Circuits and switches

Circuits and switches addresses AC Science Understanding ACSSU097 Electrical energy can be transferred and transformed in electrical circuits and can be generated from a range of sources, through the context of simple electrical circuits and their components.

Explore our new sequences for Year 6 aligned to AC V9

Circuits and switches provides students with hands-on opportunities to:

• construct and represent simple circuits
• investigate how changing the components of a simple circuits affects how it works
• explore different sources of energy that may generate electricity
• examine the role of switches in a simple circuit

Students apply their new learning by:

• planning and conducting an investigation into the function of the components of a simple circuit and designing, making and evaluating a circuit that transforms energy from one form to another

Linking science with literacy

In the Primary Connections approach, students are supported to create representations that draw on and strengthen their literacy development. In Circuits and switches, students represent and explain their understanding about how electrical energy can be transferred and transformed in electrical circuits and can be generated from a range of sources, by creating these representations:

• Analogy
• Annotated diagram
• Biography
• Circuit diagram
• Cutaway diagram
• Factual text
• Glossary
• Ideas map
• Procedural text
• TWLH chart
• Word wall

This is a classic Primary Connections sequence aligned with the Australian Curriculum V8.4. It is only available as a downloadable package.

The Circuits and switches sequence package includes all the resources you need to teach this sequence, including:

• The Circuits and switches unit PDF
• Equipment list
• Australian Curriculum v8.4 alignment
• Student eResource sheets
• Assessment resources:
  • Assessment rubrics
  • Work samples
  • Student self-assessment
  • Achievement standard class checklist

Teacher tools

Our new all-online sequence Circuit breakers shares a curriculum content descriptor with this sequence. Circuit breakers is aligned to the Australian Curriculum V9 and contains embedded professional learning and supplementary teacher advice.