Science - Electricity - Lesson 1 of 2

Stage of lesson

Task/Activity

Tim
e

Student action

10 Students will engage with discussion,

mins and listen to others when they speak.

Teacher action

Stage 1:
Introduction
(Engage)
How will you engage
and stimulate the
interest of the
students?

Introduce ourselves.
Students to introduce each other and
try to list as many things as possible
that use electricity.

Introduce ourselves.
Today were going to look at some things to do with
electricity, how about we go round and introduce ourselves

Stage 2: Student
prior knowledge
(Pre-assessment)

Students name things they know

already about electricity

5
Students will engage with discussion,
mins and listen to others when they speak.

How about we make this brainstorm bigger by adding things

we know about electricity, such as words we think of when
talking about electricity.
Add these to your brainstorm on the butchers paper.

Stage 3: Body of
lesson (Explore,
Explain, and
Elaborate)
Describe each
distinct task/activity
in the order to be
undertaken. Start a
new row each time
the teacher or
students behave in
a different manner.
State an estimated
length of time for
each task. Ensure
that there is some
form of prompt or
reinforcement
available for
students. Describe
all forms of
assessment.

Talk about the components of a

circuit.

5
Listening to the teacher
mins

Describe what a circuit is, and why a closed circuit is needed

for electricity to flow.
- A circuit uses a power source, a load, and must be closed.
- A load is the third component of a circuit, it can be
something like a light globe, or buzzer etc.
- A closed circuit is one where there is an unbroken path,
most commonly using wires, for an electrical current to flow
through.
Currents can also flow through certain other items, or be
stopped. Students will have a chance to
Use the pictures provided or components from the kits to help
explain this.

Construct closed circuits

10min
s

Explain safety instructions: Handle all components safely,

dont touch the components to yourself or anyone else.

Ask students to list as many things as possible that use

electricity. If they get stuck, possibly suggest they think of
different things in different parts of their house.
Write these down on butchers paper or other appropriate way.

Follow instructions in a suitable manner.

Students may talk amongst themselves
and to the teacher.

Give students an electricity kit, and encourage them to explore

and name the different things they recognize.
Get students to construct a simple circuit (using only wires,
globes, and a battery) which lights the globe. (they can use any
number of batteries and globes they like)
Ask them why the circuit lights the globe, if they are different,

Science - Electricity - Lesson 1 of 2

discuss why they still both work. Also discuss any troubles
they had.
Introduce symbols for circuit parts.

5-10
min
s

Draw representations of their circuit

Work cooperatively to complete group

task.
Draw their circuit using the correct
symbols.

Using Appendix A (adapted from MST Workbooks), either cut

out, or just pointing to symbols, ask students to work as a team
to name/guess what each symbol would represent.
Once the correct answers have been named, ask each student
to draw their previous circuit that was made.

Build on their pre-existing circuit

5
min
s

Add things into their circuit such as steel

wool, or a switch using the paper clips
and pins.

Encourage students to use the more unusual components of the

kit in order to create a more complex closed circuit.
Discuss why some materials still allow energy to flow.

Stage 3:
Conclusion
(Evaluate)
How will you draw
the findings of the
lesson together so
that the students
can evaluate what
they have learnt?

Students correct an incomplete circuit

5-10
mins

Assess the circuit and discuss with a

partner what needs to be fixed. Alter the
circuit so it will work.

Put together a circuit which wont work. Ask students to adjust

it so the globe lights. Discuss what they fixed and why.

Stage 5: Closure
Do you need to
prepare the
students for
handing over to
another teacher, or
another subject?

Pack up

5
mins

Follow instructions to safely pack up

circuit kits
Hand in their representations.

Ensure kits have all their pieces in them.

Collect all drawn representations from the students.