Stage 3 Science Unit 3 – Complete Lessons 1–16

Powering Solutions: Circuits, Coding and Sustainable Design

Teach the complete Stage 3 Science Unit 3 with this comprehensive, ready-to-use resource covering all 16 lessons of Powering Solutions: Circuits, Coding and Sustainable Design.

Aligned with the NSW Science and Technology K–6 Syllabus (2024), this engaging unit takes students from investigating electrical circuits, conductors and insulators through to coding a digital conductivity tester and designing an interactive electrical-safety quiz game.

Students undertake practical investigations, construct and model electrical circuits, conduct fair tests, interpret data, code and modify algorithms, and follow an authentic design process. The unit concludes with students testing, improving and presenting a sustainable electrical quiz game prototype to an audience.

What’s included

• More than 400 professionally designed PowerPoint slides
• 16 complete 60-minute lessons
• A student worksheet for every lesson
• Comprehensive worksheet answer pages
• PowerPoint and PDF formats
• Complete unit overview
• Lesson-by-lesson overview
• Detailed scope and sequence
• NSW syllabus outcome mapping
• Assessment and evidence overview
• Resource and preparation guidance
• Electrical and practical safety information
• Differentiation and accessibility suggestions
• Literacy and numeracy connections
• Teacher implementation checklist
• Downloadable font information

Lessons 1–8: Circuits, investigations and coding

Lesson 1 – Electrical energy

Explore how electrical energy is transferred through a circuit and transformed into light and heat.

Lesson 2 – Explaining electrical circuits

Investigate open and closed circuits and use physical and digital models to explain how circuits operate.

Lesson 3 – Circuit challenges

Construct circuits using different combinations of batteries, bulbs and switches.

Lesson 4 – Planning a fair test

Pose an investigable question and identify the variables needed to plan a conductivity investigation.

Lesson 5 – Conductivity testing

Conduct a fair test, gather data and classify materials as electrical conductors or insulators.

Lesson 6 – Electrical insulators for safety

Use scientific evidence to explain how electrical insulators improve safety in everyday products.

Lesson 7 – Digital conductivity tester

Connect and program a micro:bit to operate as a digital conductivity tester.

Lesson 8 – Modifying algorithms

Evaluate, test and modify a micro:bit algorithm to change its visual and sound outputs.

Lessons 9–16: Sustainable design and prototyping

Lesson 9 – The design challenge

Explore the design process and define the challenge of creating an electrical-safety quiz game for younger students.

Lesson 10 – Electrical safety

Research accurate electrical-safety information and develop accessible quiz questions.

Lesson 11 – Design a prototype

Establish design criteria and create an annotated prototype, circuit plan and materials list.

Lesson 12 – Build a prototype

Begin constructing the electrical quiz game and refine ideas through peer feedback.

Lesson 13 – Finalise the prototype

Troubleshoot, complete and document the built solution.

Lesson 14 – User testing

Test the prototype with younger students and gather meaningful feedback and observational data.

Lesson 15 – Evaluate a prototype

Evaluate the prototype against the design criteria and make purposeful modifications.

Lesson 16 – Expo

Present the finished prototype and design journal, complete peer evaluation and reflect on the design process.

NSW syllabus outcomes

This complete unit addresses:

• ST3-SCI-01 – uses evidence to explain how scientific knowledge can be used to develop sustainable practices
• ST3-PQU-01 – poses questions to identify variables and conducts fair tests to gather data
• ST3-DAT-01 – interprets data to support explanations and arguments
• ST3-DDT-01 – uses design processes to create, evaluate and modify designed solutions
• ST3-DDT-02 – creates, evaluates and modifies algorithms to code or control digital devices and systems
• ST3-CWT-01 – creates written texts to communicate understanding of scientific and technological concepts and processes

Key learning areas

Throughout the unit, students develop knowledge and skills in:

• Electrical-energy transfer and transformation
• Open and closed electrical circuits
• Circuit components and switches
• Conductors and insulators
• Fair testing and variables
• Recording and interpreting scientific data
• Electrical safety
• Digital systems and micro:bits
• Algorithms, inputs, decisions and outputs
• Testing, debugging and modifying code
• Sustainable use of materials
• User needs and design criteria
• Annotated design planning
• Prototype construction and troubleshooting
• User testing and feedback
• Evaluation and modification
• Scientific and design journalling
• Presenting a designed solution to an audience

With clear explanations, engaging visuals, practical investigations, structured student activities and meaningful assessment opportunities, this complete unit provides everything needed to confidently teach Stage 3 Science Unit 3 from beginning to end.

Please note: This listing contains the complete Lessons 1–16 unit. Lessons 1–8 and Lessons 9–16 are also available separately.