Electrical sensors: make and review (non-statutory)
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can make and review a simple electrical system to detect water levels.
Key learning points
- Engineers generate ideas to invent, design, and build objects that matter to improve our lives.
- Strict safety rules must be followed when using electrical components near to water.
- Science is about thinking creatively to try to explain how things work.
- Trial and error is when you try different ways to solve a problem and learn from your mistakes.
Keywords
Design - To design something is to make a plan and a drawing describing how it could be built.
Detect - To detect something is to discover or notice it.
Sensor - Sensors are devices that can detect and monitor changes.
Trial and error - Trial and error is trying different ways to solve a problem and learning from your mistakes until you find a method that works.
Evaluate - To evaluate is to think about what you did and suggest any changes or improvements.
Common misconception
For safety reasons, electrical circuits are never used in systems or appliances which involve or are used near water.
Slides will discuss how engineers plan for the safe use of some electrical appliances near or with water. Children will design their own circuit to be used near water.
Teacher tip
Encourage children to work systematically as they use a trial and error approach to test and improve their system. Ensure that children understand safety rules around using electricity near water. In the previous lesson, children were introduced to sensors and the design process.
Equipment
Children will create a sensor and circuit to monitor water levels in a well. See additional materials.
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A is a device which detects changes in things like light, temperature, motion, sound or pressure.
Q2.Match the type of sensor to what it detects.
movement
liquids, like water
temperature
Q3.Which of the following is a fire alarm likely to sense?
Q4.Which of the following tasks would an engineer do?
Q5.Which of the following types of sensors would you use to monitor whether the water level in a tank was high enough?
Q6.Which component do sensors control within an electrical circuit?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.How do engineers make our lives easier?
Q2.Where do we need to follow strict safety rules when using electrical components and appliances?
Q3.Why are strict safety rules needed when you use electrical components near water?
Q4.Which of the following are rules linked to electrical safety and water?
Q5.Why do scientists sometimes have to think creatively?
Q6.Complete the sentence: Trial and error is when ...
To help you plan your 6 science lesson on: Electrical sensors: make and review (non-statutory), download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 science lesson on: Electrical sensors: make and review (non-statutory), 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 science lessons from the Changing circuits unit, dive into the full primary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.