Science Matters
Series Circuit and Switches
Lights out! Scholars build on their understanding of a simple circuit by adding a switch and creating schematic drawings. The eighth lesson in a series of 14 has pupils use everyday materials to create circuits and make observations as...
Curated OER
Simple Circuit: Electric Currents and Circuits
Through inquiry and exploration, 4th graders will learn and understand the functions of open and closed circuits. They will break into 2 groups, define vocabulary, hypothesize how to light a bulb, then test their hypothesis 4 different...
Purdue University
Design of a Door Alarm
How does electricity work? Budding scientists explore the concepts of electrical currents and open and closed circuits with class discussion and a hands-on activity using a battery to turn on a light bulb. Learners also make predictions...
Science Matters
Conductors and Insulators
Get that energy flowing while classes study conductors and insulators. Using a simple circuit, learners test different materials to determine the strength of conductivity. They use their results to classify materials as conductors or...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Insulators and Conductors
In a classic activity, emerging electricians test various objects for electrical conductivity in a circuit. Each group constructs a simple circuit by following a diagram. Predictions are made and objects are inserted into the circuit,...
Curated OER
Let's Get Connected!
A great lesson plan introduces your youngsters to electricity. They use internet links, streaming video, and engage in hands-on activities to understand what electricity is and how it works. They build a circuit board, and construct a...
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
The Power of Graphene
To prepare for the activity, STEM classes read about nanotechnology and the amazing properties of graphene. They collect a graphene sample from pencils, and then connect them into simple circuits to determine whether it makes a better...
Curated OER
Liquid Conductors
Students identify liquids as conductors. In this circuits lesson, students build a circuit, then use various liquids to complete the circuit, and determine which liquids successfully conduct electricity.
Curated OER
Solid Conductors
Students work in groups to create a solid conductor testing set up. They use a variety of solid materials and predict if each will serve as a conductor of electricity (allow electricity to pass through so the light bulb will light up)....
Curated OER
Insulators and Conductors
Students conduct an experiment in which they create open and closed circuits. In this insulators and conductors lesson, students review open and closed circuits and then get in groups to make both kinds of circuit. Students use a...
Curated OER
Insulators and Conductors
Fourth graders experiment to discover which items are conductors and which items are insulators. In this insulators and conductors lesson, 4th graders experiment and create a T-Chart. Students are assessed on the correctness of the...
Curated OER
Go with the Flow
Students gain an understanding of the difference between electrical conductors and insulators, and experience recognizing a conductor by its material properties. They build a conductivity tester to determine whether different objects are...
Curated OER
Electric Gameboards
Students explore the properties of electricity. In this electricity lesson, students construct an electric game board circuit using their knowledge of a series electrical circuit. Students develop game ideas based on current curriculum,...
Curated OER
One Path
Students discover that charge movement through a circuit depends on the resistance and arrangement of the circuit components. In a hands-on activity, students build and investigate the characteristics of series circuits. In another...
Curated OER
Interactive Notes-"Electricity"
Students explore electricity. In this interactive electricity lesson plan, students create static electricity with balloons, observe the rate at which ice melts to identify conductors and insulators, and create a static charge. ...
Curated OER
Applied Science - Physics Lab
Students investigate electricity. In this Physics instructional activity, students experiment with insulators and conductors of electricity. Students use batteries as the energy source for the experiment.
Curated OER
Electricity
Fourth graders experiment to find out how to light a bulb with simple materials. They make predictions if a light bulb set-up could work and gain knowledge to tell the difference between an open and closed circuit. They also figure out...
BBC
Light and Shadows
Light is such an amazing thing! Elementary schoolers explore the wonderful world of light and shadow. The activity is meant to be carried out on a whiteboard. Objects are placed in front of a light source, and learners must predict what...
Curated OER
Friction
Learners explore friction as a force that slows moving objects, explain conclusions in terms of the roughness or smoothness of surfaces, relate results to predictions, and begin to know how to plan a fair test.
Curated OER
Earth, Sun, and Moon
Young scholars participate in a demonstration and complete an online activity that illustrates the earth orbits the sun once a year, and that the moon takes approximately 28 days to orbit the earth.
Curated OER
Teeth and Eating
Students examine pictures of different animals and decide if they eat meat and/or plants. They inspect models of pairs of upper and lower teeth and discuss which teeth are most useful for cutting grass and tearing meat.
Curated OER
Rocks and Soils
Students compare the properties of rocks and relate these properties to their use. They perform a virtual experiment to describe and group rocks on the basis of their characteristics.
Curated OER
Habitats
Students complete food chains for organisms in three environments. They use copies of the Habitat worksheet. Students review the food chain terms with the teacher. They research related food chains, and interlink these to form a food...
Curated OER
Interdependence and Adaptation
Fifth graders construct a food web to illustrate how animals and plants are interdependent. In this interdependence instructional activity, 5th graders identify how consumers, producers, herbivores, carnivores and predators are related...