Insulators and Conductors

Provided by TryEngineering - www.tryengineering.org

Lesson Focus
Demonstrate the concept of conducting or insulating electricity. Note: This lesson plan is
designed for classroom use only, with supervision by a teacher familiar with electrical and
electronic concepts.

Lesson Synopsis
The Insulators and Conductors activity encourages students to test different classroom
materials to determine if they are conductors or insulators of electricity. Students work in
teams testing their predictions about each material, then groups compare results and
discuss findings.

Year Levels
Year 6 – Term 2; Year 9 – Term 1

O bjectives

 Learn about the electrical properties of different materials.

 Learn how conductors and insulators react to electric current.
 Solve simple algebraic manipulations involving squares and square roots.
 Learn to make predictions and draw conclusions.
 Learn about teamwork and working in groups.

Anticipated Learner Outcomes

As a result of this activity, students should develop an understanding of:

 electrical properties
 conductors and insulators
 circuits and current
 making and testing predictions
 teamwork

Lesson Activities

Students test a variety of materials in a circuit to determine whether each item behaves
as an insulator or a conductor. Students make predictions about each item and discuss
the results in teams and as a class. Student teams also construct their own circuit tester
using wires, batteries, and a bulb.

Insulators and Conductors Page 1 of 10

Modified and aligned to
Developed by IEEE as part of TryEngineering
Australian Curriculum by
www.tryengineering.org Queensland Minerals and
Energy Academy
Re sources/ Ma terials

 Teacher Resource Documents (attached)

 Student Worksheet (attached)
 Student Resource Sheet (attached)

A lign ment to Curric ulum Frame works

See attached curriculum alignment sheet.

Internet Connections

 TryEngineering (www.tryengineering.org)
 National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) (www.nist.gov)
Information about measurements and measurement uncertainty.
 Curriculum links (www.acara.edu.au)

Recommended Reading

 DK Eyewitness Series: Electricity (ISBN: 0751361321)

 Make Cool Gadgets for Your Room by Amy Pinchuk and Teco Rodriques (ISBN:
1894379128)
 My World of Science: Conductors and Insulators by Angela Royston
(Heinemann Educational Books, ISBN: 0431137269)

O pt ional Writing Activity

 Write an essay (or paragraph depending on age) describing a product which would
not operate well if alternate materials were used in its construction. For example, a
light bulb built with a plastic thread for a filament would not operate.

Insulators and Conductors Page 2 of 10

Modified and aligned to
Developed by IEEE as part of TryEngineering
Australian Curriculum by
www.tryengineering.org Queensland Minerals and
Energy Academy
 Insula tors a nd Conductors
For Teachers:
Teac her Resou rces

 Materials

 Student Resource Guide and Student

Worksheet
 3 pieces of wire (strip the ends)
 Battery (size D)
 1.5 volt bulb and socket
 2 paper fasteners (split pins)
 Variety of materials that are either
conductors or insulators; enough for
each team to select ten items from a
pool of at least 40 (Suggestions: metal
paper clip, paper, eraser, aluminum foil,
metal pen, rubber band, pencil, coin,
hairclip, key.)

 Procedure

1. Set up for the class a model of an electric circuit, using wires, bulbs, and a battery.
Demonstrate the properties of insulation and conductivity by testing several
different materials.
2. Provide the Student Reference Sheets to each student. (Note: these could be
distributed as reading homework prior to the classroom activity.)
3. Have one set-up displayed along with an object that insulates and one that
conducts electricity.
4. Divide students into small groups of 3-4 students.
5. Provide each group with wires, a bulb, and a battery and have them assemble their
own conductivity tester.
6. Ask student groups to select five materials they believe will conduct electricity from
the assorted materials available (see materials list). Groups will also select five
materials they believe will not conduct electricity. Selected items will be listed on
the Student Worksheet.
7. Student groups will provide their predictions to another team for testing - so each
team will be testing another team's predictions.
8. Results are recorded on the Student Worksheet and shared with the group.

 Time Needed
1 - 2 Classroom Sessions

 Extension Ideas
 Have students gather materials from home to test.

Insulators and Conductors Page 3 of 10

Modified and aligned to
Developed by IEEE as part of TryEngineering
Australian Curriculum by
www.tryengineering.org Queensland Minerals and
Energy Academy
 Insula tors a nd Conductors
Studen t Resource:
Wha t Are Conducto rs and Insula tors?

 Conductors/Conductivity

Conductivity is the ability or power to conduct or transmit heat, electricity, or sound.

