Circuit Game for Kids: Circuit Builder
Circuit Builder is a free electricity game. Draw wires between the dots and add batteries, switches, bulbs, buzzers and motors to build circuits that meet each goal, from lighting one bulb to wiring a burglar alarm.
Circuit Builder
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- Ages
- 7–12
- School years
- 2nd Grade–6th Grade
- Skills
- Complete circuits: electricity needs a closed loop, Series and parallel circuits, Conductors and insulators
- Time
- 2–5 minutes a round
- Cost
- Free, no sign-up
- Updated
How to play Circuit Builder
- Choose a level. Read the goal at the top: it might be to light a bulb, sound a buzzer, or make a bulb light only when two switches are on.
- Drag from dot to dot to draw wires. Tap a wire to remove it, or use the eraser.
- Pick a part from the tray, then tap between two dots to place it. Tap a switch to flip it on or off, and tap a battery to turn it round.
- The goal table ticks each switch setting that works. When every row has a tick the level is solved. Use the fewest moves for 3 stars, or try anything you like in the Sandbox.
What your child learns
- Complete circuits: electricity needs a closed loop
- Series and parallel circuits
- Conductors and insulators
- How switches control a circuit
- Why short circuits are dangerous
- Logical thinking with AND and OR
About Circuit Builder
A circuit is a complete loop. Electricity flows out of one end of a battery, through wires and parts such as bulbs, buzzers and motors, and back into the other end. If there is a gap anywhere in the loop, nothing works, which is exactly what a switch does: switched off, it opens a gap; switched on, it closes it. Materials that let electricity flow through them, like the metal in wires, keys and coins, are called conductors. Materials that do not, like plastic, rubber, wood, paper and wool, are insulators, which is why wires are covered in plastic.
There are two ways to connect more than one part. In series, parts sit one after another in a single loop, so they share the battery’s push and two bulbs glow more dimly; switches in series must all be on (an AND circuit). In parallel, each part has its own branch, so each bulb gets the full push and shines brightly, and either of two parallel switches can turn a bulb on (an OR circuit). A short circuit is a wire straight from one end of a battery to the other: the electricity skips everything else, the wire gets hot and the battery goes flat, so the game warns you and the level will not count. The 30 levels build these ideas step by step: Sparks suits Grades 2–3, Series & parallel suits Grades 4–5, and Engineer challenges 6th Grade. Every level’s solution is checked by a computer simulation of the circuit.
Which level should my child play?
| School year | Suggested level |
|---|---|
| 2nd Grade | Sparks |
| 3rd Grade | Sparks |
| 4th Grade | Series & parallel |
| 5th Grade | Series & parallel |
| 6th Grade | Engineer |
Move up a level after getting three stars two or three times in a row.
🏆 Leaderboard
Full leaderboard →Play a round to get on the board! Create a free account to save your scores.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between series and parallel circuits?
In a series circuit the parts are joined one after another in one loop. The electricity has only one path, so if one bulb is removed or a switch is off, everything stops, and bulbs share the push so they are dimmer. In a parallel circuit each part has its own branch, so each works on its own and bulbs stay bright. Homes are wired in parallel so every light can be switched separately.
What are conductors and insulators?
Conductors let electricity flow through them easily. Most metals are good conductors, such as copper wire, steel keys, coins, paper clips and kitchen foil. Insulators do not let electricity through. Plastic, rubber, wood, glass, paper and wool are insulators, which is why plugs and wires are covered in plastic or rubber.
What is a short circuit?
A short circuit happens when electricity finds a path from one end of the battery straight back to the other without going through a bulb, buzzer or motor. So much electricity flows that wires get hot and batteries drain quickly, which can be dangerous. In the game a short circuit shows a warning, and the level does not count until you remove it.
Why does my bulb glow dimly?
Bulbs in series share the battery’s push, so each one gets less. Put the bulbs in parallel, each on its own branch, to make them bright, or add a second battery facing the same way to push harder.
Is it safe to try these circuits at home?
Only with an adult, and only with small batteries such as AA cells, bulbs and buzzers from a science kit. Never experiment with mains electricity from wall sockets, and never connect a wire straight across a battery.
Can I play with a keyboard?
Yes. Press Tab to reach the board and use the arrow keys to move between dots. Hold Shift and press an arrow to draw a wire, or to place the chosen part, in that direction. Number keys choose tools, E chooses the eraser, W the wire and H gives a hint.
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Help your child shine in school
Practice at home is a great start. Success Tutoring offers personalized tutoring to build skills and confidence.