Science Energyusually ages 8–9

Will the bulb light up?

Identify whether or not a lamp will light in a simple series circuit, based on whether the lamp is part of a complete loop with a battery

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

Predict whether a lamp will light by tracing the circuit for a complete loop
Explain that a gap anywhere in the circuit breaks the loop and the bulb won't light
Identify the fault in a non-working circuit (e.g. loose wire, missing connection)

🖨 Print this page to keep the checklist — it prints beautifully.

Try this together

If your child looks at a circuit diagram, can they tell you whether the bulb will light up or not, based on whether there's a complete loop?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on

Building a simple circuitages 8–9Must build circuits before predicting whether a lamp will light

Will the bulb light up?this skill · ages 8–9

Unlocks

How switches workages 8–9Must understand complete loops before understanding how switches open/close them

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Candidate matches to official curriculum codes — machine-suggested, unreviewed (v0.1).

This skill sits outside the F–6 Australian Curriculum — no candidate code matched (v0.1). No NSW K–6 outcome code matched (v0.1). No Victorian Curriculum 2.0 code matched (v0.1).

Nearby on the map

Building a simple circuitages 8–9 Conductors and insulatorsages 8–9 How switches workages 8–9 What uses electricity at homeages 8–9

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