Unit Plan 5 (Grade 4 Science): Electric Energy Flow

Focus: Make observations to provide evidence that energy can be transferred from place to place by electric currents in simple circuits (lighting bulbs, running motors, sounding buzzers).

Grade Level: 4

Subject Area: Science (Physical Science — Energy & Electric Circuits)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 45–60 minutes per session

I. Introduction

In this unit, students explore how electric energy flows through circuits and is transformed into light, sound, or motion. Through hands-on work with batteries, wires, bulbs, motors, and buzzers, they build and test open and closed circuits, observe what happens when a circuit is broken, and identify conductors and insulators. Students collect evidence that electric currents move energy from the battery to devices that light up, move, or make sound.

Essential Questions

• How does electric energy move from a source (like a battery) to other parts of a circuit?
• What is the difference between an open circuit and a closed circuit?
• How can we tell that energy has been transferred by an electric current?
• Why do some materials let electric current flow easily while others block it?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Describe electric energy as energy that can flow through a circuit and cause changes (light, sound, motion, heat).
2. Build and test simple circuits with batteries, wires, and devices (bulbs, buzzers, motors), identifying open vs. closed circuits.
3. Make observations that show energy transfer when electric current flows (bulb brightness, motor spinning, buzzer sounding).
4. Investigate common materials to classify them as conductors or insulators in a circuit.
5. Use data tables, labeled diagrams, and simple written explanations to communicate how electric currents transfer energy from place to place.

Standards Alignment — 4th Grade (NGSS-Aligned)

• 4-PS3-2 — Make observations to provide evidence that energy can be transferred from place to place by sound, light, heat, and electric currents (this unit focuses on electric currents in simple circuits).

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can build a closed circuit that makes a bulb light, buzzer sound, or motor spin.
• I can explain the difference between an open circuit (no current) and a closed circuit (current flows).
• I can name and test materials that are conductors and insulators in a circuit.
• I can show my observations in a data table or diagram that clearly labels the energy source, wires, and device.
• I can explain how electric energy is transferred from the battery to other parts of the circuit by an electric current.