1. Conductors and Insulators
4th Grade Science Lab

3. Question What materials will conduct electricity?
What does conduct mean?
What is an insulator?

4. Observation Discuss with your partner and
Complete the first 2 columns in your lab notebook
Name of Test Item
Type of Material

5. Hypothesis Record your hypothesis for each test item
Yes or No – Will the material conduct electricity?

6. Setup for Experiment
1st Wire
2nd Wire
3rd Wire
Set up your circuit as shown in the diagram above. The first
wire is between the battery and the bulb holder. The second
wire is loose coming from the battery. The third wire is loose
coming from the bulb holder. Touch the ends of the
second and third wire together. Did your bulb light up?

7. Experiment Place each test item between the opening in your circuit.
Touch both wires to the item at the same time. The wires should not touch each other.
Does the bulb light?
Is the bulb off, dim, or bright?
Record this data on your lab sheet.

8. Conclusion
If the test item allowed electricity to flow through it and the bulb lights then it is a ____________.
If the test item did NOT allow the electricity to flow through it and the bulb did NOT light then it is an __________.
Record this data on your lab sheet.
conductor
insulator