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Open and Closed Circuits — Reading Comprehension

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NGSS 4-PS3-2

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This engaging 250-word reading passage teaches Grade 4-5 students about open and closed circuits, aligned with NGSS 4-PS3-2 science standards. Students learn how closed circuits have complete paths that allow current to flow, while open circuits have breaks that stop current flow. The passage explains how switches work by opening and closing circuits to control when electrical devices turn on and off, using the familiar example of a light switch. Audio-integrated content includes concrete examples like flashlights and doorbells to help students understand abstract electrical concepts. The passage uses age-appropriate vocabulary while introducing key scientific terms such as circuit, current flow, switch, and circuit breaks. Students explore cause-and-effect relationships and discover why complete paths are essential for electricity to work. Supplementary activities include multiple-choice questions testing recall and comprehension, writing prompts requiring students to explain concepts and apply knowledge, and graphic organizers comparing open and closed circuits. A simplified differentiated version supports diverse learners, and Spanish translations make the content accessible to bilingual students. This comprehensive resource helps elementary students build foundational understanding of electrical circuits through clear explanations and relatable examples.

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open circuit - How Circuits Work — open circuit has a break or gap somewhere in the path. Image Credit Freepik

A circuit is a path that electricity follows as it moves from one place to another. Electricity needs a complete path to flow, just like water needs a pipe to travel through your house. Understanding circuits helps us control electricity to power lights, toys, and many other devices we use every day.

A closed circuit has a complete path with no breaks, allowing electric current to flow. Current is the movement of electricity through wires and other materials. When you turn on a flashlight, you create a closed circuit. The electricity flows from the batteries, through the wires, into the light bulb, and back to the batteries in one continuous loop. This complete path lets the bulb light up.

An open circuit has a break or gap somewhere in the path, which stops the current from flowing. If you remove a battery from your flashlight, you create an open circuit. The electricity cannot jump across the empty space where the battery should be, so the light bulb stays dark. Think of it like a broken bridge—cars cannot cross if part of the bridge is missing.

A switch is a device that opens and closes a circuit to control when electricity flows. When you flip a light switch up, it closes the circuit by connecting the wires inside. This creates a complete path, and current flows to light the bulb. When you flip the switch down, it opens the circuit by separating the wires. The gap stops the current, and the light turns off.

Switches work in many devices around your home. A doorbell button is a switch that closes a circuit when you press it. A television remote uses switches inside its buttons to send signals. Even your computer keyboard has tiny switches under each key.

Understanding open and closed circuits helps us see how electricity works safely and efficiently. By controlling circuits with switches, we can turn devices on when we need them and off when we don't, saving energy and making our lives easier. Every time you flip a switch, you're opening or closing a circuit to control the flow of electricity.

What does a circuit provide for electricity?

A path to followA place to stopA way to disappearA reason to slow down

What happens in a closed circuit?

Electricity stops completelyCurrent flows through the pathThe wires separateThe battery dies quickly

What creates an open circuit in a flashlight?

Turning on the switchAdding more batteriesRemoving a batteryReplacing the light bulb

Why does flipping a switch up turn on a light?

It adds more electricityIt closes the circuitIt opens the circuitIt changes the wire color

What would happen if you pressed a doorbell button?

The circuit stays openThe wires break apartThe circuit closes temporarilyThe electricity stops flowing

How is an open circuit like a broken bridge?

Both allow things to pass throughBoth have complete pathsBoth prevent movement across a gapBoth are made of metal

A closed circuit has no breaks in the path.

TrueFalse

What does the word 'current' mean in this passage?

Water flowing in a riverMovement of electricityPresent time or nowA type of battery

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Open and Closed Circuits — Reading Comprehension

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