LO: to learn how to represent a

simple circuit in a diagram using

recognised symbols.
Key Vocabulary

Electricity Transmit
Safety Insulator
Static Energy
Current Flow
Conductor Circuit
Simple Symbol
 STARTER

• Sketch the image and label what you think it

is.
CHALLENGE
• How do you think the bulb can be connected
to other components to make it work?
1 2 3

5
4
 SHOCKING FACT

Electricity travels at
the speed of light -
more than 186,000
miles per second!
 WHAT IS A CIRCUIT?

• A circuit always needs a power source, such

as a cell, with wires connected to both
the positive (+) and negative (-) ends. A
battery is two or more cells together.
positive (+) and negative (-) ends
 WHAT IS A CIRCUIT?

• A circuit can also contain other

electrical components, such as bulbs,
buzzers or motors, which allow electricity
to pass through.
 WHAT IS A CIRCUIT?

• Electricity will only travel around a circuit

that is complete. That means it has no
gaps.
HIGHER

ELECTRON… ELECTRICITY… CAN YOU

SEE HOW THE WORDS ARE SIMILAR?

• The atom is the basic building block for all matter in the universe.
• Atoms are extremely small and are made up of a few even smaller
particles.
• The basic particles that make up an atom are electrons, protons,
and neutrons.
• Atoms fit together with other atoms to make up matter.
• An electron is a very small particle that has a negative charge of
electricity and travels around the nucleus of an atom.
• An electric current is a flow of electric charge.
• In electric circuits this charge is often carried by moving
electrons in a wire.
 KEY CONCEPT

• Electrical circuits can be represented by circuit

diagrams.
• The various electrical components are shown
by using standard symbols in circuit diagrams.
• You have to draw these diagrams accurately as
they are scientific representations of a real
circuit.
• They can be a guide for experiments.
 ACTIVITY 1

• Choose components to overlay onto a circuit template.

• Model a basic simple circuit using sweets from the diagrams given. Include wires, a
bulb, and a cell.
• Create a simple circuit using sweets without a diagram. Include wires, a bulb, a cell or
battery, a switch, and a buzzer (not all in one circuit).

CHALLENGE
• Justify the components you have chosen and write it on a post-it note next to your
circuit.

SUPER CHALLENGE
• Predict what would happen if you had more or less cells.
 PLENARY

Use a ruler and a pencil to draw the circuit the

teacher describes.

• Draw a straight line for the wire.

• Moving down the page, there is a bulb.
• This is connected using a wire to a cell.
• The wire continues going to the left.
• There is an open switch.
• The wire continue up the page and connects to the starting
wire.
WHAT YOUR CIRCUIT SHOULD HAVE
LOOKED LIKE