Grade 5 Science

Electricity and Magnetism Unit

Unit Plan
Title of Unit Electricity, Magnetism and Application of Electricity Grade Level 4/5
Subject Science Time Frame 12 lessons
Developed By Vanessa Wilson

Stage 1 - Identify Desired Results

Learning Outcomes

GLO:
5-4: Demonstrate positive attitudes for the study of science and for the application of science in
responsible ways

5-5: Demonstrate safe methods for the study of magnetism and electricity, identify methods for
measurement and control, and apply techniques for evaluating magnetic and electrical properties of
materials

5-6: Construct simple circuits, and apply an understanding of circuits to the construction and control of
motorized devices

SLO:
5-5-1: Recognize and appreciate the potential dangers involved in using sources of electrical currents:
● Understanding the household electrical currents are potentially dangerous and not a
suitable source for experimentation
● Understand that small batteries are a relatively safe source of electricity, for
experimentation and study, but that care should be taken to avoid short circuits
● Understand that short circuits may cause wires to heat up, as well as waste the limited
amount of energy in batteries
5-5-2: Describe and demonstrate example activities that show that electricity and magnetism are related:
● Demonstrate that electricity can be used to create magnetism
● Demonstrate that a moving magnet can be used to generate electricity
5-5-3: Demonstrate and interpret evidence of magnetic fields around magnets and around current-
carrying wires, by use of iron filings or by use of one or more compasses
5-5-4: Demonstrate that a continuous loop of conducting material is needed for an uninterrupted flow of
current in a circuit
5-5-5: Distinguish electrical conductors – materials that allow electricity to flow through them – from
insulators – materials that do not allow electricity to flow through them
5-5-6: Recognize and demonstrate that some materials, including resistors, are partial conductors of
electricity
5-5-7: Predict the effect of placing an electrical resistance in a simple circuit, e.g., in a circuit with a light
bulb or electric motor
5-5-8: Recognize that the amount of electricity we use in our homes is measured in kilowatt hours
5-5-9: Interpret and explain:
● The reading on a household electrical meter
● Efficiency labels on electrical appliances
5-5-10: Draw and interpret, with guidance, circuit diagrams that include symbols for switches, power
sources, resistors, light and motors

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Electricity and Magnetism Unit

5-6-1: Identify example applications of electrical devices in the school and home environment and classify
the kinds of uses. Categories of electrical use may include such things as: heating, lightning,
communicating, moving, computing
5-6-2: Design and construct circuits that operate lights and other electrical devices
5-6-3: Recognize the importance of switches and other control mechanisms to the design and operation
of electrical devices, and identify purposes of switches in particular applications
5-6-4: Construct and use a variety of switches
5-6-5: Design and construct vehicles or other devices that use a battery-powered electric motor to
produce motion, e.g., model cars, hoists, fans
5-6-6: Design and construct a burglar alarm
5-6-7: Demonstrate different ways of lighting two lights from a single power source and compare the
results. Students should recognize that wiring two bulbs in series makes both bulbs glow less
brightly than if the bulbs were wired in parallel. Students may demonstrate this knowledge
operationally and do not need to use the terms series and parallel.
5-6-8: Demonstrate different ways of using two batteries to light a bulb and compare the results.
Students should recognize that wiring the batteries in series causes the bulb to glow brighter than
it would if parallel wiring were used.
5-6-9: Given a design task and appropriate materials, invent and construct an electrical device that meets
the task requirements.

2

Big Ideas
What do we use electricity for?
What interferes with electricity?
Does electricity affect magnetisms?
Essential Question(s)
What is electricity?
How is electricity measured?
What is a circuit?
What is magnetism?
What is a magnetic field?
Knowledge:
Students will know...
● The dangers of household electrical
currents
● The definition of a closed circuit
● The definition of an open circuit
● That short circuits may cause wires
to heat up
● The definition of a magnetic field
● The definition of conductor
● The definition of insulator
● That magnets have two poles (north
and south)
● Electricity in our homes is measured
in kilowatt hours
● The importance of switches in the
operation of electrical devices
Grade 5 Science
Electricity and Magnetism Unit
Skills
Students will be able to…
● Create a circuit that has a single battery, and light
bulb
● Create a circuit that has two batteries and a single
light bulb
● Create a circuit with one battery and two light
bulbs
● Create a circuit that contains a switch
● Place an electrical resistor in a circuit that contains
a light bulb
● Design and construct a burglar alarm
● Draw and interpret, with guidance, circuit diagrams
that include symbols for switches, power sources,
resistors, light and motors
● Demonstrate that electricity can be used to create
magnetism
● Demonstrate that a moving magnet can be used to
generate electricity
● Sort materials into categories of conductor,
insulator and resistor
● Interpret the reading on a household electrical
meter
● Identify examples of electrical devices in the school
and their home
● Construct a motion produced devices with a
battery powered motor
● Interpret a household electrical meter
● Explain efficiency labels on electrical appliances
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Electricity and Magnetism Unit

Stage 2 – Assessment Evidence

Assessment Assessment OF
Assessment Tool Brief Description FOR Learning Learning

Students will be given prewritten notes with fill-in

the blanks spots that we will work through together
as a class.
Notes X
Assessment: Visual observation of students’
engagement with providing answers for the blanks
and filling in their own notes.

