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Year 4

Working with electricity

I can describe different careers associated with electricity.

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New
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Year 4

Working with electricity

I can describe different careers associated with electricity.

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. There are many jobs that use the results of scientists and engineers to help them carry out their work.
  2. Electrical engineers carry out tests to design new circuits for electrical appliances.
  3. Electricians solve wiring problems, check if circuits have been built incorrectly and repair broken appliances.

Keywords

  • Science - Science is the study of the natural and human-made world, including how and why things happen.

  • Scientist - A scientist is a person who learns about science and carries out enquiries.

  • Engineer - An engineer is a person who designs, tests and builds things.

  • Findings - The findings of a test or enquiry is another way to describe the results of a test or enquiry or what was found out.

  • Electrician - An electrician solves wiring problems, checks if circuits have been built incorrectly and repairs broken appliances.

Common misconception

Jobs which use the results of science are science jobs. Electrical engineers and electricians are both scientists because they use the results of science in their work.

Children will be taught the difference between doing and using science within the context of a range of jobs.

Encourage children to think about the difference between “doing” science and “using” the results of science in work.
Teacher tip

Equipment

It would be wonderful opportunity for children to speak to a real electrical engineer and electrician. They could write their own questions to interview them and find out even more.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Why are metal cables used to transfer electricity between different places?
An image in a quiz
because they are electrical insulators
Correct answer: because they are electrical conductors
because they are waterproof
Q2.
True or false? Most metals are good electrical conductors.
Correct answer: true
false
Q3.
Why are electrical cables in our homes coated in plastic?
An image in a quiz
because plastic is an electrical conductor
because plastic is waterproof
Correct answer: because plastic is an electrical insulator
Q4.
Why do we put electrical insulators around electric circuits and wires?
Correct answer: to prevent electric shocks
to keep them tidy
to create colourful products
Q5.
Electricity is at power stations. This is another word for produced.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: generated
Q6.
How is electricity generated at traditional power stations?
water is used to turn turbines
solar energy is used to turn turbines
Correct answer: steam is produced to turn turbines
Q3 demarcomedia/Shutterstock

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the phrase with the definition to explain the difference between “doing” and “using” science.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:tasks doing science,involve decisions based on scientific knowledge or understanding

involve decisions based on scientific knowledge or understanding

Correct Answer:tasks using science,rely on the outcomes of science

rely on the outcomes of science

Q2.
Match the phrase with the job title to identify which jobs “do” and which jobs “use” science.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:does science,meteorologist – a person who studies patterns in weather

meteorologist – a person who studies patterns in weather

Correct Answer:uses the results of science,weather presenter – a person who explains the weather on TV

weather presenter – a person who explains the weather on TV

Q3.
Which of the following jobs are “doing” science?
growing plants to sell for food
Correct answer: investigating how waterproof different fabrics are
choosing a fabric for a coat design
Correct answer: comparing the health of plants grown in different soil
Q4.
There are different types of engineer. Which of these jobs would be done by an electrical engineer?
An image in a quiz
design and develop programmes for computers
Correct answer: design and develop new circuits for appliances like TVs and mobile phones
design and develop engines and machines
Q5.
Which of these professionals would solve wiring problems, check if circuits have been built incorrectly and repair broken appliances?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: an electrician
an electrical engineer
a scientist studying electrical circuits
Q6.
Which of these jobs would be done by a scientist?
An image in a quiz
design new systems to transfer electricity
Correct answer: find out which metals conduct electricity best
fix a circuit when electricity is no longer flowing around it