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Science lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 45 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 · 5 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 might break the toy / Sockets have no electricity / Mains electricity can give a dangerous, even deadly, electric shock / It is not dangerous) → 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? (A circuit must be complete for current to flow. / An open switch stops the current. / A cell (battery) pushes the current around a circuit. / Electricity is used up as it goes round a circuit, so less comes back.) → 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. What does a switch do in a circuit? (It opens or closes a gap, turning the circuit off or on / It makes the bulb brighter / It changes the battery / It stores electricity) → It opens or closes a gap, turning the circuit off or onPrompt: When you switch off a light, what happens to the circuit?

Hook · 5 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 · 10 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 · 10 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? (Both bulbs go out. / Both bulbs get brighter. / Only one bulb goes out. / Nothing changes.) → Both bulbs go out.Prompt: There is only one path for the current.
  2. True or false? Metals are good electrical conductors. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Is there a complete loop of conductors?

You do: independent practice · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. True or false? A bulb only lights in a complete circuit. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Is there a complete loop of conductors?
  2. Why is a metal paperclip often used to make a simple homemade switch? (Metal is an electrical conductor, so it can complete the circuit. / Metal is an insulator. / Paperclips store energy. / It looks nicer.) → Metal is an electrical conductor, so it can complete the circuit.Prompt: Will current flow through plastic?

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

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Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

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

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

  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

    True or false? Closing a switch breaks the circuit.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  4. Question 4

    A bulb in a complete circuit does not light. Which is the most likely fault?

    • A. The bulb has blown or the battery is flat.
    • B. The table is wooden.
    • C. The wires are too colourful.
    • D. It is daytime.

  5. Question 5

    Look at the circuit. The switch is closed and one wire has come loose. Will the bulbs light?

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

  6. Question 6

    True or false? Metals are good electrical conductors.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  7. Question 7

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

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

  8. Question 8

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

    • A. True
    • B. False

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

  1. 1. C. Metal is an electrical conductor, so it can complete the circuit.

  2. 2. B. no, it stays off

  3. 3. B. False

  4. 4. A. The bulb has blown or the battery is flat.

  5. 5. B. no, it stays off

  6. 6. A. True

  7. 7. A. yes, it lights

  8. 8. A. True