Assemble an electric vehicle
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can add mechanical and electrical components to a vehicle.
Key learning points
- Electric vehicles include mechanical and electrical components.
- Components need to be added to the chassis securely using motor clips or glue.
- Axles need to be connected to pulleys.
- A larger pulley on the axle slows the vehicle down.
- Distance between the two pulleys shouldn't be too loose or too tight.
Keywords
Mechanical - a system or machine that uses moving parts
Electrical - powered by an electrical current
Components - parts of a system or machine
Common misconception
Pulleys work under any amount of tension.
Pulleys will not work if the band is too tight (struggles to rotate) or too loose (falls off).
Teacher tip
Allow pupils to test their vehicles using only the wheels and axles, assessing the axle hole positions so adjustments can be made, before other components are added.
Equipment
Please see additional materials document for information on the resources needed for this lesson.
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.An electric is a group of components joined together by wires and includes a cell or battery.
Q2.What are the basic elements of a circuit called?
Q3.What do you call an electrical circuit where all the components are correctly connected and there are no breaks in the loop?
Q4.Which of these uses a battery to work?
Q5.An axle holder is used to hold an axle to the .
Q6.Which word means fixing components together?
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which of the following is a mechanical component?
Q2.Which of the following is an electrical component?
Q3.When using a pulley band to connect a wheel to a motor, what will happen if the pulley band is too tight?
Q4.Match each term to its description:
moving parts
uses electricity to help move parts
vehicle frame
To help you plan your 5 design and technology lesson on: Assemble an electric vehicle, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 design and technology lesson on: Assemble an electric vehicle, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 design and technology lessons from the Pulleys and gears: electric vehicles unit, dive into the full primary design and technology curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.