Free 6th Grade Electric Circuits Lesson Plan

Topic: Electric Circuits

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to identify the components that make up an electric circuit and their functions.

Materials

• Circuit board with circuit components (such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, transistors, diodes) already attached
• Battery
• Light bulb
• Jumper wires
• Multimeter (optional)

Warm-up

• Ask students if they have ever seen or used a flashlight.
• Ask them to explain how the flashlight works and what they think are the components that make up the circuit.
• Draw a simple circuit diagram on the board (such as a flashlight circuit with a battery, a light bulb and a switch) and ask them to identify the components.

Direct Instruction

• Explain that an electric circuit is a path that electric current takes through a series of components.
• Define the components in the circuit (such as a battery, a light bulb and a switch) and explain their functions.
• Explain how current flows through the circuit and what happens when the circuit is closed (such as turning on the light bulb).

Guided Practice

• Have students work in pairs to create a simple electric circuit using the provided materials.
• Provide guidance as needed to assist students with setting up the circuit and identifying the different components.
• Have students explain how the current flows through the circuit and what happens when the circuit is closed.

Independent Practice

• Have students create a more complex electric circuit using multiple components.
• Encourage students to use the provided materials and other resources (e.g. text books, the internet) to research the function and operation of the individual components.
• Have students draw a diagram of their circuit and label the components.
• Have students write a short paragraph explaining how their circuit works and the role of each component.

Closure

• Review the basic concepts and components of electric circuits.
• Ask students to share their circuit diagrams and explanations with the class.
• Discuss any challenges or successes students had while creating their circuits.

Assessment

• Observe students as they work on the independent practice activity and provide feedback on their circuit diagrams and explanations.
• Administer a quiz to assess students' understanding of the concepts covered in the lesson.
• Have students answer questions about basic electric circuits, including components, functions, and challenges.