Design and make your own torch

Teacher notes

This lesson links directly to the Year 4 Science unit on Electricity. It assumes that children already know how to make a simple circuit. It is likely that more time will be needed to complete the design, making and evaluation process, so it is advisable to allocate two lessons. As all Lyfta lessons it is amendable for your context and students so could be used in a wider range of age groups. **For this lesson you will need the following resources:** Electrical circuit: Bulbs, batteries, wires, crocodile clips. Switch: Split pins/ paper clips/ foil and small pieces of cardboard. Torch casing: Toilet roll holders/ paper/ cardboard and sellotape. **Lyfta core themes**: Learning and Growth, Technology and Engineering. **Lyfta core skills and values**: Adaptability and Flexibility, Courage & self-confidence, Creativity & innovation, Design Thinking, Growth Mindset, Practical Life Skills, Lifelong Learning, Resilience & perseverance, Resourcefulness & learning from failure, Self-motivation, Taking initiative. **SDGs: ** 3, 4 and 7. **National Curriculum Objectives:** KS2 (year 4) Science: - identify common appliances that run on electricity - construct a simple series electrical circuit, identifying and naming its basic parts, including cells, wires, bulbs, switches and buzzers - identify whether or not a lamp will light in a simple series circuit, based on whether or not the lamp is part of a complete loop with a battery - recognise that a switch opens and closes a circuit and associate this with whether or not a lamp lights in a simple series circuit - recognise some common conductors and insulators, and associate metals with being good conductors. KS2 Design Technology: Design: - use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups; - generate, develop, model and communicate their ideas through discussion, annotated sketches, cross-sectional and exploded diagrams, prototypes. Make: - select from and use a wider range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks accurately. Evaluate: - evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work; - understand and use electrical systems in their products [for example, series circuits, incorporating switches, bulbs, buzzers and motors.