Introduction Activity

Zip/ Zap/Zoom/Boom! 

Send Zip, Zaps in different directions. Explain to students that this game shows how energy is transferred.

“Our battery world”Teacher lays out the battery-operated items in the classroom

Ask students to move around the room to identify the battery operated items.

Ask them to name them loudly.

Ask students what they found.

See Creative Technique 21. Point at Objects in the Room

“Conducting the Orchestra”

In a group circle, ask each student to make the sound of their chosen battery operated object.

Point at different students and they then make their sound. Get a few or lots of sounds going together – an orchestra of battery operated objects.

Development Activity

Introduction to symbols

Using Powerpoint, teacher will introduce the symbols.

• Battery symbol and battery definition
• Bulb diagram, symbol of bulb
• Student draws symbols in a notebook

Switch, Battery and Bulb diagram

Refer back to Zip/Zap game re. current- it goes in one direction.Current – Teacher explains how it flows in one direction.

Introduce to students the symbols below

• A = Ammeter
• I = Current
• Student adds to previous symbols in their notebook

Physical exercise

Split class into two groups

Groups must physicalize the letter “A” as a group.

Groups must physicalize the letter “I” as a group.

Look at fairy lights with batteries prop – Ask: what happens? How does it work?

See Creative Technique 16. 10 Second Freezes

Physical exercise- Make a Human Series Circuit

Ask students: what’s in a battery? Label each student with a card eg. switch, battery, bulb.

Attach students with wires (pinned to jumpers) or students can “become” the wires.

Students will start by embodying the part they have been given ie. a bulb will “flash”.

The Balls = Electrons. They will be passed from student to student.
Teacher will give instructions – “Ella’s switch is on” which indicates to the
students that the current should be flowing around the circuit in one direction ie. the balls are being passed around the circuit. Once the balls gets to the person who is the bulb, that person will make a noise/action to “flash”. Teacher will then give instruction “Ella’s switch is off “which means the circuit will be broken and no electricity is being passed around the circuit so none of the components are working.

Repeat the on/off instructions randomly.

(This exercise can be used for making circuits at the beginning of the electricity module of learning or can be used to differentiate between series and parallel circuits)

Note: If you do not use juggling balls, students can instead put hands on each other’s shoulder and with a small squeeze/ pulse can send the current.

Consolidation of Learning

At desks, draw example circuits.

Draw a circuit consisting of a light bulb battery and a switch

“I Am the Battery”

See Creative Technique 17. “I am the Tree!”

Questions that can be answered:

What is the symbol of the light bulb?

What is the unit of current?