NEW AQA GCSE (2016) Physics - Series & Parallel Circuits

This lesson is designed for the NEW AQA Trilogy Physics GCSE, particularly the 'Electricity’ SoW.

For more lessons designed to meet specification points for the NEW AQA Trilogy specifications for Biology, Chemistry and Physics please see my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/SWiftScience

The lesson starts with an introduction into the differences between series and parallel circuits, students can take notes and draw a diagram of each type of circuit in their books. Students will then watch a video on series and parallel circuits, they will need to answer a set of questions in their books which focuses on how current and potential difference across components changes in a series vs. parallel circuit. Once this task is complete, students can then self-assess their work using the mark scheme provided.

Next, pupils have to identify whether a circuit is a series circuit or a parallel circuit from a set of diagrams. Then, students are given a worksheet of parallel and series circuits, given the current of the ammeter shown in the diagram they will need to work out the current of the ammeters placed elsewhere in the circuit. Students can then self or peer assess their work using the mark scheme provided.

The next part of the lesson focuses on the resistance of components found in series and parallel circuits. Firstly, students will be given the ‘Resistance Rule’ for components in a series circuit, as well as the calculation to work out total resistance in a series circuit. Using this, students can then answer some questions which can be self-assessed using the mark scheme provided.

Next, pupils are introduced to the ‘Resistance Rule’ for components placed in a parallel circuit. Once they have learned the rules, pupils can answer a set of questions which can then be either peer-assessed or self-assessed using the mark scheme provided.

The plenary task is a ‘Pick a plenary’ task - students can either summarise what they have learned this lesson in three sentences or they can write a definition for a set of key words from the ‘Electricity’ topic.

All resources are included at the end of the presentation. Thanks for looking, if you have any questions please let me know in the comments section and any feedback would be appreciated :)