Learning objective

Knowledge

  • To use recognised symbols for electrical components.

Success criteria

Knowledge

  • I can use standard circuit symbols for electrical

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National curriculum

Science 

Electricity

Pupils should be taught to:

  • Use

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Before the lesson

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Lesson plan

Recap and recall

Before starting this unit, check the children can recall the following key facts from Science, Year 4, Electricity and circuits: Working safely with electricity includes not inserting metal items into electrical appliances, not using them around water and checking for any damage before use. An electrical appliance requires a power source, including batteries or mains…

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Adaptive teaching

Pupils needing extra support

Should have a copy of the Activity: Circuit symbol pairs to cut out and stick in their books instead of drawing and writing; could use the Activity: Modelling circuits to support identifying and explaining how a central heating system can model an electrical circuit.

Pupils working at greater depth

Could design their own comparative trump cards for each component, deciding which categories to score them on, such as ‘ease of use’, ‘importance in a circuit’ or ‘usefulness’; should evaluate the models used during the lesson to represent electrical circuits, identifying strengths and weaknesses.

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Assessing progress and understanding

Pupils with secure understanding indicated by: identifying and using standard circuit symbols;

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Knowledge outcomes

  • I can use standard circuit symbols for electrical components.
  • I can describe the function of key electrical components:
    • a cell or battery is a portable power source;
    • a wire connects the components to make a complete circuit;
    • a switch can break or complete a circuit;
    • a bulb lights up in a complete circuit;
    • a buzzer makes a noise in a complete circuit;
    • a motor moves in a complete circuit.
  • I can explain how a model represents electrical components:
    • the person handing out the sweets or the central heating system boiler represents a power source;
    • the circle of people or pipes represent the wires;
    • the person collecting sweets or the radiator represents the component such as a bulb;
    • the sweets being passed around or the water flowing represents the flow of electrical charge.

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Vocabulary definitions

  • appliance

    A device for a particular task.

  • battery

    A portable power supply made up of more than one cell.

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