Free teacher web sites for Science topic ‘Physics - Electricity’
Zapp through this topic, you'll find lots to keep them busy from distinguishing between batteries and mains powered devices and making simple circuits. There's a super virtual circuits kit to get your hands on too!
Basics
Electricity basics (where it comes from, which things use it etc), simple circuits, circuit diagrams, switches, changing circuits (great for upper KS2 experiments such as adding batteries, components etc), insulators and conductors. Lovely electricity glossary too! You will need the free Flash plugin from Adobe.
External link: Basics
- suitable for class use
Changing circuits
A great simulation from the BBC.
External link: Changing circuits
- suitable for class use
Conductor or Insulator
Test different objects in the space to see if they complete the cicuit and make the bulb light up.
External link: Conductor or Insulator
- suitable for class use
Drag and drop activities electricity activities
Mains or batteries, electricity vocabulary and pictures, mains electricity in rooms and garden, why won't it work?, spot the electricity dangers, safe use, what type of batteries, will the bulb light and circuit diagrams and symbols. What a great site from CCHS. Brilliant drag and drop activities for all ages. Slightly more technical experience required to view this activity. Involves unzipping a file. Ask your ICT coordinator or technician about this if you are unsure.
External link: Drag and drop activities electricity activities
- suitable for class use
Electricity activities
There are 3 activities. Spot the objects which use electricity (and some good text on batteries and mains), making circuits and putting batteries in the right way around, electricity safety (symbol and explanation of how electricity is generated).
External link: Electricity activities
- suitable for class use
Electricity and how to use it safely
Perfect for KS1 (but also easily adaptable to KS2) work on electrical safety.
External link: Electricity and how to use it safely
- suitable for class use
- suitable for teachers’ personal use
Electricity quiz
Once we got going, this quiz was fine. Ideal for revision.
External link: Electricity quiz
- suitable for class use
Experiments
We've linked you straight to this page, because there's lots to keep the brightest busy. Make an electromagnet, torch and a buzz game. Great - from Eon energy.
External link: Experiments
- suitable for class use
Make a complete circuit
Drag and drop the components into a circuit. Then add a switch (task2).
External link: Make a complete circuit
- suitable for class use
Make the bulb light up
Drag the component to the space to make the lightbulb work.
External link: Make the bulb light up
- suitable for class use
Range of activities
Only works with Internet Explorer. A great Staffordshire gfl resource which covers the electricty basics, what are components, introductions to circuits, circuit diagrams, and the wire experiment which supports the teaching about the thickness of wires (resistance). Very good.
External link: Range of activities
- suitable for class use
Simple activities
What things use electricity? Safety rules. Drag and drop 'does it use a battery?' activity, accompanied by simple text which could be adapted.
External link: Simple activities
- suitable for class use
Simulation software - Yenka Basic Circuits
Everyone loves free software. Especially if it's as top notch as Yenka (formerly known as Crocodile clips). Carry out many experiments without children trying to blow tiny lightbulbs to kingdom-come by joining just about every battery from the topic box together. Not that we're cynical.
External link: Simulation software - Yenka Basic Circuits
- suitable for class use
Uses electricity or not?
Series of pictures - click icons to show that the item uses/does not use electricity.
External link: Uses electricity or not?
- suitable for class use