Fourth graders learn why electricity races through some materials and stops at others, telling conductors from insulators, and sort everyday materials into the two groups.
Students will be able to…
Wires are metal inside but wrapped in rubber. What makes one material carry electricity and the other block it?
Project this and sort each material into conductor or insulator — tap a material, then tap where it belongs.
Tap any phase to open the teacher moves and student actions.
Electrical wires are metal inside but wrapped in rubber. Why use two materials? What makes one carry electricity and the other block it?
Students sort conductors and insulators.
Students predict a material's type.
Students connect it to safety.
Students reflect on conductors and insulators.
Aligned to Next Generation Science Standards and Common Core literacy. State-standard crosswalks available on request.
Make observations to show that energy can be transferred by electric currents.
Define a simple design problem that can be solved by choosing materials.
Planning and carrying out investigations to produce data.
Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining it.
Preview the three formative checks. Tap “Sample answer” to see what mastery looks like — hide them before you print for students.
Have students name where insulators keep us safe, draw one example, and write a safety tip, so the idea connects to real life. A printable conductors-and-insulators worksheet is in the Science library.
Tap a card to flip it, then rate whether you knew it. Built from this lesson’s vocabulary.
A quick self-check with instant feedback, drawn from this lesson’s key terms.
A print-and-go review sheet with a built-in answer key. Tap “Show answer key” to reveal answers, or print the clean version for students.