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Conductors and Insulators KS2

Teach your KS2 class about conductors and insulators with this ready-to-teach Science lesson. In this Year 4 electricity lesson, your class will investigate electrical conductors and insulators, and how they are used in different devices. They will conduct a fair test to see if different items and materials are electrical conductors. With the additional resources provided, you can also challenge your class to apply what they know about conductors and insulators to make their own switch that they can use as a buzzer in a fun general quiz game.

 

This Conductors and Insulators KS2 Science lesson includes:

  • a detailed lesson plan with differentiated activities
  • a slideshow for the teaching input
  • a range of printable resources for independent learning activities

This lesson is part of a Circuits and Conductors Science scheme of work Year 4.

Conductors and Insulators KS2 Lesson Pack

£2.99

Scroll through the pictures for a preview of the lesson's resources:

Conductors and Insulators KS2 slideshow example 1
Conductors and Insulators KS2 slideshow example 2
Conductors and Insulators KS2 slideshow example 3
Conductors and Insulators KS2 slideshow example 4
Conductors and Insulators KS2 slideshow example 5
Conductors and Insulators KS2 slideshow example 6
Conductors and Insulators KS2 worksheet example 1
Conductors and Insulators KS2 worksheet example 2
Conductors and Insulators KS2 lesson plan example 1
Illustration of several hanging lightbulbs

Conductors and Insulators

What is a conductor?

A conductor is the name given to a material that allows electricity to pass through it.

What is an insulator?

An insulator is the name given to a material that does not allow electricity to pass through it.

 

A diagram to show materials that are electrical insulators and electrical conductors in a circuit

A diagram showing materials that are electrical insulators and electrical conductors in a circuit.

Examples of conductors

Lots of metals are good conductors, such as copper, iron, steel, brass and gold. Water is also an electrical conductor.

Examples of insulators

Plastic, rubber, wood and glass are good insulators. Air is also an electrical insulator.

 

Many objects are made from more than one material. Depending on the object's purpose, parts of it may need to be made from a material that is a conductor, whilst other parts need to be made from a material that is an insulator.

For example, the pins of a plug, which are inserted into a socket to connect to the mains electrical current, need to be conductors. They are usually made from brass. However, the casing of the plug needs to be an insulator so that the electrical current is blocked and doesn't harm the person plugging in the device. It is usually made from plastic.

 

A plug being pushed into a socket.

The pins of a plug are electrical conductors, whilst the casing is an electrical insulator.

When should children learn about conductors and insulators?

According to the National Curriculum Science objectives, children learn about conductors and insulators in KS2. It is assigned as compulsory learning in Year 4 under the 'Electricity' strand of learning.

In Year 4, children should learn to:

  • recognise some common conductors and insulators, and associate metals with being good conductors.

The non-statutory activities suggest that pupils might work scientifically by: observing patterns, for example, that bulbs get brighter if more cells are added, that metals tend to be conductors of electricity, and that some materials can and some cannot be used to connect across a gap in a circuit.

 

Our ready-to-teach Year 4 Circuits and Conductors scheme of work covers this objective, as well as other objectives in the 'Electricity' strand.