Unit outcomes
Pupils who are secure will be able to:
- Identify electrical products and explain why they are useful.
- Help to make a working switch.
- Identify the features of a torch and how it works.
- Describe what makes a torch successful.
- Create suitable designs that fit the success criteria and their own design criteria.
- Create a functioning torch with a switch according to their design criteria.
Suggested prior learning
Electrical systems: Electric poster
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Lesson plans
Lesson 1: Electrical products
Lesson 2: Evaluating torches
Lesson 3: Torch design
Lesson 4: Torch assembly
Key skills
- Designing a torch, giving
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Key knowledge
To know:
- Electrical conductors are
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Key vocabulary
battery
bulb
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Related content
Unit resources
Knowledge organiser: DT – Y4 Torches
Aimed at pupils, a single page which gives key facts and definitions from the unit. Year 4 Electrical systems: Torches…
Vocabulary display – D&T Y4: Electrical systems: Torches
A display version of the vocabulary from the unit 'Torches'.
Subject resources
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Cross-curricular opportunities
Science
‘Pupils should be taught to:
- identify common appliances that run on electricity
- construct a simple series electrical circuit, identifying and naming its basic parts, including cells, wires, bulbs, switches and buzzers
- identify whether or not a lamp will light in a simple series circuit, based on whether or not the lamp is part of a complete loop with a battery
- recognise that a switch opens and closes a circuit and associate this with whether or not a lamp lights in a simple series circuit
- recognise some common conductors and insulators, and associate metals with being good conductors.’
Pupils apply their knowledge of circuits and key components to design and construct a KS2 torch.
Build on the learning
Electrical systems: Wobble bots
Pupils build on their prior knowledge of circuits and components to construct a motorised Doodler, applying their understanding of KS2 electrical systems to improve its performance