CONTENT:
STRAND:
STANDARD #’s
CIRCUITS AND PATHWAYS – Grade 3
PHYSICAL SCIENCE
Grades 3-5 - # 4, #5, #6, #7, #8 – refer to DOE Framework Physical Science
Standards
Concepts:
Students need to:
• Build awareness that everything around them is matter.
Matter in science means the stuff of the universe and life.
Matter is made up of atoms.
o Matter - takes up space and has mass/weight
o
o
•
Investigate static electricity and identify evidence of electrons jumping.
o
o
•
Investigate current electricity by:
o
o
o
o
o
o
•
o
o
o
•
Observing electricity being transferred from one form to another (e.g. electricity from the
battery to either light the bulb or sound to make the buzzer work)
Learning the science definitions of energy & work:
Build awareness that energy is neither created nor destroyed – it changes form (e.g. from
electricity to light & heat in the light bulb). This is the Law of Conservation of Energy.
Build awareness of voltage on a battery and its connection to the battery’s strength.
Be exposed and subsequently use vocabulary associated with properties of electricity and
materials used during investigation in context both orally and in writing.
Use science notebooks to:
o
o
o
o
•
Recognizing the differences and similarities between static and current electricity
Identify critical contact points on a battery and a light bulb.
Identify and classify objects and materials – those that conduct electricity well and those that
(insulators) do not
Discover that current electricity flows in connected loops – circuits
Recognize closed circuits and open circuits – use of switches to control flow of electrons
Create series and parallel circuits to light bulbs and run motors– understanding the difference
Learn that electricity is one form of energy by:
o
•
Static electricity is a build up of electrons ((-) negative charge) in one place causing a charge
(imbalance) and that static electricity gets discharged when coming near a positive (+) charged
object.
Lightning is an example of static electricity – a natural form of electricity.
Organize and communicate observations
Collect data and accurately record findings - using pictures, diagrams, graphs, charts, graphic
organizers & written entries
Record questions, reflections and curiosities about topic being investigated
Accurately read data from science notebook to be used - during class discussion, student lead
investigation and general recall
Learn and practice strategies to work in a collaborative group of classmates recording,
investigating and discussing the science of static and current electricity.
Performance Skills: Students will be able to:
• Verbally describe static electricity as a build up of electrons – detailed explanation.
• Be able to construct a circuit in series or in parallel to create a complete circuit that lights a
bulb, rings a buzzer or makes a motor spin and devise a switch system to stop the flow of
electricity and the stop the resulting action of the circuit.
• Plan, conduct, evaluate and share a student lead investigation based on questions documented
in their science notebook.
Mary Rizzuto, Science Curriculum Specialist, Needham Science Center
June 2012
CONTENT:
STRAND:
CIRCUITS AND PATHWAYS – Grade 3
PHYSICAL SCIENCE
VOCABULARY:
Students should build awareness of the following vocabulary terms during the unit instruction. It is
not intended that students’ memorize these words. Some terms are listed for clarification for the
teacher.
Matter
Matter anything that takes up space and has mass (made up of atoms)
Atom
Charge
A particle of matter – with protons, neutrons at the center (nucleus) – surrounded by
electrons
A fundamental property of matter
Discharge
Jumping of static electrical charge between two objects
Electron
Attract
Repel
Static electricity
Battery
Circuit
Closed circuit
Tiny particle that moves around the nucleus of an atom /Negative charged particle
To pull toward each other
To push away from each other
Electricity at rest that is produced by rubbing two objects together - friction
A device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy
The path an electric current flows
A circuit that allows electric current to flow from a power supply around a complete
unbroken conducting path and then back to the source
A circuit that has no complete path for electric current to flow around – opened the
circle / disrupted the current flow
A circuit in which the current flows through each component (such as light bulb) one
after the other
A circuit in which the current splits and runs through separate components.
A circuit with two or more parallel pathways to the energy source
A device that opens or closes a circuit
A material that allows electric current to pass through it easily
A material that does not allow electric current to pass through easily
Open circuit
Series circuit
Parallel circuit
Switch
Conductor
Non-conductor
Insulator
An object or material through which electric current cannot flow – does not conduct
electricity
Electric current
Electric motor
Terminals
Battery
The movement of free electrons along a conductor. The flow of electric charge
A deice that converts electric energy into mechanical energy
The contact point on a battery and bulb that must be touched to form a complete
circuit
positive and negative terminal
Volt
Measures the force or push of the electrons – how strong an electric power supply is.
Energy
(Ex: battery = 1.5volts)
The ability to do work
Work
Fahnestock clip
Filament
Force
Work is done when an object is moved over a distance by a force. Work is not done
when there is no motion. Work= Force x Distance
A springy metal device used to connect wires
Part of a light bulb that glows when electric current passes through it
A push or a pull with the power to influence or cause change
Mary Rizzuto, Science Curriculum Specialist, Needham Science Center
June 2012