Fun Conductors and Insulators Lesson Plans with Lab Activity

Looking for conductors and insulators lesson plans and lab activities? Try this. First, build an open circuit. Second, select a variety of everyday objects to test. Then let your students get their hands on science!

Conductors and Insulators Lesson Plans with Lab Activity Cover

Ms. Sneed Works on Conductors and Insulators Lesson Plans

Our favorite fourth grade teacher, Ms. Sneed, and her teaching partner, Mr. Frank, were planning their electricity unit. “We’ve already worked with batteries and bulbs. And our kids can build simple circuits. Next, we’ll work on our conductors and insulators lesson plans,” Ms. Sneed said.

“Look at this,” said Mr. Frank. “Our textbook teaches this concept with a reading passage.”

“Yuck,” replied Ms. Sneed. “Let’s do a hands-on activity instead.”

Mr. Frank nodded his head. “Yep. You know that using inquiry and making generalizations makes a much more effective science experience.”

“And as the standards say, kids should collect empirical evidence. But how will we do it?”

“When I was in school, we tested everyday objects. We could build some testers. Then our kids can try it out.”

“Yeah, but how will we do that?” asked Ms. Sneed.

Traditional Conductors and Insulators Lab Activity with a DIY Tester

Mr. Frank hurried over to the science cabinet an opened the door. After rummaging around, he pulled out some electricity materials.

While Ms. Sneed watched, he put two batteries in a battery holder. Next, he screwed a 1.5-volt bulb into a bulb holder. Finally, he attached a wire between the battery holder, as well as two additional wires leading away from the battery holder and the bulb holder.

“See how these two wires are not connected?” he asked.

His colleague nodded.

“Well, kids just place both free ends on an object.” He picked up a paper clip and tried it. Ms. Sneed’s eyes opened wide as the bulb lit. “See? When kids test a conductor, the bulb lights.”

Next he tried an eraser. Nothing happened. “But when they test an insulator, the bulb doesn’t light. This will let them do the conductors and insulators lab activity.”

When teaching conductor and insulator lab activities, build your own tester. You'll need a bulb holder and bulb, three wires, batteries and a battery holder.
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Christmas Tree Light Testers

“Hey,” said Ms. Sneed, “I think I saw something on Pinterest that showed a teacher using Christmas tree lights for this.”

“That would add an element of fun,” responded Mr. Frank. They returned to the computer and searched Pinterest. “Here it is! We’d just cut apart a set of lights and strip the wires. Then we’d just attach one end to the battery holder and add one more wire.”

“Cool!” A smile spread across Ms. Sneed’s face. “But wait, would our 1.2-volt batteries light that bulb?”

After a little searching on the Internet, they found that Christmas tree bulbs were generally 3 volts. Therefore, two of their batteries would do the trick.

No bulb or bulb holder? No sweat! Just cut one bulb and the adjacent wires, attach to a battery pack, and start testing your conductors and insulators.

Gathering Materials for the Conductors and Insulators Lab Activities

That weekend, Ms. Sneed purchased the supplies. On Monday morning, the two teachers finished setting up. For each group, they placed 20 objects in a baggie.

“We’ve given each group plenty of metal and non-metal items,” said Mr. Frank. “Furthermore, we’ve included organic and non-organic materials. They should be able to draw conclusions easily.”

When setting up insulator and conductor activities, gather twenty items in a baggie.

Let the Conductors and Insulators Lab Activities Begin!

That morning, after Ms. Sneed’s class filed in, she called them to order. “Okay, everyone, let’s get seated. We’re doing a science lab.”

“Yay!” her class cried, and they hurried to their seats.

“Today you’ll be testing different objects to see if they conduct electricity.” She held up a baggie so they could see. “First, you’ll build a tester using a section of Christmas tree lights, two batteries, and a wire. Let me show you how to put it together.”

After explaining, Ms. Sneed handed out their lab sheets. “Each group member will list conductors in the left-hand column and insulators in the right-hand column. When you’re finished, you’ll draw a conclusion on the bottom of the page. Feel free to test objects around the room that are not in the baggie as well.”

Use a simple lab sheet like this. It lets kids list insulators and conductors as they test them, as well as draw conclusions.

As she distributed the papers, Ms. Sneed continued. “We’ll use our usual science lab groups. Number 1s, please get a baggie of objects. 2s, grab a Christmas light. 3s, get two batteries and a battery holder. And 4s, take one extra wire for your group.”

Soon the kids worked busily on constructing their testers. As they tried various objects, Ms. Sneed heard comments like, “Hey! The bulb lights even when I connect the wires far away from one another on this metal paper punch.”

As Ms. Sneed circulated, she noticed that they had no trouble with the generalization. Everyone saw that metals conducted and non-metals insulated. She chuckled as she watched one group try the metal leg of a table. “What? The electricity travels all the way through that big table leg?!” one girl cried out.

Ms. Sneed Explains Resistors

The next day, the teacher was ready to tackle resistors. “All materials are either conductors or insulators, right?” she asked her class. They nodded in agreement.

“What about the filament in the light bulb?” she asked.

“It must be a conductor,” offered a boy in the back corner. Otherwise, the electrical current wouldn’t travel through the circuit.”

“True,” said Ms. Sneed, “but I’d like to categorize it in a different way. The filament is a resistor. Do you notice how it glows when electrons flow through it? That’s because the filament restricts the amount of electricity.”

As she looked out on her class, Ms. Sneed noticed that they had fallen silent. Their faces told her that they were thinking about what she had said – but that they hadn’t totally accepted it.

“Let’s read a short article about resistors,” she said. Ms. Sneed laid the page on her document projector and turned it on.

When teaching insulators and conductors, take it to the next level. Kids in upper elementary grades can understand resistors.

Enjoy Teaching with Fun Conductors and Insulators Lesson Plans

After reading the article, Ms. Sneed checked their understanding. “So,” she said, “resistors transfer electrical energy to other forms of energy. What transfer occurs in the light bulb?”

Several students raised their hands. “Emily?” Ms. Sneed said.

“The bulb glows, so it’s letting off light energy.” The teacher nodded. “And the bulb gets warm too. That means thermal energy is released.”

Ms. Sneed smiled. These conductors and insulators lesson plans in perfectly with her physical science unit. Her students were already beginning to understand transfer to light and heat energy.

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