Conductors and Insulators Sort for Electrical Energy (Notebook Activities)

Electrical conductors and insulators sort for science notebooks or science stations plus two other activities!

DESCRIPTION
This product is great for 4th or 5th grade science notebooks or science stations while studying electrical energy, conductors and insulators. Three activities are included—

*CONDUCTOR & INSULATOR SORT--Students are given a set of 20 object cards made of different materials. They sort these based on whether they are conductors or insulators of electrical energy. A set of reflection questions accompanies the sort to increase critical thinking skills as students make predictions about other types of material based on what they learned from the sort.

*OBJECTS THAT USE ELECTRICAL ENERGY BUBBLE MAP—Students use a graphic organizer to give examples and draw 6 objects that use electrical energy, 3 that use batteries and 3 that plug into outlets.

*FORCED ANALOGIES—Students are given an object and must make an analogy between that object and a science concept. Coming up with analogies can make new concepts memorable for students because they are looking for similarities and differences, one of Marzano’s high-yield strategies. This strategy also helps students make connections with new material. Have students tell about a way that the concept and the image are alike. The science vocabulary for this activity includes conductor, insulator, energy, an electricity.

*Download is a 6 page PDF that includes 5 student pages and one teacher page with an answer key. Download the preview to see the entire file so that you know it meets your needs before purchasing!

SUGGESTIONS FOR USING THIS PRODUCT
*Have students work with partners to encourage academic conversations about the new science concepts.

*Copy pages at 70% to put in student science notebooks or fold pages and add to notebooks.

*Use the activities as part of your science stations so that students have multiple opportunities to engage with the content.

STANDARDS
TEKS 4.6B-- Differentiate between conductors and insulators

TEKS 5.6B--Demonstrate that the flow of electricity in circuits requires a complete path through which an electric current can pass and can produce light, heat, and sound (NOTE: Students must know which materials are conductors and insulators to know what material electric current can pass through.)

NGSS 4-PS3-2—Make observations to provide evidence that energy can be transferred from place to place by sound, light, heat, and electric currents.

NGSS 5-PS1-3—Make observations and measurements to identify materials based on their properties (including electrical conductivity).

RELATED ACTIVITIES
*5th Grade Physical Science STAAR Vocabulary Units—Includes vocabulary lesson with word wall cards, cut and paste activity, and quiz for teaching about electrical circuits, conductors, and insulators. *5th Grade Physical Science STAAR Vocabulary Puzzles—Includes puzzle for electrical circuits with vocabulary about conductors and insulators.DISCLAIMER
As a Texas teacher, the products I make are designed around the standards for the state of Texas, known as the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and are carefully crafted to help students be successful on the Texas STAAR test. I use the challenge of the TEKS and released STAAR assessments as models to guide me when putting together lessons and materials for students. Thus, I am careful to post products that, in my judgment, address those standards. I am not affiliated in any way with these entities and any and all claims of alignment are my claims, not those of the groups behind the TEKS or STAAR test. Some of my TEKS-based products also address standards from other states, the NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards), or Common Core and related standardized tests. For these products, I include the standards in the description. I am not affiliated with these entities and any claims of alignment are mine. Please contact me if you have questions.