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Year 6

Variables in electric circuits: plan

I can plan to investigate variables that may affect the brightness of a bulb in an electric circuit.

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New
New
Year 6

Variables in electric circuits: plan

I can plan to investigate variables that may affect the brightness of a bulb in an electric circuit.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A variable is any one thing in an investigation which could be changed.
  2. Adding other components to the circuit may affect the brightness of a bulb.
  3. Changing the position of the bulb in the circuit may affect how brightly it shines.

Keywords

  • Circuit - An electrical circuit is a closed loop or path that electricity can flow through to make a component work.

  • Brightness - The brightness of a bulb is the amount of light it produces.

  • Variable - A variable is something that can be changed, measured or kept the same in an investigation.

  • Affect - To affect something or someone is to change it or how it behaves.

Common misconception

Children may not understand how variables interact within a circuit and how changes in one variable can affect others.

Teaching slides will relate the need to control variables in a comparative and fair test, to the need to do so with circuits in order to be able to relate a given variable to a measured outcome.


To help you plan your year 6 science lesson on: Variables in electric circuits: plan, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Relate variables in comparative and fair tests to variables in a circuit and encourage children to consider one variable at a time when deciding which affect the brightness of a bulb.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

None essential for planning. Children may find it useful to have access to a range of components and a way to measure light. Children will carry out their investigations in Lesson 6.

content-guidance

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision required

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the unit used to measure the electrical push provided by a cell or battery?
An image in a quiz
cm
newtons
Correct answer: volts
kg
Q2.
Cells with a lower provide a weaker electrical push to a circuit.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer: voltage, Voltage
Q3.
How can you decrease the voltage of a circuit?
increae the number of cells
Correct answer: change the cells
Correct answer: decrease the number of cells
change the position of the cells
Q4.
How does decreasing the voltage of the cell affect the brightness of a bulb in a circuit?
An image in a quiz
nothing
gets brighter
Correct answer: gets dimmer
Q5.
What might happen if the voltage is too high in a circuit?
the bulb will may get dimmer
Correct answer: the bulb may blow or burn out
the switch may stick
the wires may vibrate
Q6.
What is the unit used to measure light with a light sensor?
lax
lox
Correct answer: lux
lex
lix

6 Questions

Q1.
A is any one thing in an investigation which could be changed.
Correct Answer: variable
Q2.
How many variables should you change each time you carry out an investigation?
0
Correct answer: 1
2
all but 1
Q3.
This circuit been changed to see what affects bulb brightness? How has it been changed?
An image in a quiz
a component has been added
a component has been removed
Correct answer: the position of the components has been changed
a cell has been added
Q4.
This circuit been changed? How has it been changed?
An image in a quiz
a component has been added
Correct answer: a component has been removed
Correct answer: the position of the components has been changed
a cell has been added
Q5.
Which of these may affect the brightness of a bulb in a circuit?
An image in a quiz
the person who connects the bulb
Correct answer: the position of the bulb in the circult
the colour of the bulb holder
Q6.
To a variable is to keep it the same during an investigation.
Correct Answer: control