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Science Y2 – Parent Guide
A SIMPLE CIRCUIT
Week 1

Truth to Teach (Source)

Just as electric power, when rightly connected, flows from a source, be it a power station or a
battery, so God Himself is our Source of power for life.

Way to Work (Means)

1. We’re going to look at electric power or electricity now. Can anyone tell me something about
electricity? What is it? What does it do? Where does it come from?

Establish that it comes from a power station, and travels along wires to our homes and makes many
machines work.

2. The electricity that comes out of sockets in the wall is very powerful of course. (Interestingly, God
is even more powerful than electricity, because electricity is something He has allowed people to
make, and as we know no-one can make God. Mains electricity is dangerous to play with, and
obviously not suitable for us to do experiments with. However people have discovered how to store
electricity in a handy way, which is safe for us to experiment with. Let me show you what I mean.

3. Show some batteries! Connected up the right way they make simple machines work. Demonstrate
this with a torch perhaps. What do you think? Is God like mains electricity or is He safe like a
battery?!

4. You said electricity flows along wires. I have some wires here. Show the metal inside the leads
and how they are covered with plastic on the outside. Introduce crocodile clips! Connect up a
simple circuit, using a battery and leads.
Can you see anything? Electricity is flowing around this pathway, but you just have to believe me.
However, if I put a light bulb into the pathway, what do you think should happen?! Do so and enjoy
the moment!

5. Introduce the word circuit as a path of wires from the source of power and back again. At this
point children are usually curious to see what happens with two light bulbs, or with two batteries, or
with a less powerful battery, etc. Follow up their suggestions where these are suitable.

6. Worksheet

Learning for Life (Fulfilment)

1. For the children to observe how electricity flows around a circuit and to learn how to construct a
simple circuit themselves.
2. For the children to see God as a Power Source for the universe. He is both dangerous and safe!

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