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Benchmark #: SC.5.P.11.1

Investigate and illustrate the fact that the flow of electricity requires a closed circuit (a complete loop).

Benchmark Information

General Information

Subject Area: Science
Grade: 5
Body of Knowledge: Physical Science
Idea: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts
Big Idea: Energy Transfer and Transformations - A. Waves involve a transfer of energy without a transfer of matter.

B. Water and sound waves transfer energy through a material.

C. Light waves can travel through a vacuum and through matter.

Clarification for grades 5-8: The target understanding for Big Idea 11: Energy Transfer and Transformations, is the Law of Conservation of Energy: Energy is conserved as it transfers from one object to another and from one form to another.
Date Adopted or Revised: 02/08
Content Complexity Rating: Level 2: Basic Application of Skills & Concepts - More Information
Date of Last Rating: 05/08
Status: State Board Approved
Assessed: Yes
  • SC.5.P.11.In.1 Identify the power source and wires (conductors) in an electrical circuit.
  • SC.5.P.11.Su.1 Recognize the power source in an electrical circuit.
  • SC.5.P.11.Pa.1 Recognize that electrical systems must be turned on (closed) in order to work.

Lesson Plans

  • Electricity--Energy Lighting the Way! Students will investigate and illustrate complete circuits using a battery, wires, light bulb and various conductors and insulators. They will understand that electricity is a form of energy that can be converted into other forms of energy such as heat and light.
  • Mars Exploration Administration Students will be given the opportunity to design a conductivity tester for astronauts to use on Mars. Students will then get to use a 3D printed tester to check common items for potential conductivity and then to redesign their tester. Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.
  • Let It Flow Have you ever wondered how a light turns on? In this lesson, students will explore how electricity flows through a complete circuit in order to light a light bulb.
  • Making Connections! Lights, camera, action! Well, you would have action if the camera was on, and it can only turn on if it has a battery, and it can only work if the battery is charged. Put it all together, and you have a complete circuit! In this lesson, students will learn that a circuit can be connected in more than one way to make something work. The students will work to connect circuits and test different items to identify if they are conductors or insulators.
  • The Shocking Truth About Circuits - An Engineering Design Challenge This Engineering Design Challenge is intended to help students apply the concepts of electrical energy, circuits, insulators and conductors in standards SC.5.P.10.4, SC.5.P.11.1, SC.5.P.11.1, SC.5.P.11.2 by constructing circuits. It may also be used as introductory instruction of the content.
  • Circuit Circus Students will be able to identify characteristics of electrical energy. This lesson can be completed in one 80 minute time period or over two days. Students will learn about electrical energy, circuits, conductors and insulators through video, a hands on exploration and summarizing informational text.
  • Let There Be Light! For students who have previously constructed complete circuits and tested for electrical conductors and insulators, this activity will put their knowledge to use and solve an energy crisis taking place in their neighborhood right now, by creating a series circuit and switch that returns control of their town's energy back to the Mayor. Thanks to the Super Energy Wizards!
  • Transformation of Energy: Constructing an Electromagnet In this hands-on lesson, students will work in groups to construct an electromagnet.  This lesson focuses energy, forms of energy, and how energy is transformed in a circuit.  This lesson also can be used to address variables in an experiment, conductors and insulators, data tables and graphs, and open and closed circuits. 

Original Student Tutorials

  • Electricity Explore the topic of Electricity including: how it is transformed into other types of energy, how a circuit works, and electrical conductors and insulators with this interactive research page.
  • Electric Circuits Investigate how the flow of electricity requires a closed circuit in this interactive tutorial.

Teaching Ideas

  • Circuit Sense In this activity about circuits, learners identify whether a circuit is opened or closed and predict whether the connecting light bulb will turn on. Learners build each of the circuits shown in the diagrams using electrical supplies to confirm their predictions.
  • Introduction to Open and Closed Electrical Circuits Students will act out open and closed circuits as a whole class with some students acting as the "motors" or "light bulbs." It is followed by individual journal writing and a class discussion.

Unit/Lesson Sequence

  • Circuits The students will experiment to see how circuits work. They will also study a closed circuit such as a lightbulb. The students will also learn about conductors and insulators.

Collections

STEM Lessons - Model Eliciting Activity

  • Mars Exploration Administration Students will be given the opportunity to design a conductivity tester for astronauts to use on Mars. Students will then get to use a 3D printed tester to check common items for potential conductivity and then to redesign their tester. Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom.

Original Student Tutorials Science - Grades K-8

  • Electric Circuits Investigate how the flow of electricity requires a closed circuit in this interactive tutorial.
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