The transfer of energy from one form to another can be difficult to understand. The electrical energy that turns on a lamp may come from the burning of coal, water falling at a hydroelectric plant, nuclear reactions, or gusts of wind caused by the uneven heating of the Earth. The authors have developed and tested an exciting hands-on activity to demonstrate how transfer of energy can occur. The materials are inexpensive and easy to obtain, and the device is simple to build. In this activity, students build their own generator to study the transfer of energy. The generator activity allows students to observe electrical effects without using a battery or power supply. (Contains 4 figures, 1 resource, and 5 online resources.)