Conductors are materials that electricity easily passes through, that do not resist the flow
of electricity. Examples are copper, aluminum, steel, silver, gold, electrolytes. Not all
materials conduct electricity equally well.

 Insulators
Insulators are materials that resist the flow of electricity, so electricity does not easily
pass through. Examples are plastic, wood, rubber, cloth, air, glass. Some materials are
better electricity insulators than others.

 Challenge
Do you think the following items are more likely conductors or insulators?

Eraser Metal Pen Paper Envelope

Conductor Insulator Conductor Insulator Conductor Insulator

Pencil Paper Clip

Chalk
Conductor Insulator Conductor Insulator Conductor Insulator

Coin Spoon Nail

Conductor Insulator Conductor Insulator Conductor Insulator

Insulators and Conductors Page 4 of 10

Modified and aligned to
Developed by IEEE as part of TryEngineering
Australian Curriculum by
www.tryengineering.org Queensland Minerals and
Energy Academy
 Insula tors a nd Conductors
Studen t Resource:
What is a Simple Circuit?

 Simple Circuit

A simple circuit consists of three minimum elements that are required to complete a
functioning electric circuit: a source of electricity (battery), a path or conductor on which
electricity flows (wire) and an electrical resistor (lamp) which is any device that requires
electricity to operate. The illustration below shows a simple circuit containing, one
battery, two wires, and a bulb. The flow of electricity is from the high potential (+)
terminal of the battery through the bulb (lighting it up), and back to the negative (-)
terminal, in a continual flow.

 Schematic Diagram of a Simple Circuit

The following is a schematic diagram of the simple circuit showing the electronic symbols
for the battery, switch, and bulb.

Insula tors a nd Conductors

Insulators and Conductors Page 5 of 10
Modified and aligned to
Developed by IEEE as part of TryEngineering
Australian Curriculum by
www.tryengineering.org Queensland Minerals and
Energy Academy
Student Worksheet:
Insulators and Conductors Activity

 Procedure

Your team will be provided with wires, a bulb, and a battery. Assemble a conductivity
tester similar to the one below.

Then, as a team agree on five materials you believe will conduct electricity (conductor)
and five others you with will not (insulator). List these on your Student Worksheet.
Exchange your completed Student Worksheet with that of another team. You will test
each other's predictions.

Test each material, and provide the results back to the team whose predictions you
tested. Discuss as a group your findings. What surprised you?

You can make a solid conductor testing set up with a battery, three wires, and a bulb as
seen above. If a material is placed between the two metal fasteners that does conduct
electricity, the bulb will light up. If the material placed between the fasteners does not
conduct electricity, the bulb with not light up. In a way, by introducing a solid conductor
into the circuit, and then removing it, you are creating a simple switch.

Insula tors a nd Conducto rs

Insulators and Conductors Page 6 of 10
Modified and aligned to
Developed by IEEE as part of TryEngineering
Australian Curriculum by
www.tryengineering.org Queensland Minerals and
Energy Academy
Student Worksheet:

Student Team One Predictions:

Materials Team One Materials Team One

Predicts are Conductors Predicts are Insulators
1 1

2 2

3 3

4 4

5 5

Student Team Two Outcomes:

Test the materials selected by team one, then list each in the appropriate box.

Conductors Insulators

Questions:
1. What percentage of Team One's predictions were correct?

2. Why would civil engineers, or other designing a structure, have to be very familiar with
insulators and conductors.

Insulators and Conductors Page 7 of 10

Modified and aligned to
Developed by IEEE as part of TryEngineering
Australian Curriculum by
www.tryengineering.org Queensland Minerals and
Energy Academy
 Insulators and Conductors
For Teachers:
Alignment to Curriculum Frameworks
Note: All lesson plans in this series are aligned to the Australian Curriculum for both
Science and Mathematics.

