Drawing circuit diagrams

Drawing circuit diagrams

Pencil and paper
Overview
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Working with Students
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
 
 
 

 
 
 

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 (11/01)
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%