After students have learnt about static electricity

and current electricity, they will compete “What is
Electricity” page by themselves

Assessment: Will look at student’s duotangs after

What is Electricity? the lesson is complete to see if they have an X
understanding of what electricity is and the
difference between static/current electricity.

Note: “What is Electricity” worksheet is pg. 15 in

Electricity Basic Lesson Bundle

During several of the lessons, students will be

constructing circuits to learn about electricity,
conductors, insulators, resistors and loads.
Circuit Building X
Assessment: Observing if students are safely
building circuits (avoiding short circuits) and
learning how conductors, insulators, resistors and
multiple loads affect the flow of electricity.

Students will individually complete the “Interruption

of a Circuit Quiz”.
Interruption of a
X*
circuit Quiz Note: “How Can a Circuit be Interrupted?”
worksheet in pg. 38 in Electricity Basic Lesson
Bundle

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Electricity and Magnetism Unit

Assessment Evidence Continued

Assessment Assessment OF
Assessment Tool Brief Description FOR Learning Learning

In pairs students will complete the “How can

multiple Loads Be Powered” experiment.

Assessment: Will look through student’s findings to

determine if they have an understanding how to
Multiple Loads X
build circuits with multiple loads.

Note: “How Can Multiple Loads Be Powered”

worksheet can be found on page 76-77 in Electricity
Basic Bundle

After students have practiced drawing circuits with

symbols, they will be given the task of drawing one
circuit that I have created.
Circuit Drawing X
Assessment: This drawing will be submitted and
marked for use of correct symbols and accuracy of
circuit.

Students will be given the design task of inventing

and creating a burglar alarm that sounds or lights
up when the door is opened.
Assessment Task X*
Note: A separate rubric will be provided to the
students.

Students will complete a written unit test to assess

Unit Test X*
their understanding of electricity and magnetism.

*St. Patrick has changed their reporting procedure for the 2020-2021 school year, they are piloting the
platform Fresh Grade Connect. This reporting system provides online portfolios of each student’s learning that is
delivered more than 3 times a year. This platform allows parents to see completed informative learning activities
and summative assessment projects. With the transition to this new platform the school is only providing
summative assessment for literacy and numeracy. Therefore, for this unit students will still complete the
Interruption of a Circuit Quiz and Assessment Task but they will not be marked.

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Electricity and Magnetism Unit

Stage 3 – Lessons
# Lesson Title Lesson Activities

Outcome(s):
5-6-1: Identify example applications of electrical devices in the school and home
environment and classify the kinds of uses. Categories of electrical use may include
such things as: heating, lightning, communicating, moving, computing
How is
1 Electricity
Overview: As a classroom we will brainstorm what electricity is used for, e.g.,
Used?
heat/cooling, light, move, compute, communicate, etc.

Resources: Electricity Basic Lessons Bundle, pg. 4-10

Note: 30 mins

Outcome(s):
5-5-1: Recognize and appreciate the potential dangers involved in using sources of
electrical currents:
● Understanding the household electrical currents are potentially dangerous and
not a suitable source for experimentation
● Understand that short circuits may cause wires to heat up, as well as waste the
limited amount of energy in batteries
Electricity
2 Overview: Students will learn about safety procedures when using electricity and
Safety
learn about the hazards of electricity by watching a short video. Either on
Chromebooks or as a class on the interactive board, play the games on the below sites
and worksheet to find dangerous situations.

Resources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pr9YntO7V1U
https://sce.e-smartonline.net/games/66209_hidden_dangers_elec/index.html
http://www.ww.switchedonkids.org.uk/electrical-safety-in-your-home

Outcome(s):
5-5-1: Recognize and appreciate the potential dangers involved in using sources of
electrical currents:
● Understand that small batteries are a relatively safe source of electricity,
for experimentation and study, but that care should be taken to avoid short
circuits
3 What is
5-5-4: Demonstrate that a continuous loop of conducting material is needed for an
Electricity?
uninterrupted flow of current in a circuit

Overview: Students will learn that electricity is the flow of electrons and the
difference between static and current electricity.

