A battery is a component that uses a chemical reaction to make electric charge flow round a circuit.

Things can have an electrical charge that is positive or negative. If there is no charge, they are neutral.

Electrons are the charges in conductors that flow to give an electric current.

Electric current is the flow of electric charge in a circuit.

Electric current

Science

In the Magnets and electromagnets unit, they will build on this knowledge to learn about how electric current flows through electromagnets, factors that affect the strength of electromagnets and uses of electromagnets that include a simple electric motor.

In Changing circuits unit (Y6), pupils learnt to construct simple circuits, and about complete circuits, circuit diagrams and how the number and voltage of cells in a battery affect components in a circuit. 

Series circuits

Physical activity and equipment requiring safe use

A battery has one positive terminal and one negative terminal.

A battery has a neutral terminal and either a positive or a negative terminal.

Which statement correctly describes the terminals of a battery?

What is inside a battery that pushes the electric charges round a circuit?

What is the name of the moving charges that carry electric current through a metal wire?

What is the normal speed of electrons flowing through a metal wire?

two pieces of the same metal, liquid oil and some wires

two pieces of the same metal, a weak acid solution and some wires

two different metals, liquid oil and some wires

two different metals, a weak acid solution and some wires

Which objects can be used to make a simple battery?

Which two of these objects have free electrons that can carry an electric current?

adding another motor to the series circuit

adding another battery to the series circuit

A motor is connected to a battery and spins. What would cause the motor to spin faster?

The battery is not connected to the lead.

What mistake has been made in this circuit diagram?

Which component is represented by the circuit symbol shown?

disconnecting all the components and reconnecting them

testing each component with a test circuit

replacing each component one by one with a working one

switching the circuit off and then on again

Which statements describe ways to fix a faulty circuit?

so that scientists and engineers around the world can understand them

Why are there certain rules for drawing circuit diagrams?

Content guidance

Risk assessment required - equipment

Adult supervision required

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Electric current

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.