Should a battery spark if you put the positive terminal before negative?

It depends on the circuit. If the circuit is completed before the positive terminal is connected, then yes, a spark will occur. This is because the electrons will flow from the negative terminal to the positive terminal through the circuit, and the spark will be created as the electrons jump the gap between the terminals. However, if the circuit is not completed before the positive terminal is connected, then no spark will occur. This is because the electrons will not have a path to flow through, and so they will not jump the gap between the terminals.