Class: Senior Secondary School 1 (SS1, SS 1, SSS1, SSS 1)
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 8
Age: 15 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Basic Electronics
Curriculum Theme: Basic Electronics
Previous Lesson: Capacitor and Inductor Coding: Ratings and Calculations.
Topic: ELECTRIC CIRCUIT- BASIC COMPONENTS OF ELECTRIC CIRCUIT. (RESISTANCE, VOLTAGE AND CURRENT).
Subject Matter: meaning of electric circuit, basic components of electric circuit resistance voltage and current, identification of veroboard, identification of printed circuit board, reading simple circuit diagrams

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

Define an electric circuit.
Identify and explain the basic components of an electric circuit such as resistance, voltage, and current.
Explain the meaning and use of a veroboard and a printed circuit board (PCB).
Interpret simple circuit diagrams.

Affective Domain:

Appreciate the importance of understanding basic circuit components in daily life.
Show interest in exploring more about electronic circuits.

Psychomotor Domain:

Identify actual basic circuit components.
Distinguish between a veroboard and a printed circuit board (PCB).
Draw a simple circuit diagram using standard symbols.

Participate actively in class discussions about electronic circuits.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum for Basic Technology (Basic Electronics Strand)
State Unified Scheme of Work for Basic Electronics
Basic Electronics for Senior Secondary Schools by [Author/Publisher, e.g., O. A. Adeyemi]
Links for Reference materials: www.allaboutcircuits.com, www.electronicshub.org

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Different circuit boards (e.g., samples of veroboard, printed circuit boards).
Charts showing simple circuit diagrams and symbols.
Actual basic circuit components (e.g., resistors, connecting wires, batteries, switches, light-emitting diodes).
Whiteboard and markers.

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson introduces pupils to the fundamental concepts of electric circuits and their basic components. Understanding these elements is essential for building and troubleshooting any electronic device they encounter daily, providing a foundation for further studies in electronics.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils are expected to have a basic understanding of electricity, conductors, and insulators from previous lessons.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT AND ITS BASIC COMPONENTS

Meaning of Electric Circuit

An electric circuit is a complete path through which electric current can flow. It typically includes a power source, conductors, and components that use or control the current.

Basic Components of an Electric Circuit

The fundamental components required for a simple electric circuit include:

Voltage Source: Provides the electrical potential difference (e.g., a battery).
Conductors: Materials that allow current to flow easily (e.g., copper wires).
Load/Resistance: Components that consume electrical energy or oppose current flow (e.g., a lamp, a resistor).
Switch: A device used to open or close the circuit, controlling the flow of current.

Definition of Resistance, Voltage, and Current

Resistance (R): This is the opposition to the flow of electric current in a circuit. It is measured in Ohms (Ω).
Voltage (V): This is the electrical potential difference between two points in a circuit, which drives the current. It is measured in Volts (V).
Current (I): This is the rate of flow of electric charge through a conductor. It is measured in Amperes (A).

Identification of Veroboard and Printed Circuit Board (PCB)

Veroboard: This is a type of circuit board with a grid of pre-drilled holes and copper strips running in parallel lines. It is used for prototyping electronic circuits.
Printed Circuit Board (PCB): This is a board used to mechanically support and electrically connect electronic components using conductive tracks, pads, and other features etched from copper sheets laminated onto a non-conductive substrate. PCBs are used in most electronic devices.

Reading Simple Circuit Diagrams

A circuit diagram is a simplified conventional pictorial representation of an electrical circuit. It uses standard symbols to represent different components and their connections.

Common symbols used in circuit diagrams include:

Battery: Consists of one or more cells (long line for positive, short line for negative).
Resistor: A zigzag line or a rectangle.
Switch: A break in the line that can be opened or closed.
Lamp/Light Bulb: A circle with a cross or a loop inside.
Wire: A straight line.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 4 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and asks them to recall what they know about electricity and conductors. The teacher then introduces the topic by asking what happens when they switch on a light bulb or a radio, leading to the concept of an electric circuit.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the questions and share their prior knowledge about electricity. They listen attentively to the introduction.
Learning Point: Pupils are prepared for the lesson and recall relevant prior knowledge.

Step 2: Meaning of Electric Circuit

Time: 6 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Definition
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines an electric circuit, explaining that it is a complete path for current flow. The teacher illustrates with a simple diagram on the board and points out common examples of circuits in everyday devices.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen, take notes, and ask questions for clarification. They observe the diagram drawn by the teacher.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the definition of an electric circuit.

Step 3: Basic Components of an Electric Circuit (Resistance, Voltage, Current)

Time: 9 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces the basic components of a circuit (voltage source, conductors, load, switch). The teacher then defines and explains resistance, voltage, and current, using simple analogies and showing actual examples of resistors, batteries (voltage source), and wires (conductors).
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the components, listen to the explanations, and ask questions to grasp the concepts.
Learning Point: Pupils identify basic circuit components and understand the concepts of resistance, voltage, and current.

Step 4: Identification of Veroboard and Printed Circuit Board (PCB)

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Identification
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher presents samples of veroboards and printed circuit boards (PCBs). The teacher explains their features, differences, and common uses, highlighting how they help in building and housing electronic circuits.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils carefully observe the samples, identify the veroboard and PCB, and note their characteristics.
Learning Point: Pupils can identify and differentiate between veroboards and PCBs.

Step 5: Reading Simple Circuit Diagrams

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Illustration/Interpretation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays charts showing common circuit symbols (battery, resistor, switch, lamp, wire). The teacher explains what each symbol represents and demonstrates how to read a simple circuit diagram by tracing the path of current and identifying components.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the symbols and diagrams, identify the components, and practice interpreting simple circuits.
Learning Point: Pupils learn to recognize standard circuit symbols and interpret simple circuit diagrams.

Step 6: Practical Identification and Drawing

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Practical Application
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher distributes a worksheet or asks pupils to draw a simple circuit diagram containing a battery, a switch, a resistor, and a lamp. The teacher moves around to provide assistance and check their work.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils draw the circuit diagram using the correct symbols and attempt to identify components from the provided samples.
Learning Point: Pupils apply their knowledge by drawing and identifying circuit components.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

What is an electric circuit?
Mention three basic components of an electric circuit.
Define resistance, voltage, and current.
Differentiate between a veroboard and a printed circuit board (PCB).
Draw the symbol for a battery and a resistor.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key points of the lesson, emphasizing the importance of understanding electric circuits and their components. The teacher assigns homework, asking pupils to find out about different types of resistors.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy down the homework.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and are given tasks for further study.

Lesson Keywords

Electric Circuit – A complete path through which electric current can flow.
Resistance – Opposition to the flow of electric current.
Voltage – Electrical potential difference that drives current.
Current – Rate of flow of electric charge.
Veroboard – A prototyping circuit board with parallel copper strips.
Printed Circuit Board (PCB) – A board with etched conductive tracks for connecting electronic components.
Circuit Diagram – A pictorial representation of an electrical circuit using standard symbols.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher can challenge them to identify more complex circuit symbols or to explain the relationship between voltage, current, and resistance (Ohm’s Law). For those who need more support, the teacher will provide more one-on-one guidance during practical activities and simplify explanations with additional real-life examples.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Ensure that all instructional materials, especially samples of circuit boards and components, are available and in good working condition before the lesson. Encourage pupils to ask questions and participate actively. Safety precautions related to handling electrical components should be briefly mentioned if any practical setup involves power.