v9 Electricity

This is an eight lesson unit designed to cover the Australian National Curriculum for Year 6 Physical Science. Throughout this unit, students will develop an understanding of how electrical energy flows through a circuit and transforms along the way through hands-on experiments and investigations. Students also consider the environmental effects of electricity generation and how their choices can lead to more sustainable outcomes.

An activity and worksheet for each lesson, classroom materials, and an assessment task are available as part of this unit.

8 x 1 hour lessons

Cross curriculum

21x resources/worksheets

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Curriculum content descriptions

Australian Curriculum - (QLD/SA/WA/NT/TAS/ACT)

AC9S6U03

Investigate the transfer and transformation of energy in electrical circuits, including the role of circuit components, insulators and conductors

AC9S6H01

Examine why advances in science are often the result of collaboration or build on the work of others

AC9S6H02

Investigate how scientific knowledge is used by individuals and communities to identify problems, consider responses and make decisions

AC9S6I01

Pose investigable questions to identify patterns and test relationships and make reasoned predictions

AC9S6I02

Plan and conduct repeatable investigations to answer questions including, as appropriate, deciding the variables to be changed, measured and controlled in fair tests; describing potential risks; planning for the safe use of equipment and materials; and identifying required permissions to conduct investigations on Country/Place

AC9S6I03

Use equipment to observe, measure and record data with reasonable precision, using digital tools as appropriate

AC9S6I04

Construct and use appropriate representations, including tables, graphs and visual or physical models, to organise and process data and information and describe patterns, trends and relationships

AC9S6I05

Compare methods and findings with those of others, recognise possible sources of error, pose questions for further investigation and select evidence to draw reasoned conclusions

AC9S6I06

Write and create texts to communicate ideas and findings for specific purposes and audiences, including selection of language features, using digital tools as appropriate

ACSSU097

Electrical energy can be transferred and transformed in electrical circuits and can be generated from a range of sources

ACSHE098

Science involves testing predictions by gathering data and using evidence to develop explanations of events and phenomena and reflects historical and cultural contributions

ACSHE100

Scientific knowledge is used to solve problems and inform personal and community decisions

ACSIS232

With guidance, pose clarifying questions and make predictions about scientific investigations

ACSIS103

Identify, plan and apply the elements of scientific investigations to answer questions and solve problems using equipment and materials safely and identifying potential risks

ACSIS104

Decide variables to be changed and measured in fair tests, and observe measure and record data with accuracy using digital technologies as appropriate

ACSIS221

Compare data with predictions and use as evidence in developing explanations

ACSIS108

Reflect on and suggest improvements to scientific investigations

ACSIS110

Communicate ideas, explanations and processes using scientific representations in a variety of ways, including multi-modal texts

NSW

ST3-1WS-S

Plans and conducts scientific investigations to answer testable questions, and collects and summarises data to communicate conclusions

ST3-2DP-T

Plans and uses materials, tools and equipment to develop solutions for a need or opportunity

ST3-8PW-ST

Explains how energy is transformed from one form to another

ST3-9PW-ST

Investigates the effects of increasing or decreasing the strength of a specific contact or non-contact force

ST3-4LW-S

Examines how the environment affects the growth, survival and adaptation of living things

ST3-5LW-T

Explains how food and fibre are produced sustainably in managed environments for health and nutrition

ST3-6MW-S

Explains the effect of heat on the properties and behaviour of materials

ST3-7MW-T

Explains how the properties of materials determines their use for a range of purposes

ST3-10ES-S

Explains regular events in the solar system and geological events on the Earth’s surface

ST3-3DP-T

Defines problems, and designs, modifies and follows algorithms to develop solutions

ST3-11DI-T

Explains how digital systems represent data, connect together to form networks and transmit data

VIC

VCSSU081

Energy from a variety of sources can be used to generate electricity; electric circuits enable this energy to be transferred to another place and then to be transformed into another form of energy

VCSSU073

Scientific understandings, discoveries and inventions are used to inform personal and community decisions and to solve problems that directly affect people’s lives

VCSIS082

With guidance, pose questions to clarify practical problems or inform a scientific investigation, and predict what the findings of an investigation might be based on previous experiences or general rules

VCSIS083

With guidance, plan appropriate investigation types to answer questions or solve problems and use equipment, technologies and materials safely, identifying potential risks

VCSIS084

Decide which variables should be changed, measured and controlled in fair tests and accurately observe, measure and record data

VCSIS086

Compare data with predictions and use as evidence in developing explanations

VCSIS087

Suggest improvements to the methods used to investigate a question or solve a problem

VCSIS088

Communicate ideas and processes using evidence to develop explanations of events and phenomena and to identify simple cause-and-effect relationships

Overview

The key concepts in this unit include:

Recognising the need for a complete circuit to allow the flow of electricity
Investigating different electrical conductors and insulators
Exploring the features of electrical devices such as switches and light globes
Investigating how moving air and water can turn turbines to generate electricity
Investigating the use of solar panels
Considering whether an energy source is sustainable

Learning Intention

We are learning to understand that electrical energy can be transferred and transformed in electrical circuits and can be generated from a range of sources.
We are learning to understand that electrical energy can be transferred and transformed in electrical circuits and can be generated from a range of sources.