Switcheroo

Switcheroo
Publication Date: January, 2004
Type of Resource: Practical activity/investigation

This online resource investigates electrical switches.

The resource is a lesson plan for a hands-on activity where students test a range of materials to determine if they make good switches.

The resource includes downloadable worksheets to enable students to easily record their results and answer questions.

Plenty of background information is provided for the teacher so as to make this a very thorough lesson.

Answers to questions posed to students are given throughout the lesson plan in brackets. Ideas for assessment and extension are also included.

Australian Curriculum v9 Codes: AC9S6U03 (Year 6)

Additional Information

The website is American and cut-away photos of American domestic switches are given. You may wish to show students Australian switches instead.

The vocabulary is very sophisticated for Year 6 students and includes the terms: current, charge, resistance, conductors, insulators etc. Use of these terms is optional of course.

Australian Curriculum:
  • Year 6 > Science Inquiry Skills > Processing and analysing data and information > Compare data with predictions and use as evidence in developing explanations > ACSIS221
  • Year 6 > Science Understanding > Physical Sciences > Electrical energy can be transferred and transformed in electrical circuits and... > ACSSU097
  • Year 6 > Science as a Human Endeavour > Nature and development of science > Science involves testing predictions by gathering data and using evidence to... > ACSHE098
  • Year 6 > Science as a Human Endeavour > Use and influence of science > Scientific knowledge is used to solve problems and inform personal and... > ACSHE100