Electricity | Guided Practice
In this guided practice lesson, students use coding concepts to model how electricity flows through a simple circuit. They will follow teacher-led steps to create or debug a basic program that shows a light turning on when a circuit is complete and off when it is broken.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| electricity | A form of energy that powers devices and lights. |
| circuit | A complete path that electricity follows. |
| closed circuit | A circuit with no breaks, so electricity can flow. |
| open circuit | A circuit with a break, so electricity cannot flow. |
| algorithm | A step-by-step set of instructions. |
| debug | To find and fix mistakes in code. |
Show a simple lamp or light picture and ask students what is needed for it to work. Introduce the idea that electricity must travel in a complete path.
Turn and talk, share ideas, and label a simple circuit picture as complete or broken.
Model how a sequence of code can represent a circuit. Demonstrate a simple block program or unplugged command sequence that turns a light on when the circuit is closed and off when it is open.
Watch, answer questions, and repeat key vocabulary with the teacher.
Lead students step by step to create the same simple program. Pause often to check understanding and ask students what each block or instruction does.
Follow along to build the program, test it, and make corrections with teacher support.
Present a program with one mistake, such as a missing step or wrong order. Model how to test, notice the problem, and fix it.
Work with a partner to identify the error, explain why it is wrong, and revise the code.
Give students 2 to 3 short circuit scenarios or code samples to solve. Circulate and support students who need help reading the steps.
Decide whether each circuit is open or closed and match it to the correct code output.
Invite a few students to show their work and explain how code helped model electricity.
Share answers, compare ideas, and respond to teacher questions.
Review that electricity needs a closed circuit, just like code needs the correct order of steps to work. Ask students to state one thing they learned about circuits and one thing they learned about coding.
Students will be assessed through teacher observation, partner discussion, completed practice tasks, and the exit ticket. Success is shown by correctly identifying open and closed circuits and using coding steps to model a working circuit.