Rodesney

Electricity Lesson Plan

Subject: Series Circuits and Resistance
Grade: 5-9
Objective(s): By the end of this lesson students will
1. Understand what defines a circuit
2. Understand the characteristics/properties of series circuits
3. Have a basic understanding of electrical resistance
Time: 50 minutes
Materials:
Each group of 2-4 students will need:
o 2 D cell batteries
o 3 small light bulbs and holders
o 5 strips of bare wire
Safety Concerns:
Sharp wire ends
Broken bulbs
Misconceptions:
As distance from the battery increases in a series circuit with multiple bulbs, the
brightness of the bulbs decrease.
It will take a light bulb farther from the battery to light in a series circuit with multiple
bulbs.
Procedures:
By this point in the unit students have explored static electricity and have experimented a simple
circuit using only a battery, a bulb, and either one wire or two wires. Students know that the
circuit must be closed in order for the bulb to light.
Engage

Student
Create a new entry in your
notebook with the title Series
Circuits and todays date.
Observe the set up displayed
on the projector screen. Draw
it and make predictions about
what will happen when the
circuit is closed. Provide
justification for your

Teacher
Show a picture of an open series circuit with
one battery and two bulbs and have students
draw the circuit and make a prediction about
what will happen when the circuit is closed.
Have them justify their predictions.
At this point students will have observed
the brightness of one bulb lit by one
battery. If they seen stuck, ask them how
the results might be different.

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Explore

predictions.
Without actually connecting
components, arrange them in
as many unique ways as you
can.
Draw each arrangement and
make predictions about what
will happen when each unique
circuit is closed. Provide an
brief explanation for your
predictions.
Connect your unique circuits
and write down your
observations. Provide an
explanation. Did you
prediction match that actually
happened? Explain.

Explain

Extend

Share your observations with

groups nearby. Note
similarities and differences.
Jot down rules for how
series circuits work.
Participate in a class
discussion.

Predict what will happen when

a big series circuit is made
around the interior perimeter
of the room.

Provide groups of 2-4 students with 2 D-cell

batteries, three small light bulb in their
bases, and 5 strips of bare wire.
Ask them to arrange the bulbs and batteries
in as many unique configurations as they
can. Direct them to draw the circuits before
actually building them and to make and
explain predictions about what will happen
when each unique circuit is built and closed.
Drawings, predictions, and possible
explanations should be recorded in their
notebook.
Once several unique configurations have
been documented, have students build each
of their drawn circuits and record their
observations when they are closed. Make
sure to have them provide possible
explanations for what they have observed.
Work the room while students are exploring.
Ask them questions about what they are
doing and what they expect to happen when
they close the circuit they are work on and
why they expect what they do.
Every bulb added will make the whole setup
dimmer. Additional batteries will make the
setup brighter.
Give students a chance to share notes with
groups nearby.
Bring the class together to share observation
and possible explanations.
Have a student jot down rules for the
way series circuits behave.
Make sure that correct interpretations
are being made. This should be easy if a
majority of the groups made good
observations and can explain their work
to the minority.
Every bulb added will make the whole
setup dimmer. Additional batteries will
make the setup brighter.
Create one really big series circuit
(around the inside perimeter of the
classroom) with two bulbs and one battery
and ask students what they think will

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Will both bulbs light at the

same time?
Will both bulbs have the
same brightness?
Take notes on resistance.

Evaluate

Complete a 3-2-1 Exit Card

3 things you learned today
2 questions that you have
1 way this information
could be useful

happen when it is closed.

Will both bulbs light at the same time?
o Both bulbs should light at the same
time.
Will both bulbs have the same
brightness?
o Both bulbs should have the same
brightness.
Introduce and explain resistance.
http://www.rapidtables.com/electric/Res
istance.htm
3-2-1 Exit Card
3 things you learned today
2 questions that you have
1 way this information could be useful

Adapted from lesson 19 of Taking Charge (1992).

Electrical Resistance. (n.d.). Retrieved June 11, 2016, from

http://www.rapidtables.com/electric/Resistance.htm
Schafer, L. E. (1992). Taking charge: An introduction to electricity. Washington, DC:
National Science Teachers Association.
What Happens When Bulbs or Batteries are in Series or Parallel? (n.d.). Retrieved June 091,
2016, from
https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/smg/Website/UCP/resources/circuits/circuits_section_5_backgr
ound_information.html