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Science lesson plan · 8th grade (Year 9 in England) · 30 minutes

Series and parallel circuits

Electricity and magnetism

CCSS NGSS.HS-PS3-1England: KS3 Physics: Electricity and electromagnetism (current electricity)England: KS4 Combined Science: Electricity

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Series and parallel 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: Current, voltage and resistance (V = IR)

Leads to: Current and voltage rules in series and parallel circuits

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 (Current, voltage and resistance (V = IR)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. A current of 1.5 A flows through a 12 Ω resistor. What is the potential difference (voltage) across it, in V? → 18 VPrompt: V = I × R
  2. A 10 V supply is connected across a 20 Ω resistor. What current flows, in A? → 0.5 APrompt: Rearrange V = I R to find I.
  3. A 24 V battery drives a current of 4 A through a lamp. What is the resistance of the lamp, in Ω? → 6 ΩPrompt: R = V ÷ I

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a circuit with a gap and ask why the bulb doesn't light.
  • Share the objective: Series and parallel 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: Two resistors of 8 Ω and 14 Ω are connected in series. What is their total resistance, in Ω?
  • Step 1: 8 + 14 = 22
  • Step 2: So the answer is: 22 Ω
  • Answer: 22 Ω
  • 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 lamps are in series with a 24 V battery. The voltage across one lamp is 1 V. What is the voltage across the other lamp, in V? → 23 VPrompt: In series, the battery voltage is shared between the components.
  2. Adding more bulbs in parallel to a battery (each in its own branch) makes each bulb… (explode / go out / get much dimmer / stay about as bright as before) → stay about as bright as beforePrompt: Each branch gets the full battery voltage.

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 lamps are in series with a 6 V battery. The voltage across one lamp is 5 V. What is the voltage across the other lamp, in V? → 1 VPrompt: In series, the battery voltage is shared between the components.
  2. Series and parallel: which statement is NOT true? (Voltmeters are connected in parallel. / In a series circuit, if one bulb breaks, the others go out. / In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each branch is the same. / Adding resistors in parallel increases the total resistance.) → Adding resistors in parallel increases the total resistance.Prompt: Is current used up in a circuit?

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: Current, voltage and resistance (V = IR).
  • 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: Current and voltage rules in series and parallel circuits.
  • 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-8.

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

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Series and parallel circuits

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    In a series circuit, the current is…

    • A. used up by each component
    • B. biggest after the bulb
    • C. zero at the battery
    • D. the same at every point

  2. Question 2

    Two resistors of 16 Ω and 11 Ω are connected in series. What is their total resistance, in Ω?

    AnswerΩ

  3. Question 3

    Series and parallel: which statement is NOT true?

    • A. In series, total resistance is the sum of the resistances.
    • B. In a series circuit, if one bulb breaks, the others go out.
    • C. Ammeters are connected in parallel.
    • D. Voltmeters are connected in parallel.

  4. Question 4

    Adding more bulbs in parallel to a battery (each in its own branch) makes each bulb…

    • A. explode
    • B. get much dimmer
    • C. stay about as bright as before
    • D. go out

  5. Question 5

    A parallel circuit has two branches. The current in one branch is 1 A and in the other is 0.5 A. What is the current from the battery, in A?

    AnswerA

  6. Question 6

    How is an ammeter connected to measure the current through a lamp?

    • A. in parallel with the lamp
    • B. in series with the lamp
    • C. across the battery only
    • D. it is not connected

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Answer key: Series and parallel circuits

  1. 1. D. the same at every point

  2. 2. 27 Ω

  3. 3. C. Ammeters are connected in parallel.

  4. 4. C. stay about as bright as before

  5. 5. 1.5 A

  6. 6. B. in series with the lamp