A simple circuit is a complete loop: a battery (cell), wires and a bulb. When the loop is complete, electricity flows and the bulb lights. Year 3 scientists build circuits, use switches and find out which materials let electricity through.
What your child will learn
- Name the parts of a simple circuit: cell, wires, bulb, switch, buzzer and motor
- Know that a circuit must be a complete loop
- Know how a switch opens and closes a circuit
- Sort materials into conductors and insulators
Conductors and insulators
Metals are conductors: they let electricity flow through them. Plastic, wood, rubber and glass are insulators: they stop it. That’s why wires are metal on the inside and plastic on the outside.
Adding more batteries makes a bulb brighter. Adding more bulbs to the same battery makes them dimmer, because they share the electricity.
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. Which part could you add to make something spin?
- A bulb
- A motor
- An eraser
- A buzzer
Show answer
Answer: A motor. A motor turns electricity into movement.
2. What does a bulb need to light up?
💡- A broken wire
- A complete circuit
- Water
- A magnet
Show answer
Answer: A complete circuit. Electricity only flows around a complete loop.
3. What does a switch do?
- Opens and closes the circuit
- Makes sound
- Makes the bulb bigger
- Stores electricity
Show answer
Answer: Opens and closes the circuit. A switch makes or breaks the loop.
Tips for grown-ups
- Use a battery, wires and a bulb to test which household objects are conductors.
- Take apart a broken torch and find the circuit inside (with an adult).
- Only ever experiment with small batteries — never mains electricity.