Drawing circuit diagrams

Drawing circuit diagrams

Pencil and paper
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Working with Students
Further Resources
This task is about electric circuit diagrams.
a) Draw a line to match each symbol with its correct name. One name is not needed.
 
Symbol Name


 

 

 

 

 

 
 •   fuse
  
•   bell
  
•   cell
  
•   lamp
  
•   wire
  
•   closed switch
  
•   battery
  
•   open switch
b) Use the symbols to draw a circuit which has a:

  • battery
  • bell and a lamp in series
  • switch that is open
 
Circuit Drawing
 
 
 

 
 
 
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper.
Level:
4
Curriculum info: 
Science, Communicating in science, Physical World
Keywords: 
physics concepts, energy, electricity, circuits, circuit diagrams, circuit symbols, matching
Description of task: 
Students match each of seven circuit symbols provided to its respective name. Then the students use the symbols to complete the simple circuit diagram as described.
Curriculum Links: 
Science capabilities
The capabilities focus is brought about by the conversations you have and the questions you ask.
 
Capability: Interpret representations
This resource provides opportunities to discuss circuit diagrams use a particular agreed code for the different elements.
Science capabilities: 
Interpret representations
Making Better Sense: 
Circuits
Answers/responses: 
  

Y8 (11/2001)
a)
wire
open switch
closed switch
battery
bell
lamp
cell
3 correct -
very difficult
 
2 correct -
easy
 
1 correct -
very easy
b)

Correct components only used/or correct components as from their answers in part a
- moderate
 
 
 
 
Components connected in a series circuit
- difficult

 

Diagnostic and formative information: 
 

Analysis of correct responses

a)

The percentage of students who correctly matched the symbol and the name was:
Wire – 90%
Open switch – 91%
Closed switch – 88%
Battery – 29%
Bell – 55%
Lamp – 34%
Cell – 18%