Teacher instructions
- the content in this lesson is pretty basic, but important to start really clear if we are to have a deep understanding of the models we use when they are introduced next
lesson. Also gives a bit more background for when students design circuits in the last part of the lesson – again, we want to give them hands on experience of making
circuits and exploring a little
- Starter – MWB quiz on components
- Photo comparison to a river with one route, and a river with two
- direct parallel to electricity (this form of rigid comparison comes up quite often in these lessons – quite hand-holdy), series and parallel definitions
- introduce idea that circuits breaking at different points will have different effects (try to model the language used in previous lesson), then students discuss an example of
series and parallel circuits in the home (they’ll later write a few sentences describing this, but if your class are breezing along feel free to combine these two)
- Then two possible paths:
◦ Circuit design drawing version – can do this on MWBs to get them primed for making circuits later (with limited instruction), OR
◦ Building circuits version – can combine the circuit design with actually building them – if doing this, encourage them to sketch the circuit diagram alongside what they
have made
- Sample written answer for previous question (if not already combined)
Then can build series and parallel circuits in a more freeform way, but encourage them to note down any of their findings (particularly involving bulbs in series and
parallel). This is similar to the last lesson’s final task, but hopefully they will have a little more understanding now.
- Plenary – write down what you feel the key learning outcomes were for you in this lesson
Starter
In your books get ready for a quick quiz…
Battery
Switch (open)
Ammeter
Variable resistor
Motor
Light emitting diode (LED)
Thermistor
Light dependent resistor (LDR)
Series and parallel circuits
But here, the water can flow down
more than one route Imagine the flow of
water in each picture.
What is the difference
between the flow of
water in each picture?
Here, the water only has one route
it can flow down
Series and parallel circuits
Here, the
electrons only
have one route
they can travel
What is the
round difference
between the
flow of electrons
in each diagram?
But here, the
electrons can go
down more than
one route
Series and parallel circuits
In a series circuit, there is only one
route the electrons can take around
the circuit
In a parallel circuit, there is more than one
route for the electrons to take – there are
junctions
Series or parallel?
Series
Series or parallel?
Series
Series or parallel?
Parallel
Differences between series and parallel
circuits
At the moment, in each circuit, both bulbs are lit - why?
Because we have a cell to provide a voltage and we have a
complete circuit
Differences between series and parallel
circuits
What would happen to the bulbs if we broke the circuit?
The bulbs would turn off, because there is a broken circuit and there is no way that
the electrons can flow around the circuit, so no energy can be delivered to the bulbs
Differences between series and parallel
circuits
What would happen to the bulbs if we broke the circuit here?
The bulbs would turn off, because there is a broken circuit, and there is no way that
the electrons can flow around the circuit, so no energy can be delivered to the bulbs
Differences between series and parallel
circuits
But…what would happen to the bulbs if we broke the circuit here?
The middle bulb would turn off, as no electrons could flow through the break in the
wire. However, the bottom bulb would still be lit, as electrons can still pass through it
Question to return to…discuss on your table
Can you turn fairy lights off
individually? Or do they all turn on and
off together?
What does this suggest about the type
of circuit used here?
How about in your home – can you turn lights
on individually? Or do they all turn on and off
together?
What does this suggest about the type of
circuit used in this case?
Task – drawing version
Stage 1:
Draw a series circuit with a cell and two lamps which can both be turned off by
one switch.
Stage 2:
Draw a parallel circuit with a cell and two lamps in parallel. You need two
switches, placed carefully so that you can turn each light off individually.
Stage 3:
Draw a circuit containing a cell and three lamps – one in series, and two in
parallel. Include 3 switches to show how two of the lamps could be lit and one of
them unlit, and also all bulbs could be turned off by a single switch
Task – building version
Stage 1:
Make a series circuit with a cell and two lamps which can both be
turned off by one switch.
Stage 2:
Make a parallel circuit with a cell and two lamps in parallel. You need
two switches, placed carefully so that you can turn each light off
individually.
Stage 3:
Make a circuit containing a cell and three lamps – one in series, and
two in parallel. Include 3 switches to show how two of the lamps
could be lit and one of them unlit, and also all bulbs could be turned
off by a single switch
Check – come and draw on the board
Medium:
Draw a series circuit with a cell and two lamps which can
both be turned off by one switch.
Check – come and draw on the board
Harder:
Draw a parallel circuit with a cell and two lamps in parallel. You need two
switches, placed carefully so that you can turn each light off individually.
Check – come and draw on the board
Hardest:
Draw a circuit containing a cell and three lamps – one in series, and two in parallel.
Include 3 switches to show how two of the lamps could be lit and one of them unlit,
and also all bulbs could be turned off by a single switch.
Take time to discuss
this circuit on your
tables – can you see
how it works?
Returning to this question…
Can you write a short paragraph
explaining why fairy lights all turn on and
off together, but lights in your house can
turn off individually?
Good answers: will correctly use the
terms ‘series’ and ‘parallel’
Great answers: will explain the answer in
terms of where electrons can and can’t
flow, and therefore transfer energy
Practice
Last lesson you got hands on with building circuits. Can you apply your understanding from today
and build some series and parallel circuits (perhaps the ‘hard’ one from earlier)?
• By combining your understanding from the past two lessons, build a complex circuit that can be
controlled using switches and explain why it would be useful
Get your
teacher
to check
this one
Plenary
What do you feel the key learning
outcomes were from today’s lesson?
