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Building a circuit

Science Year 4
This unit is part of Year 4 Science It's Electric

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Objectives

Learn about circuits and how to represent them in proper scientific diagrams.

Science Objectives
i) Construct a simple series electrical circuit, identifying and naming its basic parts, including cells, wires, bulbs, switches and buzzers.

ii) Identify whether or not a lamp will light in a simple series circuit, based on whether or not the lamp is part of a complete loop with a battery.

Working Scientifically
1. Ask relevant questions and use different types of scientific enquiries to answer them.

2. Set up simple practical enquiries, comparative and fair tests.

3. Record findings using simple scientific language, drawings, labelled diagrams, keys, bar charts, and tables.

Lesson Planning

Teaching

  • Construct a simple circuit, identifying the basic parts and to label a diagram of the circuit.
  • Predict if different ‘circuit’ layouts will light a bulb, and then test their predictions.

Activities

  1. Identify electrical materials and components required for a buzzer to sound or a bulb to light.
  2. Set up their own series of enquiries that explore electrical circuits and various effects.
  3. Record their findings in a simple table.
  4. See a diagram of an electrical circuit and identify what the symbols represent.

Investigation - problem solving and exploring
Identify electrical components and explore electrical circuits.

Vocabulary
Electricity, circuit, switch, battery, plug, mains, appliance, device, wire, crocodile clip, bulb, buzzer, connection, power, cell, energy, flow, current

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