Conductor or Insulator?

Eight everyday materials, two bins. Students read each one - a copper wire, a wooden pencil, an iron nail, a rubber band, a glass cup, an aluminum can, a gold ring, and a rubber glove - and decide whether it is a conductor (lets electricity flow) or an insulator (stops it). It is the classic hands-on materials activity, tied to both TEKS 6.6C and the electrical-circuits unit.

What's Included

• 1 student page: 8 illustrated material cards (conductor / insulator) plus a Sum It Up fill-in with word bank
• 1 teacher key page with the answer and a one-line reason for every card, plus a Big Idea box
• Letter-size PDF, no prep

How It Helps You Teach

• Practices the core skill: tell conductors (most metals) from insulators (plastic, rubber, wood, glass)
• Connects material properties (6.6C) to how circuits work (6.8B) - metals make the wires, insulators keep them safe
• The Big Idea box explains why wires are metal inside and plastic outside

Pair It With

Part of an Electrical Circuits set: Reading in Science, this sort, Context Clues, Inferences, and Science in the News. Check out our library for the rest.

Perfect for 6th grade physical science, a science sort or station activity, a conductors-and-insulators lesson, and TEKS 6.6C / 6.8B support. Topics include: conductors, insulators, metals, materials, electricity, and electric circuits.

Standards: TEKS 6.6C (conductors and insulators); TEKS 6.8B (electrical circuits). Part of the Daily Science series by Workybooks.