C Curriculum Explorer
Science·Energy·language

Circuit vocabulary

Use technical vocabulary for electrical circuits — circuit, component, cell, battery, current, voltage, resistance, conductor, insulator, switch, series circuit, parallel circuit — and apply these when describing, drawing, and designing working circuits

Suggested ages 9–11

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Learning journey

Your child is exploring how energy works — understanding how it moves between objects, changes from one form to another, and can be transferred through sound, light, heat, and electricity.

Evidence of understanding

  • Use 'series' and 'parallel' correctly to describe two different circuit configurations and explain the key difference
  • Apply 'current', 'voltage', and 'resistance' correctly in a written description of how a circuit works
  • Name at least six standard circuit components and describe what each one does

Assessment prompt

Does Circuit vocabulary know the difference between a series circuit and a parallel circuit — not just which one, but what actually makes them different electrically?

Standards alignment

No external standards are linked to this topic.