Testing Conductors and Insulators Investigation

Year 4 ScienceElectricity5 pages

About this worksheet

A record sheet for a Year 4 conductors and insulators practical, across three pages. Page 1 lists the kit, shows a circuit diagram with a test gap, and asks what pupils will change, what they will observe and which two things to keep the same. Page 2 is a predictions and results table for eight materials, from a steel paperclip and a copper coin to a glass marble and pencil graphite. Page 3 holds a gap-fill conclusion with a word bank, and a question on why graphite, a non-metal, is a surprise. The answer pages give the expected results, the two fair test ticks and the conclusion words. It covers the Year 4 electricity statement on conductors and insulators.

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Testing Conductors and Insulators Investigation: Electricity - page 1

Testing Conductors and Insulators Investigation: Electricity - page 2

Testing Conductors and Insulators Investigation: Electricity - page 3

Testing Conductors and Insulators Investigation: Electricity - page 4

Testing Conductors and Insulators Investigation: Electricity - page 5

Curriculum objectives covered

Year 4 - Electricity

“recognise some common conductors and insulators, and associate metals with being good conductors”

Pupils test eight materials, and the conclusion asks them to name metals as good electrical conductors.

Working scientifically - Lower key stage 2

“setting up simple practical enquiries, comparative and fair tests”

The Fair Test Check asks which two things must stay the same for every material.

Working scientifically - Lower key stage 2

“recording findings using simple scientific language, drawings, labelled diagrams, keys, bar charts, and tables”

Page 2 has pupils record a prediction and a result for each material in one table.

Working scientifically - Lower key stage 2

“using results to draw simple conclusions, make predictions for new values, suggest improvements and raise further questions”

The page 3 conclusion is built from the pupils' own results.

What's inside this worksheet

Setting Up the Investigation

An equipment list (one cell, one bulb, three wires with crocodile clips, a tray of eight materials) next to a circuit diagram with a labelled test gap.

Fair Test Check

Pupils name what they will change and what they will observe, then tick two of four things to keep the same, such as using the same cell and bulb.

Predictions and Results Table

Eight rows (steel paperclip, copper coin, aluminium foil, plastic ruler, wooden lolly stick, rubber band, glass marble, pencil graphite) with columns for prediction, result and conductor or insulator.

Conclusion

A paragraph with six gaps to fill from metals, conductors, insulators, complete, electricity and did not.

Looking Closer at the Results

A photo of a pencil sharpened at both ends between two crocodile clips, and a question on why graphite's result stands out.

Answers

The full results table, the fair test answers, the conclusion words in order and a model answer on graphite.

How teachers use it

Predictions first

Collect predictions before any testing and tally them on the board. The glass marble and the pencil graphite usually divide the class.

Testing graphite

Clip straight onto the lead at both sharpened ends. With one cell the bulb may only glow dimly, so dim the lights or add a second cell.

Extra materials

When groups finish early, ask them to find three more classroom objects to test and add them under the table on page 2.

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