Test Prep Strategies and Practice for Students

ACTIVITIES

Test Prep Strategies, Tools, and Practice Questions

Help set your students up for academic success with this packet of test-taking tips, test preparation strategies, and pr...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER
Elements of Poetry Workbook

WORKBOOKS

Elements of Poetry Workbook

Use this poetry toolbox workbook to support your students to learn different poetic terms and devices, and then practice...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER

Related Resources

LESSON PLANS

Are All Pennies Created Equal?

The penny, which has been around in the United States in one form or another since 1787, was the first currency of any t...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER

ACTIVITIES

The Sweetest Experiment – Chocolate and Solvents

The town of Hershey, Pennsylvania, has a slogan in which it claims to be the sweetest place on earth.

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER

LESSON PLANS

What Materials Make the Best Crystals?

Growing crystals isn't difficult, and it makes a great science fair project.

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER

ACTIVITIES

Making Eggs That Bounce

Did you ever try to bounce an egg? Don't! Not until you read through this experiment, anyway.

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER

ACTIVITIES

Making Invisible Ink

This simple experiment is great for young kids, but must be conducted with adult supervision because it involves using t...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER

ACTIVITIES

Do Odor and Bacteria Go Hand-in-Hand?

You know how sneakers get during those hot summer months when you wear them all the time, sometimes without socks? They ...

Add to Folder
creative writing
children's book
activities
classroom tools
language arts and writing
vocabulary
Create new folderCREATE NEW FOLDER
loading gif