An electrical cell is a component that uses a chemical reaction to make electric charge flow in a circuit.

Objects 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 cause an electric current.

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

Electric current

Science

Making a series circuit

Fixing faulty circuits

Measuring electric current

Measuring voltage

Changing voltage

Static electricity

Static electricity: charge

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. 

This unit covers electric current, potential difference, and resistance in series and parallel circuits. It also explores charge separation, electron transfer, and electric fields. The unit focuses on interpreting data, identifying patterns, and drawing conclusions using scientific knowledge.

Series circuits

A cell has one positive terminal and one negative terminal.

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

Which of the following statements about the terminals of a cell is correct?

What is inside a cell 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 of the following objects can be used to make a simple cell?

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

adding another motor to the series circuit

adding another cell to the series circuit

A motor is connected to a cell and spins. Which of the following 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 of the following 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?

Electric current

Lesson outcome