Drawing circuits with proper symbols

REPRESENTATIONAL

Science›Energy|Ages 10—11|ID: mt_NzNLYDb9CZ

Use recognised symbols when representing a simple circuit in a diagram, including cell, wire, bulb, switch, buzzer, and motor

Mastery Evidence

Draw a circuit diagram using standard symbols for at least five components
Interpret a circuit diagram drawn by someone else and describe what the circuit does
Convert between a physical circuit and its diagram representation

Assessment Prompt

“Can [child] draw a circuit diagram using the proper symbols for batteries, bulbs, switches, and wires instead of drawing pictures?”

Curriculum Standards1 alignment

Y6.Sci.E.3The national curriculum in England

Recognised symbols for simple circuits

use recognised symbols when representing a simple circuit in a diagram

Science · Key Stage 2

Prerequisites2

Why circuit components behave differently
softAges 10—11
More batteries, brighter bulb
hardAges 10—11

Show full prerequisite tree

Why circuit components behave differently soft
Understanding component variations supports interpreting and drawing circuit diagrams
- Circuit vocabulary hard
  Comparing circuit component function requires component vocabulary: bulb, buzzer, switch, resistance
- More batteries, brighter bulb hard
  Must understand voltage-brightness relationship before comparing component variations
  - How switches work hard
    Must understand switches and circuits before investigating voltage effects
    - Will the bulb light up? hard
      Must understand complete loops before understanding how switches open/close them
      - Building a simple circuit hard
        Must build circuits before predicting whether a lamp will light
        
        What uses electricity at home hard
        Must identify electrical appliances before building circuits
  - Circuit vocabulary hard
    Associating brightness with voltage requires 'voltage', 'current', and 'series circuit' vocabulary
  - How energy travels around soft
    Energy transfer concept supports understanding voltage as energy per charge
    - Light & Seeing in the Dark soft
      Light knowledge supports understanding energy transfer by light
      - Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
        Observing that objects need illumination to be seen requires the 'light source' vocabulary
    - Naming types of energy hard
      Describing energy transfer by sound, light, heat, and electric current requires energy type vocabulary
    - Building a simple circuit hard
      Must know circuits before understanding energy transfer by electric current
      - What uses electricity at home hard
        Must identify electrical appliances before building circuits
    - Vibrations & Sound soft
      Sound knowledge supports understanding energy transfer by sound
      - Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
        Understanding vibrating materials and sound requires 'vibration' vocabulary
      - Communication with Light & Sound hard
        Must understand how sound works before designing a communication device using it
        
        Light & Seeing in the Dark hard
        Must understand how light works before designing a communication device using it
        
        Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
        Observing that objects need illumination to be seen requires the 'light source' vocabulary
More batteries, brighter bulb hard
Must understand circuit behaviour before representing circuits with formal symbols
- How switches work hard
  Must understand switches and circuits before investigating voltage effects
  - Will the bulb light up? hard
    Must understand complete loops before understanding how switches open/close them
    - Building a simple circuit hard
      Must build circuits before predicting whether a lamp will light
      - What uses electricity at home hard
        Must identify electrical appliances before building circuits
- Circuit vocabulary hard
  Associating brightness with voltage requires 'voltage', 'current', and 'series circuit' vocabulary
- How energy travels around soft
  Energy transfer concept supports understanding voltage as energy per charge
  - Light & Seeing in the Dark soft
    Light knowledge supports understanding energy transfer by light
    - Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
      Observing that objects need illumination to be seen requires the 'light source' vocabulary
  - Naming types of energy hard
    Describing energy transfer by sound, light, heat, and electric current requires energy type vocabulary
  - Building a simple circuit hard
    Must know circuits before understanding energy transfer by electric current
    - What uses electricity at home hard
      Must identify electrical appliances before building circuits
  - Vibrations & Sound soft
    Sound knowledge supports understanding energy transfer by sound
    - Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
      Understanding vibrating materials and sound requires 'vibration' vocabulary
    - Communication with Light & Sound hard
      Must understand how sound works before designing a communication device using it
      - Light & Seeing in the Dark hard
        Must understand how light works before designing a communication device using it
        
        Light & Sound Vocabulary hard
        Observing that objects need illumination to be seen requires the 'light source' vocabulary

Unlocks1

Current, voltage, and what they measure
hardAges 11—12