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Science topics ages 6 - 7
Using electricity
Curriculum relevance
| Online lesson plan
Offline lesson
plan | Worksheet | Activity |
Quiz
Offline lesson plan
Objectives
Know that a switch can be used to break a circuit
Construct a simple series circuit and use it for a purpose
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National Curriculum
England: Key Stage 1, Science, Sc1, 1, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2e, 2f, 2g, 2j; Sc4, 1a, 1b, 1c
Wales: Key Stage 1, Physical processes, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3
Northern Ireland: Key Stage 2, Physical Processes, Electricity b
Scotland: 5-14 Guidelines, Science, Properties and uses of energy, Level C
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Resources required
Circuit components: bulbs, wires, batteries, switches
Cardboard tubes
Red and white paint
Plasticene
Copies of the Using electricity worksheet from the Science Clips website
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Teaching activities
Introduction
Read "The Lighthouse Keeper's Lunch" by Ronda and David Armitage, or one of the "Katie Morag" stories by Mairi Hedderwick, which clearly shows a lighthouse (ideally the book would have been read before the lesson and can now be referred to).
Explain to the children that they are going to make a lighthouse with a real light. Discuss the fact that the light will need to go on and off. Discuss how they turn the lights on and off at home or in the classroom. In talk partners, ask the children to think about the materials they will need for this activity and then feed back to the class. Discuss the role of the various materials and display them, but do not demonstrate.
Activities
The children work in pairs (or small groups if resources are limited) to make a lighthouse with a light that can be switched on and off. You may want to use a separate Art and Design lesson to paint and erect the cardboard tube. The children should experiment with the circuit components for themselves, while you circulate the groups, discussing what they are doing and how well it is working. If any groups are having difficulties, you can stop the class and ask another group to demonstrate what they have done as a prompt to the others.
Plenary
Ask several pairs to show the class their lighthouses and discuss any problems that they had. Prompt each pair with questions. How did you solve these problems? Did it make any difference where you put the switch in your circuit? What stopped the light from working? Discuss the fact that the switch breaks the circuit, and this has the same effect as a wire coming loose.
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Extension
Ask the children to experiment with using one battery to light two or more bulbs. Is there more than one way to do this?
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Suggested homework
Hand out copies of the Using electricity worksheet. Ask the children to look at each circuit carefully and circle the ones they think will light the lamp.
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