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

Energy stores and transfers

Energy

CCSS NGSS.4-PS3-1CCSS NGSS.4-PS3-2England: KS3 Physics: Energy (energy changes and transfers)England: KS4 Combined Science: Energy

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Energy stores and transfers.

  • 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: Sunlight warms things

Leads to: How devices transfer energy; Renewable and non-renewable energy resources; Energy in food

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 (Sunlight warms things). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. On a sunny day, which is warmer to touch? (a slide in the shade / they are the same / a slide in the sunshine) → a slide in the sunshinePrompt: What warms things up during the day?
  2. Sunlight: which statement is true? (Shade is warmer than sunshine. / The Sun only warms things in summer. / White clothes get hotter in the sun than black clothes. / It is usually cooler in the shade than in sunshine.) → It is usually cooler in the shade than in sunshine.Prompt: Think about standing in the sun and in the shade.
  3. Sunlight: which statement is NOT true? (Dark colours warm up faster in sunlight than light colours. / It is usually cooler in the shade than in sunshine. / A puddle in the shade dries faster than one in the sun. / The Sun warms the land, air and water.) → A puddle in the shade dries faster than one in the sun.Prompt: Which colour reflects sunlight?

Hook · 3 min

  • Wind up a toy or stretch an elastic band and ask where the energy goes.
  • Share the objective: Energy stores and transfers. 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: Which energy store is most important here: a drawn bow?
  • Step 1: Stretched or squashed objects have an elastic potential energy store.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: elastic potential (stretch or squash)
  • Answer: elastic potential (stretch or squash)
  • 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. Which energy store is most important here: a hot radiator? (elastic potential (stretch or squash) / gravitational potential (height) / thermal (heat) / kinetic (movement)) → thermal (heat)Prompt: Is it moving, raised up, stretched, hot, or able to release energy by reacting?
  2. When you rub your hands together, the movement energy is transferred to… (thermal energy (they warm up) / chemical energy / elastic energy / nuclear energy) → thermal energy (they warm up)Prompt: How do your hands feel?

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. A ball is dropped. Which energy store decreases as it falls? (kinetic / elastic / nuclear / gravitational potential) → gravitational potentialPrompt: It is getting lower.
  2. Which of these mainly has a elastic potential (stretch or squash) energy store? (a squashed spring / lava from a volcano / a running dog / a sandwich) → a squashed springPrompt: Think about what each object is doing.

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: Sunlight warms things.
  • 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

  • Move on to: How devices transfer energy; Renewable and non-renewable energy resources; Energy in food.
  • 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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Energy stores and transfers

Name

Date

Score/ 6

  1. Question 1

    Which of these mainly has a chemical energy store?

    • A. a flying aeroplane (airplane)
    • B. a cup of hot tea
    • C. a stretched rubber band
    • D. a battery

  2. Question 2

    Which energy store is most important here: a stretched trampoline?

    • A. thermal (heat)
    • B. elastic potential (stretch or squash)
    • C. gravitational potential (height)
    • D. chemical

  3. Question 3

    A moving car speeds up. What happens to its kinetic energy?

    • A. It stays the same
    • B. It increases
    • C. It decreases
    • D. It becomes zero

  4. Question 4

    Which of these mainly has a thermal (heat) energy store?

    • A. a book on a high shelf
    • B. a spinning fan
    • C. a squashed spring
    • D. a cup of hot tea

  5. Question 5

    Which energy store is most important here: a stretched rubber band?

    • A. thermal (heat)
    • B. gravitational potential (height)
    • C. chemical
    • D. elastic potential (stretch or squash)

  6. Question 6

    Which of these mainly has a elastic potential (stretch or squash) energy store?

    • A. a cup of hot tea
    • B. a book on a high shelf
    • C. a drawn bow
    • D. lava from a volcano

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Answer key: Energy stores and transfers

  1. 1. D. a battery

  2. 2. B. elastic potential (stretch or squash)

  3. 3. B. It increases

  4. 4. D. a cup of hot tea

  5. 5. D. elastic potential (stretch or squash)

  6. 6. C. a drawn bow