A Guide to KS2 Electricity

Electricity is one of the most captivating areas of the primary science curriculum - pupils can see, hear and even feel the results of their experiments. Developing Experts’ KS2 Electricity units capture that excitement through engaging, progressive lessons that build pupils’ understanding from simple circuits in Year 4 to more complex concepts in Year 6.

Why Electricity Matters at Key Stage 2

Across KS2, pupils develop both practical and theoretical knowledge of how electricity works in the world around them. They begin by identifying common appliances and building simple circuits in Year 4, before progressing in Year 6 to exploring voltage, component function and circuit symbols.

The National Curriculum expects pupils to make observations, test predictions and use evidence to explain their findings. These skills nurture logical thinking, precision and curiosity. By developing these scientific habits, pupils are not only meeting curriculum objectives but also preparing for the analytical demands of secondary science and future STEM careers.

What’s New in Our Updated KS2 Electricity Units 

We’ve listened carefully to teacher feedback and made a number of exciting updates to both the Year 4 and Year 6 Electricity units to make lessons even more effective, progressive and engaging:

1. More information and discussion questions have been added to lesson plans and slides to help teachers and pupils address common misconceptions.
2. Lesson plans, slides and mission assignments have been edited to ensure the content builds progressively across KS2 - laying solid foundations in Year 4 and deepening understanding in Year 6.
3. Additional support and stretch handouts have been included to support differentiation, all now in the updated format with answer sheets provided.
4. Quizzes and keywords have been refined to help pupils revisit and revise key knowledge and vocabulary throughout both units.
5. Mission Assignment updates:
   
   • In Year 6, mission assignment slides and activities have been refreshed, with content aligned to the National Curriculum.
   • The Year 6 lesson plans and challenge activities have been improved for clarity and progression.
   • The end-of-unit test, knowledge organiser and before/after tests have been updated and improved.
   • In Year 4, we’ve introduced an exciting new Mission Assignment for Lesson 6: pupils will apply their learning to build a loop and wire game! This activity was previously part of the Year 6 unit, but has been adapted to suit younger pupils.

Real-World Insight from Industry Experts

At Developing Experts, one of our main goals is to connect lesson content with professionals working in exciting fields. In our Year 6 unit, pupils hear from experts such as a naval architect, a graduate physicist, a nuclear engineer and a Royal Navy weapon engineer. These industry voices show how electricity powers ships, powers homes and drives innovation. We add these voices to our lessons so pupils see the relevance of their classroom investigations to the outside world. You can see an example of this in our units sponsored by Rolls-Royce here.

Why Choose These Units

Whether you want to enrich your existing electricity teaching or need a complete, ready-to-deliver scheme, these units offer a perfect blend of rigour and inspiration. They allow pupils to experiment safely, think critically and connect their learning to the wider world of STEM.

You can find the Year 4 and Year 6 Electricity units at www.developingexperts.com today.