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

Mains or battery? Appliances and electrical safety

Electricity and magnetism

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

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Mains or battery? Appliances and electrical safety.

  • 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: the next skill in this area.

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. Why should you never poke anything into a mains socket? (It is not dangerous / It might break the toy / Sockets have no electricity / Mains electricity can give a dangerous, even deadly, electric shock) → Mains electricity can give a dangerous, even deadly, electric shockPrompt: Mains voltage is much higher than a battery's.
  2. Circuits: which statement is NOT true? (An open switch stops the current. / A bulb lights with just one wire to the cell. / A circuit must be complete for current to flow. / Adding more cells makes a bulb brighter.) → A bulb lights with just one wire to the cell.Prompt: Does current get used up in a series circuit?
  3. What does a switch do in a circuit? (It makes the bulb brighter / It opens or closes a gap, turning the circuit off or on / It stores electricity / It changes the battery) → It opens or closes a gap, turning the circuit off or onPrompt: When you switch off a light, what happens to the circuit?

Hook · 3 min

  • Show a circuit with a gap and ask why the bulb doesn't light.
  • Share the objective: Mains or battery? Appliances and electrical safety. 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: Does this usually run on mains electricity or batteries: electric oven?
  • Step 1: These need a lot of energy, so they plug into the mains.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: mains electricity (plugged into the wall)
  • Answer: mains electricity (plugged into the wall)
  • 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. Does this usually run on mains electricity or batteries: torch (flashlight)? (mains electricity (plugged into the wall) / batteries (cells)) → batteries (cells)Prompt: Is it plugged into a wall socket, or carried around?
  2. Why is mains electricity more dangerous than a torch (flashlight) battery? (Mains electricity is cold. / It is a different colour. / Its much higher voltage can push a deadly current through your body. / Batteries have no electricity.) → Its much higher voltage can push a deadly current through your body.Prompt: A small battery is about 1.5 V; a wall socket is about 230 V (UK/Europe) or 120 V (USA).

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. Why is mains electricity more dangerous than a torch (flashlight) battery? (Batteries have no electricity. / Mains electricity is cold. / It is a different colour. / Its much higher voltage can push a deadly current through your body.) → Its much higher voltage can push a deadly current through your body.Prompt: A small battery is about 1.5 V; a wall socket is about 230 V (UK/Europe) or 120 V (USA).
  2. Does this usually run on mains electricity or batteries: washing machine? (mains electricity (plugged into the wall) / batteries (cells)) → mains electricity (plugged into the wall)Prompt: Is it plugged into a wall socket, or carried around?

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

  • 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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Mains or battery? Appliances and electrical safety

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    True or false? It is safe to use a hairdryer in the bath.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  2. Question 2

    Does this usually run on mains electricity or batteries: TV remote control?

    • A. mains electricity (plugged into the wall)
    • B. batteries (cells)

  3. Question 3

    Why do plugs and cables have plastic or rubber coverings?

    • A. Plastic conducts electricity better.
    • B. Plastic and rubber are electrical insulators that protect us from shocks.
    • C. To make them heavier.
    • D. To keep them warm.

  4. Question 4

    True or false? Batteries are used in portable devices.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  5. Question 5

    Does this usually run on mains electricity or batteries: washing machine?

    • A. mains electricity (plugged into the wall)
    • B. batteries (cells)

  6. Question 6

    True or false? Overloading one socket with many plugs is a good idea.

    • A. True
    • B. False

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Answer key: Mains or battery? Appliances and electrical safety

  1. 1. B. False

  2. 2. B. batteries (cells)

  3. 3. B. Plastic and rubber are electrical insulators that protect us from shocks.

  4. 4. A. True

  5. 5. A. mains electricity (plugged into the wall)

  6. 6. B. False