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Science topics ages 10 - 11
Changing circuits
Curriculum relevance |
Online lesson plan
Offline lesson plan |
Worksheet |
Activity |
Quiz
Online lesson plan
Objectives
Understand you can make bulbs brighter or dimmer in a series circuit by
changing the number or type of components
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National Curriculum
England: Key Stage 2, Science, Sc4 1b
Wales: Key Stage 2, Physical processes 1.3, 1.4
Northern Ireland: Key Stage 2, Physical processes, Electricity, d
Scotland: 5-14 Guidelines, Science, Properties and uses of energy Level C,
Level D
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Resources required
Online activity from Science Clips website: Changing circuits
Reference books and CD-ROMs
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Teaching activities
Introduction
Open the online activity on the interactive whiteboard. Recap on the basics
needed to make the bulb light in the electrical circuit. What is the purpose of
the switch?
Activities
Ask children what would happen to the brightness of the bulb if something
other than wire was used to fill the top middle position in the circuit (it
might get brighter, it might get dimmer, it might stay the same)? What could
they replace the wire with to make the bulb brighter when the switch is on?
What could they replace the wire with to make the bulb dimmer when the switch
is on? List the questions and the suggestions on the board.
Divide the class into pairs of groups, with a computer for each group. Ask
each group to investigate the questions on the board. Ask them also to
investigate the effect of changing the straight wire for a coiled wire.
Plenary
Go through the questions listed on the board. What have they found out from
the activity? What made the bulb brighter? What made the bulb dimmer? Discuss
the reasons for this. What happened when you used two batteries for one bulb?
Why? Explain that too much electricity running through the filament of the bulb
destroys the filament. What happened when you swapped straight wire for coiled
wire? Why?
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Extension
Investigate wires using reference books and CD-ROMs. What is the difference
between fuse wire and normal wire used in electric circuits? Why is wire
usually covered in plastic? What kind of wire is used in electric circuits?
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Suggested homework
Compose a poster showing the dangers of mains electricity.
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