BUZZING AROUND AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT
LESSON OVERVIEW
Grade Levels: 4
In this lesson students will gain an understanding of simple electrical circuits and their components
by building a circuit, discussing their observations as a class, and drawing a circuit diagram.
STANDARDS
NGSS
4-PS3-2.
Make observations to provide evidence that energy can be transferred from place to place by
sound, light, heat, and electric currents.
NGSS
4-PS3-4
Apply scientific ideas to design, test, and refine a device that converts energy from one form to
another.
CCSS
ELA-SL.4.1
Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher
led) with diverse partners on grade 4 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and
expressing their own clearly.
CCSS
ELA-W.4.2.D
Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.
OBJECTIVES
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Students will use technology to play a game on electricity and electrical circuits.
Students will create a simple electric circuit.
Students will draw diagrams of electric circuits.
Students will engage in a class discussion about their observations.
MATERIALS
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Wires with alligator clips on the ends
Batteries
Light bulbs in sockets
Optional: switches with terminals
Optional: exit worksheet handout
PROCEDURE
Procedure for Electrical Circuits:
STEP 1:
STEP 2:
STEP 3:
Play the game on electricity. (optional) http://smartspaceniu.com/games/electricity/story.html
Set out materials on each table (alternatively, you may choose to do this as a class).
Talk to students about electricity and electrical circuits. Use the Guiding Information section below for
help. Make sure to show students an image of a complete circuit with labeled parts.
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Watch this video for a tutorial. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lgx2AzuczPk
STEP 4:
STEP 5:
STEP 6:
Tell students they will make a complete circuit and light up the light bulb. Work together as a class.
 Connect the end of one wire to the light bulb socket.
 Connect the end of another wire to the light bulb socket.
 Connect the other end of the same wire to the battery terminal and the other end of the first wire
to the opposite side of the battery terminal.
 The light bulb should light up.
Have a class discussion on the following questions.
 What happened when the final wire was connected to the battery?
 What would happen if a wire was removed? (Remove one wire and ask for observations).
 Why did the light bulb go out when you removed the wire?
 What are essential elements needed to complete a circuit?
Have students draw a picture of their circuit. When they are done, they can work together in pairs to
draw a circuit diagram with the appropriate symbols. You may wish to draw or display the individual
symbols to remind your students.
STEP 7:
Ask a few students to share their circuit diagrams with the class. Engage in a class critique of the
drawings, discussing the strengths and areas for improvement.
STEP 8:
Give students time to fix their circuit diagrams.
Optional: Have students complete the exit worksheet provided below. Alternatively, you may work on the
prompts as a class.
STEP 10: Optional: You may want to ask students what would happen if you added a second light bulb to the
same circuit. Try it out. Ask students for observations. Did the light bulbs get dimmer (or not light at all)?
Compare the original circuit to a new one with 2 bulbs. Ask the students why they think this is
happening.
STEP 9:
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GUIDING INFORMATION
Electricity is the movement or flow of electrons through some object or medium. Electricity can flow through wires, between
objects (classic hair and balloon trick), or even through air (lightning).
An electrical circuit is a complete path through which electricity can move. There are several essential components of a
simple circuit: a power source (such as a battery); wires to connect the battery and other components; and a load (such as
a light bulb). Other components can include a switch and a resistor.
Electricity will only travel around a complete circuit. Complete circuits have no gaps between components. In a complete
circuit, electricity can travel around the circuit. When this happens, negative charges (called electrons) move from the
negative side (negative terminal) of the battery along the circuit to the positive side (positive terminal) of the battery. You
can only light a bulb or power a load if the circuit is complete. Otherwise, electrons will not flow through the circuit.
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Electrical Circuits Worksheet
What is an electrical circuit?
What components do you need to complete an electrical circuit?
Write some examples of different components:
Power Source
Cable or Power Line
Load
What did you observe when the circuit was complete? Why do you think this happened? Use complete sentences.
Draw your circuit diagram here:
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RUBRIC
Target (3)
Meets (2)
Partially Meets (1)
Does Not Meet (0)
ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT Does a great job using Does an okay job using Attempts to build the Was not able to build
the materials to build the materials to build project but has trouble the project.
the project.
the project.
following directions.
DRAWING
Does a great job
Does an okay job
Attempts to illustrate a Was not able to
illustrating a complete illustrating a complete complete electrical
illustrate an electrical
electrical circuit.
electrical circuit.
circuit, but did not
circuit.
include all of the parts.
COLLABORATION
Works well with others
and discusses ideas in
a fair, respectful,
encouraging way and
is considerate of the
feelings of others.
Works okay with others
and discusses ideas in
a fair, respectful way,
but may not be
encouraging.
Considers the feelings
of others.
Works with others, but
does not contribute a
fair share of work OR is
discouraging and does
not consider the
feelings of everyone.
Does not work well with
others and/or
discusses ideas in an
unfair, disrespectful
way.
REQUIREMENTS
Meets all of the
requirements for the
project.
Meets most of the
requirements for the
project.
Meets some of the
requirements for the
project.
Does not meet the
requirements for the
project.
Discusses ideas in a
fair, respectful, and
positive way and is
considerate of the
feelings of others.
Discusses ideas in a
fair, respectful way, but Discusses ideas but
may not have been
did not consider the
positive. Considers the feelings of everyone.
feelings of others.
DISCUSSION
Total
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Discusses ideas in an
unfair, disrespectful
way.
/15