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Science lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 30 minutes

Will the bulb light? Switches, gaps and complete circuits

Electricity and magnetism

CCSS NGSS.4-PS3-2CCSS NGSS.4-PS3-4England: KS2 Y4 Electricity

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Will the bulb light? Switches, gaps and complete circuits.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Simple circuits

Leads to: Brighter or dimmer? Changing cells and bulbs

Materials: Circuit kits (cells, wires, bulbs), Circuit symbol cards, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Simple circuits). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. What does a switch do in a circuit? (It stores electricity / It changes the battery / It opens or closes a gap, turning the circuit off or on / It makes the bulb brighter) → It opens or closes a gap, turning the circuit off or onPrompt: When you switch off a light, what happens to the circuit?
  2. Circuits: which statement is NOT true? (A circuit must be complete for current to flow. / An open switch stops the current. / A bulb lights with just one wire to the cell. / A cell (battery) pushes the current around a circuit.) → A bulb lights with just one wire to the cell.Prompt: Does current get used up in a series circuit?
  3. Why should you never poke anything into a mains socket? (Mains electricity can give a dangerous, even deadly, electric shock / Sockets have no electricity / It might break the toy / It is not dangerous) → Mains electricity can give a dangerous, even deadly, electric shockPrompt: Mains voltage is much higher than a battery's.

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a circuit with a gap and ask why the bulb doesn't light.
  • Share the objective: Will the bulb light? Switches, gaps and complete circuits. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: What does a switch do in a circuit?
  • Step 1: A switch breaks or completes the loop.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: It opens or closes a gap to stop or start the current.
  • Answer: It opens or closes a gap to stop or start the current.
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. What does a switch do in a circuit? (It opens or closes a gap to stop or start the current. / It stores electricity. / It makes the battery stronger. / It changes light into sound.) → It opens or closes a gap to stop or start the current.Prompt: What happens when you press a light switch off?
  2. True or false? A bulb lights even if a wire is disconnected. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Is there a complete loop of conductors?

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Two bulbs are in one loop with a switch. The switch is opened. What happens? (Only one bulb goes out. / Both bulbs go out. / Both bulbs get brighter. / Nothing changes.) → Both bulbs go out.Prompt: There is only one path for the current.
  2. True or false? A bulb lights even if a wire is disconnected. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Is there a complete loop of conductors?

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Simple circuits.
  • Use concrete materials: circuit kits (cells, wires, bulbs).
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Brighter or dimmer? Changing cells and bulbs.
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-4.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Will the bulb light? Switches, gaps and complete circuits

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    True or false? A bulb lights even if a wire is disconnected.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  2. Question 2

    Look at the circuit. The switch is open. Will the bulbs light?

    1.5 V1.5 V
    • A. yes, it lights
    • B. no, it stays off

  3. Question 3

    What does a switch do in a circuit?

    • A. It changes light into sound.
    • B. It makes the battery stronger.
    • C. It stores electricity.
    • D. It opens or closes a gap to stop or start the current.

  4. Question 4

    True or false? A bulb only lights in a complete circuit.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  5. Question 5

    Why is a metal paperclip often used to make a simple homemade switch?

    • A. It looks nicer.
    • B. Metal is an electrical conductor, so it can complete the circuit.
    • C. Metal is an insulator.
    • D. Paperclips store energy.

  6. Question 6

    True or false? Metals are good electrical conductors.

    • A. True
    • B. False

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Answer key: Will the bulb light? Switches, gaps and complete circuits

  1. 1. B. False

  2. 2. B. no, it stays off

  3. 3. D. It opens or closes a gap to stop or start the current.

  4. 4. A. True

  5. 5. B. Metal is an electrical conductor, so it can complete the circuit.

  6. 6. A. True