New
New
Year 4

Electrical conductors: testing

I can identify objects made from a range of metals and test for electrical conductivity.

New
New
Year 4

Electrical conductors: testing

I can identify objects made from a range of metals and test for electrical conductivity.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Metals are very useful materials, with properties such as strength, stiffness and electrical conductivity.
  2. Results of scientific enquiries can be recorded in different ways including charts and tables.
  3. All metals conduct electricity, but some metals are better electrical conductors than others.
  4. Materials are chosen for particular jobs based on their properties.

Common misconception

Not all metals are electrical conductors.

Children will test materials for conductivity, but teaching slides will emphasise that all metals are electrical conductors.

Keywords

  • Metal - A metal is a type of material.

  • Electrical conductor - An electrical conductor is a material that allows electricity to pass through it easily.

  • Conduct - If a material conducts electricity or heat it means the electricity or heat can pass through it easily.

  • Electrical insulator - An electrical insulator is a material that does not allow electricity to pass through it easily.

Make sure that children know that all metals are electrical conductors and none are electrical insulators.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Equipment required to make simple circuits (cells, bulbs, buzzers, motors, wires) and a range of different metals to test.

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment

Supervision

Adult supervision required

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).

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6 Questions

Q1.
What type of electrical circuit do you have if all the components are correctly connected and there are no gaps in the loop?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: complete
incomplete
Q2.
How would we describe a material that allows electricity to pass through it easily?
An image in a quiz
electrical connector
electrical insulator
electrical transferer
Correct answer: electrical conductor
Q3.
How would we describe a material that does not allow electricity to pass through it easily?
electrical connector
Correct answer: electrical insulator
electrical transferer
electrical conductor
Q4.
Match the material to its property.
Correct Answer:metal,electrical conductor

electrical conductor

Correct Answer:plastic,electrical insulator

electrical insulator

Q5.
Which type of material would you use to make the casing on a plug?
an electrical conductor
Correct answer: an electrical insulator
Q6.
Which of these materials is an electrical conductor?
Correct answer: copper
plastic
air
rubber
Q2 demarcomedia/Shutterstock

6 Questions

Q1.
are chosen for particular jobs based on their properties
people
scientists
Correct answer: materials
kettles
Q2.
are very useful materials, with properties such as strength, stiffness and electrical conductivity.
Correct Answer: Metals, metals
Q3.
Which of these are ways scientists present the results of scientific enquiries?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: charts
drama
Correct answer: tables
chairs
Q4.
Which of the following items are likely to be made using metals?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: the electrical circuit in a television
the screen of the television
Correct answer: the wire to the plug of a television
the outside of the switches on a television
Q5.
Which of these statements is true?
Correct answer: All metals conduct electricity.
Some metals do not conduct electricity.
Correct answer: Some metals are better electrical conductors than others.
Q6.
Which metals are electrical insulators?
copper
all metals
tungsten
Correct answer: no metals

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