Electric Circuits

60 minutes for Years 4 to 7

Discover how electricity travels and build some electric circuits including lights and sounds. Topics covered include electrons, conductors and insulators, open and closed circuits, series and parallel circuits, circuit diagrams, resistors and LEDs.

Australian Curriculum links

Year 6

Science Understanding

Physical sciences: Electrical circuits provide a means of transferring and transforming electricity. Recognising the need for a complete circuit to allow the flow of electricity. Investigating different electrical conductors and insulators. Exploring the features of electrical devices such as switches and light globes.

Science as a Human Endeavour

Nature and development of science: Science involves testing predictions by gathering data and using evidence to develop explanations of events and phenomena. Investigating the use of electricity, including predicting the effects of changes to electric circuits.

Use and influence of science: Scientific understandings, discoveries and inventions are used to solve problems that directly affect people's lives. Considering how electricity and electrical appliances have changed the way some people live. Scientific knowledge is used to inform personal and community decisions. Considering how guidelines help to ensure the safe use of electrical devices.

Science Inquiry Skills

Questioning and predicting: pose questions, to clarify practical problems or inform a scientific investigation, and predict what the findings of an investigation might be. Discussing in groups possible situations to investigate or identify problems that relate to students' lives. Applying experience from similar situations in the past to predict what may happen in a new situation. Sharing ideas about what may happen in an investigation and why.

Planning and conducting: Use equipment and materials safely, identifying potential risks. Discussing possible hazards involved in conducting investigations, and how these risks can be reduced.

Processing and analysing data: Compare data with predictions and use as evidence in developing explanations. Discussing possible reasons for predictions being incorrect.