Circuits and conductors - lesson plan

Objectives
To understand the conductivity of different materials and the
effect of changing the power source
National Curriculum
Sc3, 1c; Sc4, 1b.
Resources
Online activities:
o Bitesize circuits and conductors section: play, quiz
o Pod's Mission - electricity game
Learning Zone Broadband Class Clips:
o What materials conduct electricity?
Worksheets:
o Circuits and conductors worksheet (PDF 1.7MB)
Other resources:
o Large sheets of sugar paper with the words 'battery' and 'mains'
o Music player
o Interactive whiteboard
o Computers (one for each group)
o Range of electrical components - batteries, wire, bulbs
o Range of materials - non-conductors (eg chalk, rubber), conductors (eg coin,
key)
o Pod's Mission - electricity experiment
You will need Adobe Acrobat reader to access the PDF files. BBC Webwisehas a complete guide to
downloading and installing Adobe Acrobat reader.
Teaching activities
Introduction
1. Write the words 'battery' and 'mains' on large pieces of sugar paper and put them in
different parts of the classroom.
2. Ask one child from each table to run to the papers and write on them an appliance or
device that uses either battery or mains. Create a competition atmosphere, timed to
music.
3. Watch Learning Zone Broadband Class Clips - What materials conduct electricity?.
What is the key scientific vocabulary used?
4. Watch the clip again but this time ask the children to list three objects that are
insulators.
5. Ask the children to join hands in a circle and role play the flow of electricity through
their hands.
6. Demonstrate what happens when there is a break in the circuit. (Children break
hands and the electricity stops flowing).
Activity

1. Explain to the children that they are going to carry out an online experiment to find
out which materials conduct electricity and which materials do not.
2. Bring up the Bitesize circuits and conductors activity on the interactive whiteboard.
3. Talk through the circuit that is displayed and explain why the bulb is not currently
alight (there are gaps in the circuit)
4. Show the children how to fill in the gaps in the circuit with objects from the menu.
5. Read aloud the tasks on the screen and ask the children how they would go about
each one.
6. Once the children understand the activity, divide the class into groups, with a
computer for each group.
7. Ask each group to work through the tasks and keep a record of 1) which objects
complete the circuit, lighting the bulb, and which do not, and 2) the number of
batteries and bulbs that make the bulb brightest or dimmest.
8. Reinforce the learning by asking the children to test their findings on objects around
the classroom using electrical equipment.
Plenary

1. Ask the children which objects completed the circuit and which objects did not.
2. Ask the higher ability group what happened when the number of batteries in the
circuit was increased and what happened when the number of bulbs was increased.
3. Ask the children to race against each other, in tables, to list as many conductors as
possible in one minute.
Extension

1. Ask the children to complete the Circuits and conductors worksheet (PDF 1.7MB) and
to look carefully at each circuit and write whether the bulb would be off, on dimly or
on brightly.
2. Alternatively, ask the children to complete the Bitesize circuits and conductors quiz.
Homework

Ask the children to complete the Lemon battery experiment onPod's Mission - electricity.