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Electricity: circuits, switches and conductors

Year 4 · Lower Key Stage 2 · S4-ELEC — Simple series circuits; switches; conductors and insulators

Draft — awaiting teacher review

Builds on: Everyday materials (Year 1)

I

Concept Anchor

A bulb lights only when there is a complete loop from the cell, round the wires, and back. A switch opens or closes a gap. A conductor lets electricity through. An insulator does not.

Worked example

A circuit has a cell, a bulb and an open switch.

  1. 1.An open switch makes a gap.
  2. 2.The loop is not complete.
  3. 3.So the bulb does not light.
II

Guided Check

Is a metal spoon a conductor or an insulator?

    III

    Independent Diagnostic Practice

    Q1Year 4S4-ELEC — Conductors and insulators·Fluency·●○○Draft — awaiting teacher review

    Which material is an electrical conductor?

    Q2Year 4S4-ELEC — Switches·Reasoning·●●○Draft — awaiting teacher review

    A circuit has a cell, a bulb and a switch. The switch is open. What happens to the bulb?

    Q3Year 4S4-ELEC — Complete a circuit·Problem Solving·●●●Draft — awaiting teacher review

    A circuit has a gap in it. Which object would make the bulb light if you put it across the gap?