English National Curriculum - Science

6. Apply knowledge of conductors and insulators

Mission Objectives

Select materials which are electrical conductors and insulators

Apply understanding of switches and complete/incomplete circuits

Explain why materials have been chosen using scientific reasoning

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Rocket Words Quiz

Rocket Words Quiz

See if you know all the meanings of the rocket words

Assessment Quiz

Assessment Quiz

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Word Search Game

Word Search Game

Find all the rocket words in the grid

Lesson Resources

Lesson Plan

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Keywords

Words and meanings to learn

renewable energy

energy gained by using natural or replaceable resources such as wind, sunlight and water

solar panels

a device which produces electricity by turning sunlight into energy

wind turbines

a device which produces electricity using the power of the wind

hydropower

a process that produces electricity using the power of water

non-renewable energy

energy gained by burning substances that cannot be replaced, such as oil and coal

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Sarah is a former headteacher and charity CEO who founded Developing Experts in October 2015 with the goal to create a fit-for-purpose curriculum for schools. The company has created a science curriculum for children ages 4-16 which is delivered through sequenced lessons mapped against the National Curriculum in biology, chemistry, and physics. Developing Expert's innovative approach to learning has already been road-tested and voted 'best EdTech product in Europe', winning Tech Nation’s Rising Stars earlier in 2019 and a place on Google for Startups Immersion program 2020. In 2022 Developing Experts won the BETT Awards for Best Classroom Resource - Teaching Aid. Sarah is a 'LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leader' 2022. In October 2022 Developing Experts joined Tech Nation's Upscale 8.0 programme.

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Clare Faulkner

Clare is an experienced primary teacher with extensive experience across the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. She has a strong background in curriculum design and development, contributing to programmes across EYFS, Key Stage 1, and Key Stage 2, ensuring they are engaging, inclusive, and pedagogically effective.

Before joining Developing Experts, Clare served as a QA Inspector for a childcare agency, rigorously applying the Ofsted inspection framework to evaluate and enhance educational provision. She also brings insight into school governance, supporting strategic decision-making and understanding the operational and pedagogical challenges faced by schools.

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Emma has a particular passion for writing high-quality curricula that are carefully sequenced, engaging, and rooted in strong subject knowledge. She is committed to creating lessons that are lively, meaningful, and accessible, helping children to grasp complex ideas through clear explanations and purposeful activities that support long-term learning.

Through her curriculum leadership, Emma has supported schools in preparing for successful Ofsted inspections, ensuring that subjects are well structured and effectively implemented. She is dedicated to designing learning experiences that spark curiosity and help pupils make meaningful connections between the past, the present, and the wider world.

Required Resources

Resources: Class presentation, batteries, bulbs, buzzers, alligator clips and wires. 1 thick corrugated cardboard base per pair/group (approximately 25 cm x 25 cm and prepared in advance). A variety of materials which can be used to construct the game, such as paper clips, tin foil, copper wire, rubber bands, tape, paper, and cardboard.  Example electric circuit games, if you have them.

Support Handout (1): The handout scaffolds the text boxes using cloze sentences and a word bank.

Core Handout (2): The task on the handout asks children to draw a picture of their loop wire game. They need to use the text boxes to label the material used for the different elements of the game and explain why they used it (insulator or conductor). Instructions to construct the game are included.

Stretch Handout (3): Text boxes are not provided, so children need to independently label the material used for the different elements of the game and explain why they used it (insulator or conductor). 

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