Garrett MorganGarrett Morgan was an American inventor who started his career as a handyman. Garrett was the son of a slave and didn’t even go to high school. Instead, he learnt lots of practical skills that he could use to help people. He opened a sewing machine repair shop which was very successful and continued to fix and build things himself throughout his life.

The two inventions which made him famous were the first modern gas mask, which he used to successfully rescue miners trapped in a tunnel, and the first three-signal traffic light.

His light was different to the ones we use today: it was an upside-down T-shape which showed ‘stop’, ‘go’ and ‘all-stop’ (which was used to let pedestrians cross).

Garrett Morgan

In a group, read each ‘fact’ out then vote on whether you think it’s true or false.

Use the Garrett Morgan True or False Cards to see what you remember!

Can you identify Garrett’s achievements?

Traffic Lights

It will be a simple box, more like our modern traffic light than Garrett Morgan’s T-design. You will use three simple series circuits and switches to light up your bulbs.

You will build your model using a 3D net and build the circuits to fit inside it.

Today, you will be building a traffic light of your own!

Can you explain what we will need to make a working circuit with a bulb?

Use your wires, cells, bulbs and switches to show me a simple series circuit. Make sure you are using the equipment safely.

Why will the bulb turn off if the switch is open?

Simple Series

Click on each part of the circuit to find out about it:

bulbThis needs electricity to reach it to make

the filament light up.

switchThis is used to purposely break a circuit to

switch off the power. The circuit will only work if the switch is closed. cell

This is the energy source that sends power through our circuit (we often call this the battery).

wiresThese carry the electrical energy to the bulb. If they have gaps between them, the electricity cannot pass

through the circuit.

Build Your Lights

Once you have your model, experiment with three series circuits that you will fit inside it. Only one bulb should be lit at a time.

Use the Traffic Light Template to build your traffic light.

Cut out the net and holes for the bulbs, then fold along the dotted lines.Don’t worry – you have an instruction sheet to help you!

Once you are happy with your circuits, fit your bulbs inside the holes (depending on the size of bulb you use, you may need to make your hole a little bigger) and glue your card model together using the tabs on the net.

Have you successfully made a working series circuit?

Share and Improve

Use the Traffic Light Evaluation Sheetto assess how your traffic light building went!

Can you think of any ways to improve your design?

Garrett would be proud!

Success Criteria

Aim

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Success Criteria

Aim• To build a traffic light using series circuits.

• I can discuss the achievements of Garrett Morgan.

• I can construct a simple series circuit and explain how to make it work.

• I can identify the parts of a circuit.

• I can evaluate my work.