Science Year 4 Physics Strand: Electricity

This plan makes reference to session resources that can be downloaded at https://www.hamilton- trust.org.uk/browse/science/y4/electricity-year-4-new-curriculum/108979.

Programme of study: Identify whether or not a lamp will light in a simple series circuit, based on Session G whether or not the lamp is part of a complete loop with a battery Scientists Recognise that a switch opens and closes a circuit and associate this with whether or not a lamp lights in a simple series circuit Working Gather data to help in answering questions scientific Record findings using simple scientific language ally Resources Information books about scientists and electricity. Access to internet needed Whole class teaching: Explain to children that many scientists have over the years contributed to our understanding of electricity. Visit http://thefusebox.northernpowergrid.com/page/electricity/history.cfm and go through the decades to find out what was invented and by whom. Today children are going to find out about one of these scientists and write a fact file about or a biography of them. Which scientists? Write Benjamin Franklin, Michael Faraday and Thomas Edison on f/c.

Class activities Independent activity: Children work in pairs and use books and the internet to find out more about their chosen scientist. They then write a fact file (session resource) or a biography. Children can download an image to use or photocopy one from a book. They can also find out details about his education, family, other interests, etc.

Some useful books: The Discovery of Electricity: A History Just for Kids! by Kidcaps, ISBN: 9781489550361 The Shocking Story of Electricity by Anna Claybourne and Martin Chatterton, ISBN: 9780746080931 Faraday and the Science of Electricity by Brian Williams and David Antram, ISBN: 9781904194880 Thomas Edison: A Brilliant Inventor by Lisa DeMauro, ISBN: 9780060576110 Benjamin Franklin: A Man of Many Talents by Kathryn Hoffman Satterfield, ISBN: 9780060576097

Some useful websites: Benjamin Franklin: http://www.ushistory.org/FRANKLIN/info/, http://learn.fi.edu/franklin/scientst/electric.html & http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/. Michael Faraday: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/faraday_michael.shtml, http://spartacus- educational.com/SCfaraday.htm & http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/scientists/michaelfaraday.html. Thomas Edison: http://www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/edison/aa_edison_subj.html, http://www.thomasedison.com/biography.html, http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/edison/lightbulb.shtml & http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bledison.htm. General sites: http://www.enwin.com/kids/electricity/history.cfm, http://www.enwin.com/kids/electricity/energy_pioneers.cfm & http://kids.saveonenergy.ca/en/what-is- electricity/the-history-of-electricity.html. Plenary: Did children come across any other famous scientists who are part of the history of electricity? E.g. Alessandro Volta, Humphry Davy, Joseph Swan, Andre-Marie Ampere, etc. Allow pairs to feedback on their research by reading their biography or fact file. Have other pairs found out anything else interesting about that particular scientist? Then all tackle the quiz at http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/quiz/q80633759 to rehearse their understanding of simple circuits (final questions about symbols used in simple circuit diagrams can be ignored). I can: 1. Write a fact file or a biography about a scientist who helped our understanding of electricity. 2. Use my knowledge about simple circuits to answer questions.

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