Teach-Primary-Issue-19.1

circuits as they appear in real life – with wiggly wires, and batteries and bulbs drawn as they look to us. However, in Year 6, children are expected to draw circuits using more scientific symbols and straight lines (see Fig.1 ). To help with the transition in notation, Chapman (2014) suggests building real circuits on a large sheet of sugar paper alongside the circuit diagram, so pupils can see how the real circuit relates to the diagram. Pupils should also be able to use their knowledge to design and make useful circuits. For example, they could build a simple model of a windmill, using a motor to spin cardboard blades. This kind of project will provide opportunities for cross-curricular links to design and technology, too. Other useful circuits could include: • Burglar alarm (see tinyurl. com/tp-BurglarAlarm ) • Buzz wire game (see tinyurl.com/ tp-BuzzWireGame ) • Giant game of Operation (see tinyurl.com/ tp-Operation ) • Paper circuits (see tinyurl. com/tp-PaperCircuits ) Be aware that you’ll need to complete a risk assessment before working with batteries and circuits. CLEAPSS and SSERC have resources for this ( tinyurl.com/ tp-CLEAPSS and tinyurl. com/tp-SSERC ). Making learning real Children will have regular experiences with electricity every day of their lives. They will know that televisions and games consoles will not work unless they are plugged in. Many toys need batteries to work, and children should be aware that batteries come in all different shapes and sizes. Batteries are a good introduction to voltage and the size of the ‘push’ around a circuit, too. Pupils should be able to group devices into those that use batteries, those that use mains electricity, and those that use both. It can be a little tricky for children to differentiate between them these days, since many of their toys and gadgets use a rechargeable battery and can run on either mains or battery, such as phones, tablets, digital cameras and laptops. So, when grouping items, try to include obvious examples as well, such as a fridge, TV, washing machine, and lights. Another way to bring learning to life is to make it physical, and try out some practical lessons. I’ve used the below ideas with my classes, and find they’re really useful starting points for hands- on experimentation. Energy Sticks An Energy Stick is an excellent gadget for teaching circuits in primary schools. It is relatively inexpensive, and you just need one to use with a whole class to make an impact. It’s typically a transparent plastic tube with metal casings on either end, and lights inside. When both metal conductors are touched, the stick lights up (some even make a sound). Use it to turn the whole class into a circuit by holding hands. Ask children to observe what happens when the circuit is complete, and whether anything changes if one hand is dropped. Can they explain why? Electrical audit Carry out a survey in the classroom. Task children with making a list of all the devices that use electricity. Divide them into groups – those that use mains electricity, those that use batteries and those that have both. The children could carry out a similar task at home. Making switches Give the children a square of card, two paper fasteners and either some tin foil or a paperclip. Ask them to make a working switch that they could put into a simple series circuit to turn a small bulb on and off. This is very simple, but a real crowd-pleaser. Batteries Select a range of small toys that use different types of batteries. Ask the children to take the batteries out of the toys and look at their different shapes and sizes. Can pupils put the toys into groups according to the types of batteries they use? Ask them to record the results as a graph or pictogram, afterwards. (Safety precaution: take care with small batteries and warn the children not to put them in their mouth.) TP Danny Nicholson is a science teacher, edtech trainer, and author. His new book, Science Fix (£22.99, SAGE), is out now. S T EM S P E C I A L Battery Wire Bulb Buzzer Motor Switch (off) Switch (on) Fig.1. Basic electrical symbols www.teachwire.net | 43