Grade 4 · Science
Goal
Explain how a circuit works and why a gap stops the electricity.
You'll need
Scissors, a glue stick, and crayons.
Help with the hands, not the answer
Add these words to the student's AAC device before the lesson
circuit, battery, wire, bulb, switch, electricity, flow, gap, closed, open, metal, conductor, energy, light, dark
Words from the check are left out on purpose.
What's in this packet
Standards the check measures
CA Common Core ELA RI.4.3: Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text, including what happened and why, based on specific information in the text.
CA Common Core ELA RI.4.4: Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area. (See grade 4 Language standards 4–6 for additional expectations.) CA
CA Common Core ELA L.4.2.d: Spell grade-appropriate words correctly, consulting references as needed.
Related, but not fully taught or measured here
CA NGSS 4-PS3-2: Make observations to provide evidence that energy can be transferred from place to place by sound, light, heat, and electric currents.
These are California's standards. Outside California, check the code and wording against your state's framework before citing them in an IEP.
Activity answers
Color the answer. Which one lights the bulb? Closed loop. Which one is a conductor? Metal wire.
Closed or open?. Closed loop: Bulb lights up; No gap; Electricity flows. Loop with a gap: Bulb goes dark; Has a gap; Electricity stops
Turning on the light. 1. Close the switch 2. The gap closes 3. Electricity flows 4. Bulb lights up
What does it do?. Battery: gives the energy. Wire: lets electricity flow. Switch: opens and closes gap. Bulb: makes light
Parts of a circuit. Top: bulb. Left: wire. Bottom: battery. Right: switch
Spell the word. BULB
Electricity can move energy from one place to another. A battery, wires, and a bulb can make a simple circuit. A circuit is a loop that electricity can flow through.
When the loop is closed, electricity flows and the bulb lights up. When the loop has a gap, electricity stops and the bulb goes dark.
A switch opens and closes that gap. Metal wires let electricity flow through them. Materials that let electricity flow are called conductors.
Color the right box.
Which one lights the bulb?
Which one is a conductor?
Sort the cards.
Closed loop
Loop with a gap
Cut out along the dashed lines
Put them in order.
Cut out along the dashed lines
Match each one.
Cut out along the dashed lines
Label it. Color the bulb yellow.
Cut out along the dashed lines
Spell this word.
Cut out along the dashed lines
How the student chose answers (mark one)
Independent, adult could not see
Independent, adult could see
With touch, a held device, or cues
Mark the last one if anyone touched the student, held anything for them, or cued them while they chose. Help with cutting or gluing after they chose doesn't count as support, but an adult who saw the choice means "adult could see."
Help after the student chose
Results
Date ____________ Check run by (role) ____________________
| Item | Standard | Student's answer | Right? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RI.4.3 | ||
| 2 | RI.4.3 | ||
| 3 | RI.4.4 | ||
| 4 | RI.4.4 | ||
| 5 | L.4.2.d | ||
| 6 | L.4.2.d |
Each question with four choices can be guessed right 1 time in 4. These 6 items are too few to conclude from alone. The on-screen report waits for 20 items at a level.
A flashlight holds a simple circuit. Batteries sit inside the handle. Pressing the button closes the switch, and the bulb lights up. Metal strips carry electricity from the batteries to the bulb. The outer case of a flashlight is often plastic. Plastic blocks electricity, so it is called an insulator. An insulator keeps electricity from going where it should not go.
Choose your answer, then color its box.
What happens when you press the button?
Why does the light go off when the switch opens?
Choose your answer, then color its box.
In this text, what does insulator mean?
In this text, what does case mean?
Spell the word for the part of a flashlight you hold. Choose each letter. Glue them on the strips.
Cut out along the dashed lines
Spell the word for the small part you press. Choose each letter. Glue them on the strips.
Cut out along the dashed lines
Keep this away from the check, and use it only for scoring afterward.
| Item | Standard | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RI.4.3 | What happens when you press the button? | The switch closes and the bulb lights |
| 2 | RI.4.3 | Why does the light go off when the switch opens? | The loop now has a gap |
| 3 | RI.4.4 | In this text, what does insulator mean? | Material that blocks electricity |
| 4 | RI.4.4 | In this text, what does case mean? | The outer shell of the flashlight |
| 5 | L.4.2.d | Spell the word for the part of a flashlight you hold. | HANDLE |
| 6 | L.4.2.d | Spell the word for the small part you press. | BUTTON |