Everyday experiences familiarize students with the ways in which electricity is used, but often the underlying concepts remain a mystery. Teachers often use analogies to help students relate the flow of electrons to other common systems, but many times these analogies are incomplete and lead to more student misconceptions. However, the "pass the pennies" activity described in this article was found to actively engage students and help them understand the flow of electrons through a circuit while minimizing scientific misconceptions. (Contains 3 figures.)