Lesson Planning

Teaching

• Design a circuit that has a particular function within a working model choosing the type of switch and components needed.
• Draw a diagram to represent the circuit (Yr3) using recognised symbols (Yr4).

Activities

• Recap on which materials are electrical conductors and which are insulators (Yrs3&4)
• Plan a working electrical model - An Electric Personality and build the circuit required (Yrs3&4)
• Understand the difference between an on/off switch and a pressure switch and build one of these into their circuit (Yrs3&4)
• Draw their circuit either in a way of their choice (Yr3) or using recognised symbols (Yr4)
  

Investigation
Your electric personalities will need to be switched on and off. Investigate switches and how they work also predict then test which materials allow electricity to pass through them (electrical conductors) and which do not (electrical insulators) (exploring, pattern seeking, classifying and identifying)
Year 3 – Use sorting hoops to sort conductors and insulators
Year 4 – Draw a results table to record results

Vocabulary
Electricity, circuit, switch, pressure, battery, device, motor, bulb, buzzer, component, wire, lead, crocodile clip, connection, power, cell, energy, flow, current, conductor, insulator, disconnect, design, test, adapt, modify