Energy Transfer in Electric Circuits

4th Grade ScienceEnergy4 pages

About this worksheet

Four pages on how an electric current carries energy around a simple circuit, written for 4th grade science. Students first label a photo of a battery, wires and a glowing bulb at the letters A to D, using a four-card word bank. A table then asks for the energy in and energy out of a light bulb, a buzzer and a small motor fan. The last task shows the same kind of circuit with the top wire loose. Two written questions ask why the bulb goes out and where the energy stays. It matches NGSS 4-PS3-2, and the answer page has every label and a model answer for each question.

Remix for free

Page 1 of 4

Energy Transfer in Electric Circuits: Energy - page 1
Energy Transfer in Electric Circuits: Energy - page 2
Energy Transfer in Electric Circuits: Energy - page 3
Energy Transfer in Electric Circuits: Energy - page 4

When this preview is focused, use the left and right arrow keys to move between pages.

Curriculum objectives covered

4-PS3-2

“Make observations to provide evidence that energy can be transferred from place to place by sound, light, heat, and electric currents.”

Part 2 traces electric energy into light, heat, sound and motion, and Part 3 shows that the transfer stops when the circuit is open.

What's inside this worksheet

Part 1: Parts of a Simple Circuit

Students label A to D on a closed circuit with Battery (Energy Source), Wire (Electric Current), Light Bulb and Light and Heat Energy.

Part 2: Energy In and Energy Out

A table for a light bulb, a buzzer and a small motor (fan), with electric, light and heat, sound and motion energy as helpful terms.

Part 3: Investigating an Open Circuit

A photo of a D cell with the wire unhooked from the bulb. Students explain why the bulb is off and where the energy stays.

Answers

All four labels, the completed table and model answers about the gap in the loop.

How teachers use it

Build it first

If you have batteries and bulbs, let groups light a bulb and then unhook one wire before Part 3. The photo makes sense once they have seen the bulb go dark.

The fan row

Some students will add heat or sound for the motor in Part 2. Accept it, then ask which output the fan is really built for.

Warm-up

Part 1 takes about five minutes on its own. Use it the morning after a circuits lesson to see who remembers what the wire does.

More 4th Grade Science worksheets

WavesEarth's ProcessesStructure and Function

Get started today

Create your own lesson plans, worksheets, and classroom activities in minutes using our AI-powered tools.

Try Chalkie for free