To generate electricity is to produce it.

Fossil fuels are fuels made over millions of years from fossilised plants and animals buried deep beneath Earth's surface.

Gases which contribute towards global warming are called greenhouse gases.

Global warming is the long-term rise in average temperatures on Earth.

Sustainable sources of electricity are those which do not need to be replaced because they will never run out.

Sustainable sources of electricity (non-statutory)

Science

Components and simple circuits

Circuit symbols and diagrams

Electrical discoveries and inventions (non-statutory)

Investigating voltage: plan

Investigating voltage: do and review

Variables in electric circuits: plan

Variables in electric circuits: do and review

Changing the volume of buzzers

The position of switches: open and closed

Choosing and using conductors and insulators (non-statutory)

How electrical insulators keep us safe (non-statutory)

Electrical careers

Electrical sensors: design (non-statutory)

Electrical sensors: make and review (non-statutory)

Debating the use of electric cars (non-statutory)

In the Changing circuits unit, pupils learnt to give reasons for variations in how components function, such as the brightness of bulbs. In the Series circuits unit, they will build on this knowledge to find rules for electric current and voltage in series circuits 

In the Simple electrical circuits units, pupils learnt to construct a simple series electrical circuit, identifying and naming its basic parts. In this Changing circuits unit, pupils will build on this knowledge to compare and give reasons for variations in how components in a circuit function

This unit explores how circuit components like lamps and buzzers function, including the effect of cell number and voltage. It covers using symbols in circuit diagrams, planning scientific enquiries, taking precise measurements, recording data, and presenting findings with evidence and conclusions.

Changing circuits

Traditionally, electricity has been generated by burning {{}} fuels.

What do greenhouse gases do to the Sun’s heat?

The work challenges scientists to think scientifically.

They can be less harmful to the environment.

Why are alternative ways of generating electricity being investigated?

Which of these is true about sustainable sources of electricity?

Which of these are sustainable sources of electricity?

A place where plants are used to make medicines.

{{}} dioxide is a greenhouse gas emitted from petrol and diesel cars.

A fossil is the remains or imprint of living things that are sometimes preserved in rock. How long does it take for a fossil to form?

A {{}} is something that can be used to produce heat or light and electricity is now considered an alternative example of this.

Starter Quiz

What is a power plant?