Resources: Electricity Basic Lessons Bundle, pg. 11-22

4 Flow of

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 Grade 5 Science
Electricity and Magnetism Unit

Outcome(s):
5-5-4: Demonstrate that a continuous loop of conducting material is needed for an
uninterrupted flow of current in a circuit
5-5-5: Distinguish electrical conductors – materials that allow electricity to flow
through them – from insulators – materials that do not allow electricity to flow
through them
5-5-6: Recognize and demonstrate that some materials, including resistors, are partial
conductors of electricity
5-6-7: Demonstrate different ways of lighting two lights from a single power source
and compare the results. Students should recognize that wiring two bulbs in series
makes both bulbs glow less brightly than if the bulbs were wired in parallel.
Students may demonstrate this knowledge operationally and do not need to use
Electricity the terms series and parallel.
5-6-8: Demonstrate different ways of using two batteries to light a bulb and compare
the results. Students should recognize that wiring the batteries in series causes the
bulb to glow brighter than it would if parallel wiring were used.

Overview: Students will be building multiple circuits with batteries, bulbs and wires
and test different materials to light the light bulb. Through these tests’ students will
discover that a circuit needs an unbroken loop of conducting material and a source of
electricity.

Resources: Electricity Basic Lessons Bundle, pg. 27 – 39, 56 – 61

https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/circuit-construction-kit-dc-virtual-lab

Outcome(s):
5-5-7: Predict the effect of placing an electrical resistance in a simple circuit, e.g., in a
circuit with a light bulb or electric motor
5-6-2: Design and construct circuits that operate lights and other electrical devices
5-6-3: Recognize the importance of switches and other control mechanisms to the
design and operation of electrical devices, and identify purposes of switches in
particular applications
Loads and 5-6-4: Construct and use a variety of switches
5
Switches

Overview: Students will learn about loads and how they affect circuits but spend the
majority of class building circuits with multiple lights, switches, sounds and other
electrical devices.

Resources: Electricity Basic Lessons Bundle, pg. 43 – 55, pg. 68 – 83

https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/circuit-construction-kit-dc-virtual-lab

6 Drawing
Circuits Outcome(s):
5-5-10: Draw and interpret, with guidance, circuit diagrams that include symbols for
switches, power sources, resistors, light and motors

Overview: Students will learn the symbols used for drawing circuits, then practice
drawing circuits by building and drawing the circuit.

Resources: Electricity Basic Lessons Bundle, pg. 62 – 67

Note: 30-45 mins; closing activity will require students to draw a circuit of my design,
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 Grade 5 Science
Electricity and Magnetism Unit

in order to assess their understanding of circuit drawing.

Outcome(s):
5-5-8: Recognize that the amount of electricity we use in our homes is measured in
kilowatt hours
5-5-9: Interpret and explain:
● The reading on a household electrical meter
● Efficiency labels on electrical appliances
7 What’s a Watt?
Overview: Students will learn how electricity is measured, learn how to read a
household electrical meter and energy efficiency labels.

Resources: Electricity Basic Lessons Bundle, pg. 95 – 113

Notes: 30 mins

Outcomes:
5-6-6: Design and construct a burglar alarm
- Given a design task and appropriate materials, invent and construct an
electrical device that meets the task requirements.
8 Burglar Alarm
Overview: Students will be given the tasking of designing and building a burglar
alarm. This performance task will serve as a summative assessment for aspects of the
curriculum that cannot be assessed through a written test.

Note: Will require multiple classes

Outcomes:
5-6-6: Design and construct a burglar alarm
- Given a design task and appropriate materials, invent and construct an
electrical device that meets the task requirements.
Burglar Alarm
9
Continued Overview: Students will be given the tasking of designing and building a burglar
alarm. This performance task will serve as a summative assessment for aspects of the
curriculum that cannot be assessed through a written test.

Note: Will require multiple classes

Outcome(s):
5-5-3: Demonstrate and interpret evidence of magnetic fields around magnets and
around current-carrying wires, by use of iron filings or by use of one or more
compasses
Magnetism
Overview: The concepts of poles, electrons, neutrons, protons, positive and negative
10 Introduction
charges will be introduced – Bill Nye video

Resources: Electricity Basic Lessons Bundle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bppssq4jsI

Notes: 1 hour

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 Grade 5 Science
Electricity and Magnetism Unit

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 Grade 5 Science
Electricity and Magnetism Unit

Outcome(s):
5-5-2: Describe and demonstrate example activities that show that electricity and
magnetism are related:
● Demonstrate that electricity can be used to create magnetism
● Demonstrate that a moving magnet can be used to generate electricity
5-5-3: Demonstrate and interpret evidence of magnetic fields around magnets and
around current-carrying wires, by use of iron filings or by use of one or more
Exploring compasses
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Magnetism
Overview: Students will explore magnetic and non-magnetic materials, magnetic
strength, and materials that the magnetic field can pass through (water)

Resources: Electricity Basic Lessons Bundle

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA8gZM3fghc

Notes: 1 hour

Overview: Students will complete a written unit test to assess their understanding of
12 Unit Test electricity and magnetism.

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 Grade 5 Science
Electricity and Magnetism Unit

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