TEKS:5.8B

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Electrical Energy in Circuits

Objectives
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills
Force, motion, and energy

Lesson Objective
Students will be able to identify the
requirements for a functioning electric circuit
and demonstrate the transformation of electrical
energy into other forms of energy with light
bulbs, fans, and switches.

Language Objective
Use I think, because, and requires/needs to
explain how circuit parts work. Use explanatory
phrases (e.g., they explained that ..., they think)
in writing to summarize others’ ideas.
ELPS: 2I, 3F

5.8.B:demonstrate that electrical energy in complete circuits can be
transformed into motion, light, sound, or thermal energy and identify the
requirements for a functioning electrical circuit

TEKS 5.8.B

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TEKS 5.8.B

Electrical Energy in Circuits

Day 1

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Day 1

What Do You Already Know?

Energy is the ability to cause change in matter.
Objects that are in motion have energy.

There are different types of energy, including light,
mechanical (motion), electrical, sound, and more.

Energy can transform from one form to another.
The chemical energy from a battery is transformed
into light energy in a flashlight.

Revisit what you already know about energy.

Match

Match concepts with their definition

• What is energy?

• Electric current

• Electrical circuit

ability to cause change in matter

flow of electrically charged particles

the path an electric current follows

• ability to cause change in matter

• flow of electrically charged particles

• the path an electric current follows

Multiple Choice

What is energy?

• No change occurs

• The ability to cause change in some matter

• The ability to cause change in matter.

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Day 1

Visual Vocabulary

electrical energy

Energy that comes from electric
currents.

Electrical energy is transformed to
motion and sound energy in some
appliances.

Multiple Choice

______ energy comes from ______ currents

• Kinetic

• electric

• circuit

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Day 1

Visual Vocabulary

electric current

The flow of electrically charged
particles.

An electric current will flow
through wires in electrical circuits.

Fill in the Blank

Electric Current: The ____ of electrically charged particles.

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Day 1

Visual Vocabulary

electrical circuit

The path an electric current
follows.

An electrical circuit allows electric
current to flow through it.

Multiple Choice

What is an electrical circuit?

• a whole bunch of wires

• a broken path that electric charges can flow

• a circuit board

• a complete, unbroken path through which electric charges flow

Multiple Choice

Will this circuit light the bulbs?

• Yes, both will light up

• Yes, but only the one on the right

• Yes, but only one on the left

• No, neither of the bulbs will light up

Multiple Choice

Is this a working circuit?

• Yes

• No

• I'm not sure, I would need to test it myself.

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Day 1

Can You Explain It?

Guiding Question
Why does the light turn on when
we push the switch?

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Day 1

I Notice

What do you notice about
what happens when the switch
is pushed?

Multiple Choice

When a switch is open...

• the circuit is working and gives energy

• the circuit is broken and charges cannot flow

• the circuit is turning lights on

• I don't know...ask Ms. Cednick

Multiple Choice

What is a circuit?

• A constant flow of electricity 
• A path that a current can flow along

Multiple Choice

A _______ controls whether an electric device is ON or OFF. 

• electrical switch
• electric circuit

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Day 1

I Wonder

What do you wonder about
what happens when the
switch is pushed?

Multiple Choice

If the electric circuit is OPEN, the switch is ____.

• ON
• OFF

Multiple Choice

If the electric circuit is CLOSED, the switch is _______. 

• ON
• OFF

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TEKS 5.8.B

Exploring Electric Currents

Day 2

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Day 2

Exploring Electric Currents

Electrical energy is energy that is caused
by the movement of electric charges.

Electrical energy comes from the particles
within some materials. The flow of
electrically charged particles is called
electric current.

The source of the electrical energy can be
a battery or electrical outlets. Where do
you think the energy that makes these
bumper cars move comes from?

Multiple Choice

A ______ controls the flow of electrons by opening an closing a circuit. 

• electrical switch
• electric circuit

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Day 2

Exploring Electric Currents

The path an electric current follows is
called an electrical circuit. An electric
current needs two things for current to
flow. It needs a source such as a battery
or a plug. And the circuit needs to be
complete. If there is a break in the path,
the electric current won't flow.

Multiple Choice

We need a _____ circuit for the light bulb to BE ON. 

• closed
• open

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Day 2

Exploring Electric Currents

The source of the

electric current in this

example is a battery.

Wires are needed for an

electric current to move

from the battery to the

object.

A circuit board holds

many switches and is

often used for complex

circuits.

A switch allows for

an electric current

to flow through a

circuit.

The fan motor

requires an energy

source and electric

currents to transform

electrical energy into

motion energy.

Multiple Choice

What is a conductor?

•  A material that allows electricity to flow through it.  The circuit is complete. 
• A material that does not allow electricity to flow through.  It stops the flow of electricity.
• A light switch.

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TEKS 5.8.B

Circuits and Systems

Day 3

Multiple Choice

The form of energy that can produce light, heat, motion, and magnetic force.

• electricity
• water
• grass

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Day 3

Circuits and Systems

Some circuits have switches.

When the switch is up, the metal
inside is not touching the
surrounding wires. Scientists say
the circuit is broken or open.

When the switch is down, the
metal connects to the other parts
of the circuit, and the circuit is
described as complete or closed.

