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Science lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 30 minutes

How using energy resources affects the environment

Energy

CCSS NGSS.4-ESS3-1England: KS3 Physics: Energy (fuels and energy resources)England: KS2 Y4 Living things and their habitats

Objective and success criteria

Students will: How using energy resources affects the environment.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Renewable and non-renewable energy resources

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Wind-up toys or a pendulum, Energy transfer diagrams, Mini whiteboards, A diagram or short video clip of the idea, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 4 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Renewable and non-renewable energy resources). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Is this energy resource renewable or non-renewable: wind? (renewable / non-renewable) → renewablePrompt: Will it run out, or is it replaced naturally?
  2. Why does burning fossil fuels contribute to climate change? (It cools the atmosphere / It releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas / It uses up nitrogen / It releases oxygen) → It releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gasPrompt: What gas is made when carbon burns?
  3. Energy resources: which statement is NOT true? (Nuclear power stations do not release carbon dioxide while generating electricity. / Wind turbines burn fuel to turn. / Hydroelectric power uses falling water. / Solar panels do not produce electricity at night.) → Wind turbines burn fuel to turn.Prompt: Will uranium last forever?

Hook · 3 min

  • Wind up a toy or stretch an elastic band and ask where the energy goes.
  • Share the objective: How using energy resources affects the environment. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 7 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: What is one environmental effect of using oil?
  • Step 1: So the answer is: spills can harm sea life, and burning it adds carbon dioxide
  • Answer: spills can harm sea life, and burning it adds carbon dioxide
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 6 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. What is one environmental effect of using nuclear power? (spills can harm sea life, and burning it adds carbon dioxide / mining scars the land and burning it releases carbon dioxide and smoke / covers a large area of land, but makes no fumes while running / makes no smoke but leaves dangerous waste that must be stored safely for a very long time) → makes no smoke but leaves dangerous waste that must be stored safely for a very long timePrompt: Think about getting the resource and using it.
  2. Why are many countries building more wind and solar farms? (They are renewable and do not release carbon dioxide while making electricity. / They make the weather windier. / They work only at night. / They use up coal.) → They are renewable and do not release carbon dioxide while making electricity.Prompt: What gas from burning fuels warms the planet?

You do: independent practice · 7 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 3 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. What is one environmental effect of using nuclear power? (can be noisy and change the look of the landscape, but release no smoke / mining scars the land and burning it releases carbon dioxide and smoke / covers a large area of land, but makes no fumes while running / makes no smoke but leaves dangerous waste that must be stored safely for a very long time) → makes no smoke but leaves dangerous waste that must be stored safely for a very long timePrompt: Think about getting the resource and using it.
  2. True or false? Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Think about getting, using and wasting each resource.

Watch out for

  • Everyday meanings of words getting in the way of the science meaning: define key words explicitly.
  • Remembering facts without the reason: ask "why?" and "what is the evidence?"

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Renewable and non-renewable energy resources.
  • Use concrete materials: wind-up toys or a pendulum.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/science/grade-4.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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How using energy resources affects the environment

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    What is one environmental effect of using wind turbines?

    • A. mining scars the land and burning it releases carbon dioxide and smoke
    • B. floods a valley and blocks fish swimming upriver
    • C. covers a large area of land, but makes no fumes while running
    • D. can be noisy and change the look of the landscape, but release no smoke

  2. Question 2

    Why are many countries building more wind and solar farms?

    • A. They work only at night.
    • B. They make the weather windier.
    • C. They are renewable and do not release carbon dioxide while making electricity.
    • D. They use up coal.

  3. Question 3

    True or false? Every energy resource has some effect on the environment.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  4. Question 4

    What is one environmental effect of using nuclear power?

    • A. floods a valley and blocks fish swimming upriver
    • B. makes no smoke but leaves dangerous waste that must be stored safely for a very long time
    • C. covers a large area of land, but makes no fumes while running
    • D. can be noisy and change the look of the landscape, but release no smoke

  5. Question 5

    Which choice reduces the environmental harm from energy use the most?

    • A. burning more coal
    • B. driving short trips instead of walking
    • C. using less energy, for example by insulating homes and switching things off
    • D. leaving lights on all day

  6. Question 6

    True or false? Dams can change river habitats.

    • A. True
    • B. False

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Answer key: How using energy resources affects the environment

  1. 1. D. can be noisy and change the look of the landscape, but release no smoke

  2. 2. C. They are renewable and do not release carbon dioxide while making electricity.

  3. 3. A. True

  4. 4. B. makes no smoke but leaves dangerous waste that must be stored safely for a very long time

  5. 5. C. using less energy, for example by insulating homes and switching things off

  6. 6. A. True