Y5 Science Materials

This week, our Year 5 scientists carried out an exciting investigation to discover which materials are conductors and which are insulators of electricity.

Using a simple electrical circuit with a battery, wires and an LED bulb, the children tested a range of everyday materials to see whether electricity could pass through them. They carefully placed each material into the circuit and observed whether the bulb lit up.

The pupils found that materials such as metal allowed electricity to flow, meaning they are conductors, while materials like plastic, rubber and wood did not allow electricity to pass through them, meaning they are insulators.

Throughout the experiment, the children made predictions, tested their ideas and recorded their results like real scientists. They used key scientific vocabulary such as electricity, circuit, conductor and insulator to explain their thinking.