How a lamp is built
A lamp has a holder: the bulb is screwed into it and the holder connects the bulb to the electric supply. The parts of a lamp are the bulb, the shade or diffuser, the holder, the power cord, the switch and the plug. A simple electric circuit consists of a source (such as a battery), wires and a bulb. Current flows only when the circuit is closed. A switch opens or closes the circuit. A drawing that shows how the parts are connected is called a diagram.
You need: 2 AA batteries and a holder (3 V), a small torch bulb and holder matching the battery voltage (3 V) (from a school kit), 3 wires with ends stripped by an adult, a cardboard switch (2 brass fasteners, a paper clip), tape. Steps: 1) Draw the diagram: battery, switch and bulb in one closed loop. 2) Connect the battery holder’s (+) wire to one end of the switch. 3) Connect the other end of the switch to the bulb holder. 4) Connect the bulb holder’s other wire to the battery (−). 5) Swing the paper clip onto the fastener to close the switch and the bulb lights; open it and the bulb goes out. 6) Check that it matches your diagram. Safety: use batteries only; never connect wires to a wall socket or plug and never push anything into a socket; never join battery (+) and (−) directly with a wire because it gets hot; choose a bulb voltage that matches the battery; take the batteries out afterwards; hand in used batteries; do all work with an adult.