Year 4 Pupils Explore Electrical Circuits

As part of their learning in science, pupils in 4SC have been exploring electricity by designing and testing their own switches for simple electrical circuits.

Building on their prior knowledge of conductors and insulators, the class investigated which materials could be used to control the flow of electricity. Their challenge was to create a working switch that could successfully complete or break a circuit to light a bulb.

The pupils experimented with a range of everyday objects, including paperclips, split pins, coins and other materials, carefully observing which allowed an electrical current to pass through and which did not. Through hands-on testing and discussion, they discovered how different materials affect the flow of electricity and why certain objects make more effective switches than others.

The practical activity encouraged curiosity, problem-solving and teamwork, while helping pupils develop a deeper understanding of how electrical circuits work.