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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. Which circuit needs to be complete for a bulb to light? (an unbroken loop from the cell through the bulb and back / one wire from the cell to the bulb / a bulb on its own / two cells with no wires) → an unbroken loop from the cell through the bulb and backPrompt: Electricity needs a complete path.
  2. Circuits: which statement is NOT true? (Electricity is used up as it goes round a circuit, so less comes back. / A circuit must be complete for current to flow. / A cell (battery) pushes the current around a circuit. / Adding more cells makes a bulb brighter.) → Electricity is used up as it goes round a circuit, so less comes back.Prompt: Does current get used up in a series circuit?
  3. Why should you never poke anything into a mains socket? (Sockets have no electricity / Mains electricity can give a dangerous, even deadly, electric shock / 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. Two bulbs are in one loop with a switch. The switch is opened. What happens? (Nothing changes. / Both bulbs go out. / Only one bulb goes out. / Both bulbs get brighter.) → Both bulbs go out.Prompt: There is only one path for the current.
  2. True or false? An open switch leaves a gap in the circuit. (True / False) → TruePrompt: 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. A bulb in a complete circuit does not light. Which is the most likely fault? (The wires are too colourful. / The bulb has blown or the battery is flat. / It is daytime. / The table is wooden.) → The bulb has blown or the battery is flat.Prompt: If the loop is complete, check the parts.
  2. True or false? Closing a switch breaks the circuit. (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

eurekami

Will the bulb light? Switches, gaps and complete circuits

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    True or false? A plastic ruler can be used to close a circuit.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  2. Question 2

    Look at the circuit. The switch is closed. Will the bulb light?

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

  3. Question 3

    What does a switch do in a circuit?

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

  4. Question 4

    True or false? An open switch leaves a gap in the circuit.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  5. Question 5

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

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

  6. Question 6

    Two bulbs are in one loop with a switch. The switch is opened. What happens?

    • A. Both bulbs go out.
    • B. Only one bulb goes out.
    • C. Nothing changes.
    • D. Both bulbs get brighter.

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

  1. 1. B. False

  2. 2. A. yes, it lights

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

  4. 4. A. True

  5. 5. B. no, it stays off

  6. 6. A. Both bulbs go out.