Electrical conductors and insulators
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can sort materials into electrical conductors and insulators.
Key learning points
- An electrical conductor is a material that allows electricity to pass through it easily.
- An electrical insulator is a material that does not allow electricity to pass through it easily.
- Metals are the best materials for conducting electricity.
- There are minerals that can conduct electricity when dissolved in water.
- Examples of electrical insulators are plastic, rubber, wood, glass and air.
Keywords
Material - A material is what objects are made from such as wood, metal or plastic.
Electrical conductor - An electrical conductor is a material that allows electricity to pass through it easily.
Minerals - A mineral is a naturally occurring solid, e.g. a salt.
Electrical insulator - An electrical insulator is a material that does not allow electricity to pass through it easily.
Common misconception
Only metals are electrical conductors. All non-metals are electrical insulators. Water is an electrical conductor.
Children will test materials for conductivity, but the teaching slides will note that some non-metals are electrical conductors and that it is the dissolved minerals in water that can conduct electricity, not the water itself.
Teacher tip
Remind children to use accurate vocabulary to distinguish between objects and the materials they are made from.
Equipment
Equipment to make simple circuits and a range of materials to test for conductivity.
Content guidance
Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.These objects are made of different materials. Which object has a label for the incorrect material?
Q2.Which of these are properties of materials?
Q3.What type of switch is this?
Q4.A is a device which has to be connected to a circuit in a particular direction, with its positive connector connected closest to the positive end of the cell.
Q5.Which of these are used to control circuits?
Q6.How do switches break the loop in a circuit?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.An electrical is a material that allows electricity to pass through it easily.
Q2.An electrical is a material that does not allow electricity to pass through it easily.
Q3.If you include an electrical insulator in a circuit with a motor, what would the motor do?
Q4.Which of these objects are made of the best material for conducting electricity?
Q5.Are the minerals in water electrical conductors or electrical insulators?
Q6.Which of these materials are electrical insulators?
To help you plan your 4 science lesson on: Electrical conductors and insulators, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 science lesson on: Electrical conductors and insulators, 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 Simple electrical circuits unit, dive into the full primary science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.