Lesson Plan PSI

Lesson Plan
Name: Christina McLellan Grade/Subject: Grade 4/5 Science Unit: Electricity and Magnetism
Topic: Building Switches Date: December 12th, 2017 Length of Lesson: 58 minutes
General Learning Students will demonstrate safe methods for the study of magnetism and electricity,
Outcomes (P.O.S.) identify methods for measurement and control, and apply techniques for evaluating
magnetic and electrical properties

Specific Leaning Students will demonstrate that a continuous loop of conducting material is needed
Outcomes (P.O.S.) for an uninterrupted flow of current in a circuit
Students will draw and interpret, with guidance, circuit diagrams that include
symbols for switches, power sources, resistors, lights and motors

Learning 1. Students will construct a switch while working in pairs using the materials provided and
Objectives some intruction
2. Students will explain the use of the switch they have created by completing work sheet
titled Making a Switch.
3. Students will create a symbolic representation of their circuit, including their switch, by
completing a drawing in their work sheet titled Making a Switch
Materials Master 13/pencils Three wires (per group)
Battery/bulb/holders (per group) One paper clip/paper fasteners/paper (per person)

Procedure Assessment Methods

Introduction (15 1. Review:
min.) I am going to give you a work sheet to review drawing
symbols and open and closed circuits
Go through questions:
o The symbols are up on the board for you to Conversation: Have students
use. You can draw the circuit that we created answer questions/ask
last week questions for their review
o If we have a closed circuit, can anyone tell me worksheet to ensure they are
one of the four ways we can produce an open
circuit? (have students list all four ways)
prepared to complete the
o Who can tell me what an open circuit is? worksheet (formative)
o Who can tell me what a closed circuit is?
We are going to complete a worksheet now so I can
see how well everyone understands open vs closed
circuits to see if I need to review these concepts
*Have supplies leaders hand out pencils while you hand out
worksheet*
*When you are done, please flip over your page so I know
you are done*
*Collect papers when everyone is done*
2. Once everyone is done:
Weve been talking about open and closed circuits and
one way we open a circuit is not just disconnecting a
wire, but also using a switch! So today we are going to be
be building our own switches!

Body of Lesson Activity #1 Building our own switch (15 min.)

(38 min.) 1. First we are going to build our switches together! Observation: Have students
Hand out paper and paperclip to each student hold up their switch with
On the back of your paper: please write your name down each step and circle the
so we can use this in the future classroom continuously to
For each of these steps, have the students follow you step by ensure students have
step completed the steps properly
First take your paper clip and place it on your paper (formative)
Mark a dot inside the paperclip on either side

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Take off your paper clip and use your pencil to poke a
hole in either dot
Hand out brass fastener to students who are complete
Place fastener in one hole
Place fastener (with paperclip) in other whole
Make sure the ends do not touch each other
2.We are going to use our switches in our own circuits! We
will be working in pairs for this, so make sure you practice
with each partners switch
*Review expectations for students working with equipment
3.One partner will come get their battery while the other
partner comes and gets their light bulb and three wires each
*Hand out the holders for light bulb and battery

Activity #2 Open and Closed Circuit (10 min.) Observation/Conversation:

4. Have students build an open and closed circuit with their observe students circuits to
switches see how well their switches
5. Ask students: how can we open and close our circuit with work. Ask leading questions:
our switch? how can we open and close
What happens when the paperclip touches the fastener? our circuit with out switch?
What happens when they are not touching? What happens when the
6. Have a student trace the path of electricity out loud, while paperclip is not touching the
the rest of the class follows along with their fingers fastener? (formative)
Once students have managed to open and close their Observation: Have one
circuit have them return their equipment and hand their student at a time explain the
switch in to you path of electricity while all
students trace the path along
with them (formative)
Activity #1Worksheet (13 min.)
7. Once all materials have been returned hand out worksheet
for students to complete
8. Place symbols on board for students to use Observation: circle the
9. Quickly go over work sheet: classroom and use proximity
Question 1: When paperclip touches the faster and to ensure students are
closes the circuit working and understanding
Question 2: Why does the light go out when it is their worksheet. If they do
not touching. not understand, pause the
Draw a symbol of diagram (show diagram on entire class to go over the
front page and point to symbols on the board) question with the group
Trace the path of electricity for your diagram for (formative)
when the switch is open (where does the
electricity stop) and closed

Closure (5 min.) 1. Put the worksheet on the board and complete it with the Observation/collection: See
students question by question how well students were able
To ensure students are following along, make sure to answer and understand the
students give a thumbs up when they are ready for the questions and circuits. If they
next question are struggling, review next
When all students are done have supplies leaders class as well. (formative)
collect their pencils
Collect worksheets from students

Sponge Activity Introduction video to series and parallel circuits

(learn 360 video)

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