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North Carolina · North Carolina Science · Grade 4

PS.4.2.2: Use models to explain a simple electrical circuit and the necessary…

Use models to explain a simple electrical circuit and the necessary components.

The North Carolina Standard Course of Study, Science (2023) outcome PS.4.2.2 (Energy) for Grade 4 says: “Use models to explain a simple electrical circuit and the necessary components.” This Fieldbook unit teaches it hands-on, with everyday materials and a printable teacher guide and student sheet for every lesson. Official wording: North Carolina Standard Course of Study, Science (2023).

Simple Circuits: Make It Light Up Grade 4

Light a bulb with one wire, hunt for materials that let electricity through, find out why string lights all go dark at once, and build a burglar alarm. Four hands-on lessons on closed loops, safe and cheap.

  • Can you light a bulb with one wire? 45–60 min

    Teams get one AA battery, one wire and one small bulb, and keep trying until the bulb lights, drawing every setup that works and every one that doesn't. Then they explain why a bulb only lights when electricity can travel in a complete loop.

  • Why do some string lights all go out at once? 45–60 min

    Teams wire two bulbs in a single loop, then in two separate loops, unscrew one bulb each time and compare brightness. They explain why one loose bulb can darken a whole string of lights, and why a house is wired so it doesn't.

Printable practice for PS.4.2.2

These pages practise a closely related idea; the match to PS.4.2.2 is partial.

Need just this outcome? Build a custom pack from these pages, with its answer key, in about a minute. Custom packs come with All-access and school licences.

Compared with NGSS: 4-PS3-2 (partial).

More North Carolina Grade 4 science outcomes we teach

Every North Carolina Grade 4 science standards outcome we teach

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