Primary Theme: Energy
Y5/6 (A): Lesson 4: Reflecting light
Exploring the relationship between incoming and reflected rays from a mirror and extrapolating missing values using a line graph. This lesson is part of the mixed-age scheme.
Y5/6 (B): Lesson 4: Batteries and voltage
Comparing different properties of batteries and considering how voltage can be changed. This lesson is part of the mixed-age scheme.
Y3/4 (A): Lesson 4: Shadows throughout the day
Observing changes to shadows throughout the day and modelling this to collect data as evidence. This lesson is part of the mixed-age scheme.
Lesson 4: Investigating sunglasses - Extending
Observing the UV protection of different sunglasses and comparing these results with previous data to determine their safety.
Lesson 4: Batteries and voltage
Comparing different properties of batteries and considering how voltage can be changed.
Energy: Circuits, batteries and switches
Developing knowledge of circuits, the effects of changing voltage and how switches contribute to different devices.
- Subjects >
- Science >
- Key stage 2 >
- Year 6 >
Unit outcomes
Pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Describe the function of key electrical components and explain how the models used in the lesson represent these.
- Correctly predict if an electrical circuit will work or not, explaining why using their knowledge of complete loops, power sources and presence of components.
- Describe the relationship between the number of bulbs in a circuit, the bulb brightness and the amount of resistance.
- Explain that increasing the number of components increases the resistance, affecting the flow of current and energy transferred.
- Identify that batteries are a voltage source; they come in different voltages, affecting bulb brightness.
- Describe that voltage can be changed using different numbers of cells in a circuit and that more cells or a higher voltage causes brighter bulbs.
- Use the relationship between voltage and bulbs to predict what will happen with buzzers and motors.
- Build an electrical circuit with a switch to control its function, explain how the switch and the electrical circuit solve the problem and recall different examples of problems that can be solved using an electrical circuit.
When working scientifically, pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Draw circuit diagrams with straight lines and using standard circuit symbols.
- Design a results table with an appropriate number of columns and headings with units.
- Identify the changed, measured and control variables in an enquiry to plan a method.
Please note that Kapow Primary Science lessons are designed to be 1 hour and 30 minutes long to reflect the requirements of a core subject.
Suggested prior learning
Energy: Electricity and circuits
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Lessons
Lesson 1: Components and circuits
Lesson 2: Circuit diagrams
Lesson 3: Current and resistance
Lesson 4: Batteries and voltage
Lesson 5: Voltage and bulb brightness
Lesson 6: Practical circuits
Key skills
- Suggesting which variables will be changed, measured and controlled.
- Writing a method, including details about ensuring control variables are kept the same.
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Key knowledge
- A variety of components in a series circuit (including buzzer and motor).
- Conventions are used to draw circuit diagrams, including the recognised symbols for common components and using straight lines.
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Key vocabulary
anomaly
cell
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Equipment list
Equipment needed across all lessons in this unit.
This list does not include equipment which is usually readily available in the classroom (e.g pencils, A4 paper etc)
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Full equipment list for the subject
Quantities marked × will update. Items without quantities are unaffected
-
A range of batteries (including different sizes of 1.5 V button cell batteries, 3V button cell batteries, AAA, AA, C, D, 9V and a camera battery).
×1 -
Cups
×30 - Bowl 2
-
Wrapped sweets or counting cubes
×30 - Sticky tack ×1
- Rulers ×30
-
Circuit kits (including: 4 cells/batteries, 5 wires with and without clips, switches, 5 bulbs, a buzzer)
×8 -
Ammeters (one for the teacher; optional for the class)
×1 -
Motors (teacher demonstration).
×1 - Dice ×15
-
Large space such as a playground or hall
×1 - PE hoops ×15
- Calculator ×30
- Devices with internet access ×15
-
Short lengths of cardboard tube.
×8 -
Data loggers or light meters to record light intensity/brightness in lux (apps on devices would also work).
×1 -
One data logger or decibel meter to measure volume, or decibel app on a device (teacher demonstration).
×1 -
Equipment for practical circuit building to be shared (tin foil, sticky tape, double-sided tape, paper clips, sharp pencils and modelling dough).
×8 -
Equipment for building a greetings card (A4 white card, colouring pencils or pens, 2 cells, a buzzer or bulb/LED, wires, optional copper tape, a switch).
×8 -
Equipment for building a burglar alarm (thick card from a box, tin foil, cells, a buzzer and a bulb, wires)
×8 -
Equipment for building a dog’s push button (sponge, split pins, thin cardboard, cells, wires, a buzzer and a bulb).
×8 -
Equipment for building a water butt alarm (milk bottle lids, a jar or small bucket, tin foil, lolly sticks or similar, modelling dough or sticky tack, cells, wires, a buzzer and a bulb).
×8
The equipment below is optional
- Chalk ×30
-
Tricky circuit building kit (9V battery, paper, LED, 6B or 8B graphite pencil, copper tape or foil, a paper clip)
×1 -
A camera for recording
×1
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Related content
Resources
Unit resources
Science
Knowledge organiser – Science Y6: Energy: Circuits, batteries and switches
Aimed at pupils, two pages providing key facts and definitions from the unit 'Circuits, batteries and switches'.
Science
Vocabulary display – Science Y6: Energy: Circuits, batteries and switches
A display version of the vocabulary from the unit 'Circuits, batteries and switches'.
Subject resources
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Cross-curricular opportunities
English: Spoken language.
Mathematics: Number – addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; Measurement; Statistics.
Design and technology: Design; Technical knowledge.
British values: Mutual respect; Democracy.