Multiple Choice

An example of an insulator is?

• metal
• plastic
• brass
• aluminum

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Day 3

Circuits and Systems

An electrical circuit is a system. All
the parts are "interdependent." If
any one part is removed, the circuit
will be open, and electric current
won't flow.

In the picture, one wire in the
circuit is not connected. As a result,
the electric current doesn't flow.

Multiple Choice

An example of a conductor is?

• metal paperclip
• glass marble
• wooden golf tee

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Day 3

Circuits and Systems

Circuits can be a circle, or they can
have multiple pathways. Circuits that
have multiple pathways are more
complex systems.

This circuit has two paths that each
lead to a light bulb. If one of the wires
from one of the bulbs gets
disconnected, it doesn't impact the
other path of through the circuit. This
means that the other bulb can still turn
on.

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Day 3

Circuits and Systems

Devices that use electrical
energy have circuits inside
them. Some circuits are
simple, and some are
complex. Engineers design
these circuits by drawing
circuit diagrams to make
sure their plan will work.
Some diagrams use
symbols. Others use more
detailed art to identify the
individual parts.

Explore these circuit diagrams. How would you
explain each one?

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TEKS 5.8.B

Build an Electrical Circuit

Day 4

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TEKS 5.8.B

Day 4

Build an Electrical Circuit
Explore electrical energy by
assembling, observing, and
comparing circuits. You'll
investigate how parts of the circuit
work together to transform energy.

Ask a Question about what you can
learn by assembling and observing
different circuits.

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Day 4

Start with Safety

Electricity is dangerous. Only use
materials supplied by your teacher.
Only work with electrical materials
with adult supervision. Never insert
wires into wall outlets.
Do not touch the fan when the blades
are spinning.

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Day 4

Follow the Steps

Step 1: Build and test this circuit to investigate
how electrical energy flows through systems.
Observe the circuit, and look for evidence of
energy flowing. Record your observations.

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Day 4

Follow the Steps

Step 2: Construct a data table like the one
below in your notebook to identify the role of
each part of the circuit. Include any energy
transformations associated with that part.

SYSTEM PARTS

Circuit
Part

Role

Energy

Transformations

Battery
Switch
Light bulb
Wires

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Day 4

Follow the Steps

Step 3: Does a part's location in the circuit or
direction in which it is wired affect whether
the light bulb lights up? Record your answer.

Step 4: Replace the light bulb with the fan.
Does this affect the circuit's energy
transformations? Can you hear differences in
this circuit that you couldn't hear in the first
circuit?

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Day 4

Follow the Steps

Step 5: Build the circuit in the
model.

Hold your hand near the light, but
don't touch it. How does it feel?
What does this demonstrate
about how electrical energy can
be transformed?

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Day 4

Claims, Evidence, and Reasoning

Make a claim about how electrical energy can be
transformed into other types of energy. Support
your claim with evidence from your investigation.
Explain your reasoning.

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TEKS 5.8.B

Build a Switch

Day 5

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TEKS 5.8.B

Day 5

Build a Switch
Most switches are simple devices that can
open or close a circuit. However, some
switches can do more. For example, they may
reroute the flow of the electric current in the
system. In this activity, you'll construct two
switches and use them to build a
light-switching circuit.

Ask a Question about how a switch can
redirect the flow of electric current.

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Day 5

Start with Safety

Electricity is dangerous. Only use materials
supplied by your teacher. Only work with
electrical materials with adult supervision.
Never insert wires into wall outlets.

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Day 5

Follow the Steps

Step 1: Use the brass fasteners, corrugated
plastic sheeting, and paperclips to construct
your models of switches.
•Cut out two corrugated plastic sheeting
squares measuring about 2" on each side.

•Use the thumb tack or push pin to poke
holes in the sheeting to allow for the
fasteners to be inserted without bending
them.

•Insert three brass fasteners onto each
rectangle as shown. Spread out the pointed
ends of the fasteners.

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Day 5

Follow the Steps

Step 2: Use the two switches you
made to build the circuit as shown
below. Make sure to connect the
wires to the ends of the fasteners
that stick out of the bottom of the
corrugated plastic sheeting.

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Day 5

Follow the Steps

Step 3: Test how the switches work
together to control the flow of the
electric current. Record your
observations.

Suppose the two switches were removed.
• Would the light bulb still light?
• What else do you notice about the

light bulb once it is lit?

Share your ideas with your classmates,
and listen actively to their ideas.

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Day 5

Analyze Your Data

Based on evidence from your investigation,
design two different circuits of combined parts
that will function to light the bulb.

•Each circuit should include two switches as
well as other objects necessary for a
complete circuit.

•Draw models of your two circuits, and clearly
indicate the positions of the switches that
will light the bulb.

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Day 5

Claims, Evidence, and Reasoning

Make a claim about how a switch can redirect
the flow of electric current. Support your claim
with evidence from your investigation and
explain your reasoning.

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TEKS 5.8.B

Wrap Up

Day 6

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Day 6

Can You Explain It?

Think about how a circuit is
involved in turning on the light.

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Day 6

Can You Explain It?

Use what you have learned to answer
the question.

Guiding Question
Why does the light turn on when we
push the switch?

Use evidence from the activities in
the lesson to support your answer
to the Guiding Question.

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