Teachers' notes
It's electric!
Aims:
- To know about the different organisational features of information texts and to be able to find information effectively.
- To write a non narrative text.
- To group related material into paragraphs under sub headings.
- To know how electricity travels to our homes.
Age group 7–9
- England and Wales
Year 3/Year 4 - Scotland
Year P4/Year P5 - Northern Ireland
Year 4/Year 5
Literacy skills:
Read and understand an information text. Identify the different ways the writer has signposted how to find information. Sequence and match pictures and descriptions to show that they understand how electricity travels to our homes. Write an information leaflet, promoting the use of energy saving light bulbs.
Curriculum links:
- Science – England and Wales
- Science and technology – Northern Ireland
- Environmental studies – Scotland
Content:
- Whiteboard: Read the text which includes information about how electricity travels to our homes. Highlight the organisational features e.g. title, subheadings and bullet points and comment on their effectiveness. Sort pictures and phrases to describe the process of electricity reaching our homes.
- Activity sheet: Design a leaflet to encourage people to use energy saving light bulbs. Identify the difference between a fact and an opinion.
- Extension: Find out what the earliest light bulbs were like. When were they invented and who invented them?
Suggestions for questions:
- Activate prior knowledge: What can you think of in your home that is run by electricity? How do you know it is run by electricity? What safety rule do you know about electricity?
- Reflect on learning: What happens at a power station? How is electricity carried across the countryside? What should you remember to do when you leave the room?
- Stimulate further research: What can you find out about
a man called Thomas Edison? How many fuels can you find that can be burnt
to make electricity?