O.K. kids, see this loop of wire? It's a closed circle right? Who can
tell me what's happening in this closed circle of wire right now? Any
ideas?

Ideas follow.

Well who said nothing? Well, you're right because nothing is
happening inside this loop of wire at the moment. It's just a loop of
wire, made up of a bunch of copper atoms. All the copper atoms are just
sitting there looking at each other and nothing is happening. Atoms, by
the way are the small pieces of copper that exist, so small, you can't
even see them in a regular microscope.
But here's something really strange, if I take a magnet and pass
it through this loop of wire, something starts to happen. Anyone know
what that is? You there in the back, pay attention because I was just
telling everyone else what Santa Claus is giving you for Christmas.
Sorry, I only mention these things once. Who can tell me what happens?

Ideas follow.

Well, what starts to happen is that these atoms start passing
parts of themselves to the atom next to them. Here, each one of you
pick up one of these stones I brought along here and get in a circle.
Now pretend this stone is part of you. We could call it your arm but
you already have one of those, so we'll call it your electron and we'll
pretend you're a copper atom in a wire. Ready? Now here's what we're
going to do: When I shout "magnet!" each one of you guys is going to
take this small stone, and pass it to the person on your right. Who
knows which direction right is? (Sort them out) O.K. ready? MAGNET!!!!!

Hopefully, all stones move to the right.

Now what you've just done is demonstrate what happens when a
magnet passes around a wire. Those electrons moving are called..Who can
tell me. Tell me and I'll pay you a buck right now.

Good. That's right, electricity!!!!!!

Now what I've got here is a little device I made to make a whole
bunch of magnets go past a loop of wire real fast. It's called a
generator. Here you there. Turn this and let's see what happens. See
what those moving electrons can do!!!!! Very good, here's a buck. You
generated electricity, just like the power company, so I'm paying you
just like your folks pay the power company to keep your lights at home
on....

Charles Morrill