Electric circuits
This list provides a range of activities and demonstrations which will help students to develop an understanding of electric circuits. Included are practical tips, consideration of students' misconceptions and suggested teaching approaches.
The resources are linked to these topics;
• electric current, measured in amperes, in circuits, series and parallel circuits, currents add where branches meet and current as flow of charge
• potential difference, measured in volts, battery and bulb ratings; resistance, measured in ohms, as the ratio of potential difference (p.d.) to current
• differences in resistance between conducting and insulating components (quantitative)
Whilst this list provides a source of information and ideas for experimental work, it is important to note that recommendations can date very quickly. Do NOT follow suggestions which conflict with current advice from CLEAPSS, SSERC or recent safety guides. eLibrary users are responsible for ensuring that any activity, including practical work, which they carry out is consistent with current regulations related to Health and Safety and that they carry an appropriate risk assessment. Further information is provided in our Health and Safety guidance.
Electrical Circuits
Produced by Teachers TV, in this video two teachers show the experiments they find useful in teaching students about electrical circuits. The usefulness of the demonstrations are highlighted and it explains how students can work in groups to show their understanding of electrical circuits
GCSE Teacher Activities
The following classroom activities are designed to use inexpensive equipment and tie in with the key themes for key stage four physics in England and Wales. These themes include electrostatics, electromagnetism, heat transfer, light, waves and radioactivity. Each activity has an equipment list, instructions for the experiment, background scientific information and tips for success.
Future Morph: Science Journalist *suitable for home teaching*
In this Future Morph video, freelance science writer Helen Carmichael talks about writing on a range of topics and for different audiences. She describes how she combines her knowledge of science with skills in researching and presenting information to produce an engaging science-based story. Helen describes how she may be asked to write on a wide range of topics and how being able to gather and analyse information is an important part of her job.
Electricity and Magnetism 11-14
This is an extensive and thorough resource and will take some time to read through - but well worth the effort.
Open the Teaching Activities file and you will find a good selection of ideas to help students to develop a model of how an electric circuit works and also to capture their interest. For example, the design and make activity challenges students to 'invent' a burglar alarm for the classroom door, a pressure pad alarm for a chair or steady-hand tester.
To add to the sense of occasion, ask a senior member of staff to come into the lesson and try out the alarmed chair!
The Physics Narrative and Teaching and Learning files will be particularly appreciated by those teaching outside of their specialism
Electricity
It is useful for students to have a number of analogies which they can draw upon in order to develop a real understanding of electric circuits. Comparing the strengths and weaknesses of different analogies can help to clarify ideas and assess students' understanding. This interactive analogy relates abstract concepts (such as charge and energy) directly to familiar everyday objects (delivery vans, bread).
The analogy provides students with an accessible way of thinking about electric circuits, which they can use to support their predictions and explanations when investigating different aspects of circuits.
Case Study: Electrical Installation *suitable for home teaching*
Including careers resources throughout the scheme of work is a good way to raise students' awareness of the huge range of careers which use science.
This short clip, useful as an introduction to a lesson on measuring current or voltage, features a student talking about her apprenticeship course in electrical installation at Exeter college. She describes the entry qualifications needed for her course, contrasts her experiences at college compared to school and briefly mentions health and safety considerations when working.
Currents and conductors
In the 2014 curriculum, students should learn about the differences in resistance between conducting and insulating components (quantitative).
This activity, on the Practical Physics website, allows students to investigate the effect of a number of different insulating and conducting components in a circuit. The current passing through the material or component can be indicated by the brightness of a lamp or it can be measured with an ammeter for a quantitative investigation.
Working scientifically, students should evaluate the reliability of methods and data, suggesting possible improvements. So encouraging students to repeat their measurements several times and to consider the question 'Does this method give a fair comparison between different materials?' will present a good opportunity to critically evaluate their investigation. At this stage, it might be useful to prepare a structured writing frame to support students in doing this.
Electric Circuits 11-14
Voltage, or potential difference, can be a daunting area of the curriculum to teach, especially for non-specialists. This resource provides useful subject knowledge as well as suggested class activities.
The resource also details Teaching and Learning issues surrounding voltage and provides a range of strategies and teaching ideas. It offers advice on a route through the topic, starting by comparing a range of electrical appliances to introduce the idea of electrical power in a familiar context. This can lead into looking at domestic energy costs and fuel bills to provide context. .
Total Darkness *suitable for home teaching*
This interactive game puts students in control, using their science skills to get the power back on and see if they can discover the real reason behind the sudden darkness covering the whole town. The students' choices and decisions will guide them through the story to discover the cause.