Lesson 4
Current in Series vs Parallel
Learning Intention: Compare how current behaves in series vs parallel circuits.
Success Criteria
3. I can make observations of lightbulbs’ (2 or more) brightness and current in a series circuit.
4. I can make observations on lightbulbs’ (2 only) brightness and current in a simple parallel circuit.
5. I can set up an electrical circuit from a circuit diagram and vice versa.
Learning Tasks
Do Now: Ms Garlick will give you an example paragraph write up on why wires are designed to have metals on the inside and plastic on the outside. Students work in pairs to identify the missing punctuation, such as capitalization, commas, periods, and new paragraph. Their partner has the correct answer. Aka, student with Version 1 reads the text and identifies the punctuation needed, e.g. Capital T for to, ect. Student with Version 2 checks their work. Then they swap.
Working in table groups, build a series circuit with two bulbs and a parallel circuit with two bulbs. Draw these circuits in your books.
Copy down the Ms Garlicks' notes on the current, voltage, and resistance.
Use PhET to investigate how current behaves in a series circuit vs parallel circuit. Summarize your findings on the Current in Series and Parallel Worksheet.
Homework
Email Ms Garlick the answer to the following question.
Who invented the lightbulb?
This lesson was used on Thursday, October 24th, 2024, Term 4 Week 2, which is when this page was late updated.
Teacher Notes
Change the do now to be an example paragraph on the wire. Have the pair up with one trying to identify the punctation and one with the answers.