Electrical systems: Doodlers
Investigating an existing motorised product and problem-solving to understand its construction before developing their own.
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Electrical systems: Doodlers
Please note
This unit encourages the pupils to problem-solve and understand a product’s construction before developing their own. The Archived unit: Electronic greeting cards, which includes coin batteries that may present a choking risk to younger children if taken home, will no longer be updated.
Unit outcomes
Pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Identify simple circuit components (battery, bulb and switch) with a basic explanation of their function.
- Explain that a series circuit is assembled in a loop to allow the electricity to flow along one path.
- Describe a motor as a circuit component that changes electrical energy into movement.
- Provide examples of motorised products that use movement to rotate or spin different parts.
- Remove and replace different parts of a Doodler, as part of a team.
- Suggest ways to switch the configuration to amend the form or function of the Doodler.
- Explain, in an investigation report, each of the changes they made and the effect this had on the Doodler’s ability to draw scribbles (function) and appearance (form).
- Develop design criteria with consideration for the target user, the purpose of their Doodler, a key function and the Doodler’s form and final appearance (e.g. fun, bright, soft).
- Explain simply why their Doodler has a certain configuration based on the findings of their investigation (e.g. I used four pens because the Doodler would fall over with two).
- Create a functional Doodler that creates scribbles on paper with or without a switch.
- Identify and list each of the required materials, tools and circuit components required to build a Doodler.
- Explain simply the steps to assemble a Doodler as part of a set of instructions (or storyboard).
- Write instructions to build a functional circuit, explaining how to identify if it is functional or not.
- Provide suggestions to improve a peer’s set of instructions after testing how effective they are at guiding someone.
Suggested prior learning
Electrical systems: Torches
Get startedLessons
Lesson 1: Electrical systems and motors
- To understand how motors are used in electrical products.
Lesson 2: Meet the Doodlers
- To investigate an existing product to determine the factors that affect the product’s form and function.
Lesson 3: Doodler design and construction
- To apply the findings from research to develop a unique product.
Lesson 4: Doodler DIY kits
- To develop a DIY kit for another individual to assemble their product.
Key skills
Key knowledge
Related content
Unit resources
Knowledge organiser – DT: Y5 Electrical systems: Doodlers
A printable pupil-facing document, summarising the key facts and definitions from the Doodlers unit.
Vocabulary display: Electrical systems: Doodlers
A display version of the key vocabulary from the Electrical systems: Doodlers unit.
Cross-curricular opportunities
Science
‘Pupils should be taught to:
- construct a simple series electrical circuit, identifying and naming its basic parts, including cells, wires, bulbs, switches and buzzers’
See National curriculum - Science key stages 1 to 2.
English
‘Pupils should be taught to:
- evaluate and edit by:
- assessing the effectiveness of their own and others’ writing
- proposing changes to vocabulary, grammar and punctuation to enhance effects and clarify meaning’