Year Level

5 6 9 10

Science Electrical circuits Energy transfer

Understandings provides a means of through different
transferring and mediums can be
transforming electricity explained using wave
(ACSSU097) and particle models
(ACSSU182)
Investigating factors
that affect the
transfer of energy
through an electric
circuit
Science as a Science involves testing predictions by gathering Advances in scientific understanding often rely on
human data and using evidence to develop explanations of developments in technology and technological
events and phenomena (ACSHE098 – Yr 6) advances are often linked to scientific discoveries
endeavour (ACSHE158 – Yr 9)
Science understandings, discoveries and inventions
are used to solve problems that directly affect
peoples’ lives (ACSHE220 – Yr 6)

Science Inquiry With guidance, select appropriate investigation Plan, select and use appropriate investigation
Skills methods to answer questions and solve problems methods, including lab experiments, to collect
(ACSIS103 – Yr 6) reliable data; assess risk and address ethical issues
(ACSIS165 – Yr 9)
Decide which variable should be changed and
measured in fair tests and accurately observe, Select and use appropriate equipment, to
measure and record data (ACSIS104 – Yr 6) systematically and accurately collect and record
data (ACSIS166 – Yr 9)

Use equipment and materials safely, identifying

potential risks (ACSIS105 – Yr 6) Analyses patterns and trends in data, including
describing relationships between variables and
Compare data with predictions and use evidence in identifying inconsistencies (ACSIS169 – Yr 9)
developing explanations (ACSIS221 – Yr 6)
Use knowledge of scientific concepts to draw
Communicate ideas, explanations and processes conclusions that are consistent with evidence
(ACSIS110 – Yr 6) (ACSIS170 – Yr 9)

Evaluate conclusions, identify sources of

uncertainty and possible alternative explanations,
describe specific ways to improve the quality of
the data (ACSIS171 – Yr 9)

Insulators and Conductors Page 8 of 10

Modified and aligned to
Developed by IEEE as part of TryEngineering
Australian Curriculum by
www.tryengineering.org Queensland Minerals and
Energy Academy
 Communicate scientific ideas and information for a
particular purpose, including constructing
evidence-based arguments and using appropriate
scientific language, conventions and
representations (ACSIS174 – Yr 9)

Math Curriculum Links

Activity Concept / Year Level

Number and Algebra Measurement and Statistics and Probability
Geometry
Number Real Money Linear and Using Geometric Data and Shape
and place numbers and non-linear reasoning
units of representation
value financial relationshi
maths ps measure and
ment interpretation
Insulators and Yr 5 - 10 Yr 7 - 10 Yr 5 - 10
Conductors

Mathematics Links with Science General Capabilities Cross-Curriculum Priorities

Curriculum
(Skills used in this activity)

 Process data using simple  Literacy  Sustainability

tables  Numeracy
 Data analysis skills  Critical and creative
(graphs) thinking
 Analysis of patterns and  Personal and social
trends capacity
 Use of metric units  ICT capability
 Calculating percentages

Science Achievement Standards

Year 6

By the end of Year 6, students compare and classify different types of observable changes in materials. They analyse
requirements for the transfer of electricity and describe how energy can be transformed from one form to another to
generate electricity. They explain how natural events cause rapid changes to the Earth’s surface. They decide and predict
the effect of environmental changes on individual living things. Students explain how scientific knowledge is used in decision
making and identify contributions to the development of science by people from a range of cultures.

Students follow procedures to develop investigable questions and design investigations into simple cause-and-effect
relationships. They identify variables to be changed and measured and describe potential safety risks when planning
methods. They collect, organise and interpret their data, identifying where improvements to their methods or research
could improve the data. They describe and analyse relationships in data using graphic representations and construct multi-
modal texts to communicate ideas, methods and findings.

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Modified and aligned to
Developed by IEEE as part of TryEngineering
Australian Curriculum by
www.tryengineering.org Queensland Minerals and
Energy Academy
Year 9

By the end of Year 9, students explain chemical processes and natural radioactivity in terms of atoms and energy transfers
and describe examples of important chemical reactions. They describe models of energy transfer and apply these to
explain phenomena. They explain global features and events in terms of geological processes and timescales. They analyse
how biological systems function and respond to external changes with reference to interdependencies, energy transfers and
flows of matter. They describe social and technological factors that have influenced scientific developments and predict
how future applications of science and technology may affect people’s lives.

Students design questions that can be investigated using a range of inquiry skills. They design methods that include the
control and accurate measurement of variables and systematic collection of data and describe how they considered ethics
and safety. They analyse trend in data, identify relationships between variables and reveal inconsistencies in results. They
analyse their methods and the quality of their data, and explain specific actions to improve the quality of their evidence.
They evaluate others ‘methods and explanations from a scientific perspective and use appropriate language and
representations when communicating their findings and ideas to specific audiences.

Insulators and Conductors Page 10 of 10

Modified and aligned to
Developed by IEEE as part of TryEngineering
Australian Curriculum by
www.tryengineering.org Queensland Minerals and
Energy Academy