Year 6 - Science
Debating the use of electric cars (non-stat Climate Change & Sustainability)
Changing circuits
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit explores how circuit components like lamps and buzzers function, including the effect of cell number and voltage. It covers using symbols in circuit diagrams, planning scientific enquiries, taking precise measurements, recording data, and presenting findings with evidence and conclusions.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to debate the use of electric vehicles and their impact on the environment.
Key Notes
- Traditional cars use petrol and diesel to make them move, whereas electric cars move using electricity from a battery.
- Carbon dioxide, emitted from petrol and diesel cars, is a greenhouse gas which contributes to global warming.
- Pure electric cars produce no carbon dioxide emissions when driving.
- Some cities have all electric public transport in order to lower carbon dioxide emissions and reduce air pollution.
- There has been public debate about the use electric of vehicles, with people on different sides citing pros and cons.
Vocabulary To Learn
- fuel: A fuel is something that can be used to generate heat or light..
- emissions: Emissions are materials released into the environment from a particular process.
- carbon dioxide: Carbon dioxide is a type of gas found in Earth's atmosphere.
- greenhouse gas: Gases which contribute towards global warming are called greenhouse gases.
- debate: A debate is a formal discussion in which opposing ideas are put forward and which usually ends with a vote.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- There is an endless supply of fossil fuels on Earth. There are no downsides to electric cars.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Traditional cars use petrol and diesel to make them move, whereas electric cars move using electricity from a battery. Carbon dioxide, emitted from petrol and diesel cars, is a greenhouse gas which contributes to global warming.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'fuel'
A fuel is something that can be used to generate heat or light.. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: There is an endless supply of fossil fuels on Earth. There are no downsides to electric cars. Correction: Teaching slides will explain that fossil fuel is a finite resource. Children will have the chance to research the pros and cons of electric cars. Feedback slides will clarify these.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Changing the volume of buzzers Study Guide
- Choosing and using conductors and insulators (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Circuit symbols and diagrams Study Guide
- Components and simple circuits Study Guide
- Electrical careers Study Guide
- Electrical discoveries and inventions (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Electrical sensors: design (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Electrical sensors: make and review (non-statutory) Study Guide
- How electrical insulators keep us safe (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Investigating voltage: do and review Study Guide
- Investigating voltage: plan Study Guide
- Sustainable sources of electricity (non-stat Climate Change & Sustainability) Study Guide
- The position of switches: open and closed Study Guide
- Variables in electric circuits: do and review Study Guide
- Variables in electric circuits: plan Study Guide
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