Conductors vs. Insulators
Grade 4
Suggested Time Frame:
Lesson Summary:
60 minutes
(Please only do this lesson after the students can
confidently build a basic circuit.) Electricity flows
into our homes through metal wires. Conductors
are materials through which electricity can flow
and insulators are materials through which it
cannot. A variety of things found in the classroom
will be tested for their ability to conduct
electricity.
Materials:
One pair per students:
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1 battery
3 pieces of
copper wire (6 in.
each)
1 flashlight bulb
Metal thumbtacks
or brads
Coins
Keys
pencil
Buttons
Fabric
Screws
Marbles
Plastic
String
cup of water
cup of salt water
Styrofoam cup
paper clip
“I Can…”
 demonstrate and explain that electric
circuits require a complete loop of
conducting materials through which
electrical energy can be transferred.
Vocabulary:
Insulator
Conductor
Open circuit
Closed circuit
1
Columbus City Schools
Aug 2010
Conductors vs. Insulators
Grade 4
Teacher Background
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Conductors allow electricity flow through them. Conductors are materials that can
carry electricity - they conduct electricity. Metal materials such as copper, iron, steel
and aluminium are all good conductors of electricity.
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Insulators do not allow electricity to flow through them. Materials such as wood, plastic,
rubber and glass do not carry electricity and are called insulators – they don’t conduct
electricity. Insulators and conductors both have important uses in current electricity.
Engage (Warm-up)
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Have each pair of students collect the items that are to be tested.
Build a circuit for students to see. Have students consider the circuit.
Ask, “How is the light bulb able to receive power from the battery? How does the energy
move from the battery to the light bulb?” The energy moves through the metal wire,
because metal is a good conductor of electricity.
Discuss the terms conductor and insulator so students understand that conductors carry
electricity from one point to another and insulators stop the flow of electricity.
Have students brainstorm ideas of how the circuit could be used to test materials for their
conductivity.
Select one conductor and one insulator from the classroom samples (such as a paper
clip and a Styrofoam cup.) Following procedures show how the circuit can be used to
test for conductivity.
Demonstrate what happens to the light bulb when both the conductor and insulator
become a part of the circuit.
Hand out the worksheet (included below). Allow time for the students to list each item
that they are going test and predict if the item will be a insulator or conductor.
Explore and Explain (Instructional Strategies)
1. Build and test a circuit. Working in pairs, allow the students time to connect the light bulb
to one of the wires and attach the wire to the battery. Connect the other wire to the
other side of the battery and then to the light bulb. Be sure the light bulb lights up.
2. Disconnect one of the copper wires from the battery place one of the items to be tested
at the end of that wire. Take the third copper wire and connect it from the item being
tested to the battery. If the circuit is closed; the item is conducting electricity (a
conductor), the bulb will light. If the circuit is open; the item is insulated from passing the
electricity (an insulator), the bulb will not light. You will need to watch the students and
encourage them to keep firm connections between the bulb, batteries, and testing
objects.
3. Test various materials for their conducting ability. Conductors, such as coins, should make
the light bulb light. Insulators will not because they do not complete the circuit.
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Columbus City Schools
Aug 2010
Conductors vs. Insulators
Grade 4
Extension/Expansion/Elaboration/Interdisciplinary Connections
Write a letter from the point of view as a conductor or insulator (e.g. “A day in the life of a
conductor”)
Essential Questions
Students build a complete circuit to light a bulb. After building the circuit, the students close the
switch, but the bulb does not light. Describe two possible reasons the bulb does not work in the
circuit.
Reteach Ideas
Add 3 more conductors and 3 more insulators to your chart. Test them if possible.
Evaluation/Closure (Lesson Assessment)
You have been asked to design a pair of gloves for an electrician. The gloves must protect the
electrician from getting shocked by current electricity.
What materials would you use?
Why would you use these materials?
What problems might come from wearing gloves from this material?
Extensions/Additional Resources
Technology:
UnitedStreaming:
Hot Line: All About Electricity (15:00)
A First Look: Electricity (20:00)
Website:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/science/physical_processes/circuits_cond
uctors/play.shtml
Fill in the circuit with different items to find the conductors.
http://www.culverco.com/sse/wires/game.html
Categorize objects into conductors or insulators as you test them in a circuit you build
yourself at this site.
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Columbus City Schools
Aug 2010
Conductors vs. Insulators
Grade 4
Conductors vs. Insulators
Item
Prediction
Conductor or
Insulator
4
Actual
Conductor or
Insulator
Columbus City Schools
Aug 2010