Electricity explained for kids: How energy lights up our world

This children’s article, Electricity explained for kids: How energy lights up our world, has been written for native English speakers and learners of English as a second or foreign language. It can help children practise reading and comprehension, learn useful vocabulary, and explore how electricity works and why it is so important in our lives today. Written by Mark Pulley, a teacher and writer who creates fun and informative news articles for English learners.

Was electricity discovered or invented?

Electricity was not invented in the same way as a machine. It already existed in nature, so it’s correct to say that it was discovered rather than invented.

People had known about electricity for thousands of years. The first electrical shock was recorded in 2750 BC by the ancient Egyptians; it came from a catfish! The ancient Greeks learned about static electricity by observing that rubbing amber could attract small objects. 

Much later, in the 1700s and 1800s, famous scientists such as Benjamin Franklin and Michael Faraday conducted experiments to learn more about electricity. Their work helped explain how electricity moves and how it can be used.

How is electricity generated?

Electricity is usually created using generators. Inside a generator, a magnet spins near coils of wire. This movement creates an electric current. This idea is called electromagnetic induction.

Power stations use different ways to spin the generator. Some use steam, others use wind or flowing water.

Different ways we produce electricity

There are many ways to generate electricity around the world. Some methods use natural resources, while others use fossil fuels.

Coal, oil and gas are burned to create heat, which turns water into steam and spins turbines. Wind turbines use the power of the wind, while solar panels turn sunlight directly into electricity.

Nuclear power stations use energy from tiny particles inside atoms to create heat, which, like in coal stations, is used to heat water and create steam. Hydropower uses moving water, such as rivers or dams, to turn turbines.

Why is electricity so important?

Electricity powers almost everything we use every day. Lights, computers, phones and hospitals all depend on it.

Without electricity, modern life would be very different. Schools, transport, and communication systems would not work anything like as they do now.

In the future, electricity will become even more important. As the world moves towards cleaner energy, more things like cars and homes will run on electricity instead of fossil fuels.

Article vocabulary list

• Electricity: A form of energy that powers machines and devices.
• Generator: A machine that produces electricity.
• Magnet: An object that can pull certain metals towards it.
• Current: The flow of electricity through a wire.
• Turbine: A machine that spins to produce energy.
• Fuel: A material that is burned to produce energy.
• Solar: Related to energy from the Sun.
• Nuclear: Energy produced from atoms.

Comprehension questions

Just click the plus (+) to see the answer