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Science lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 45 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 · 5 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: nuclear fuel (uranium)? (renewable / non-renewable) → non-renewablePrompt: Will it run out, or is it replaced naturally?
  2. Which energy resource is most reliable at any time of day or night? (geothermal / wind / solar / waves on a calm day) → geothermalPrompt: Which one does not depend on the weather or daylight?
  3. Energy resources: which statement is NOT true? (Nuclear power stations do not release carbon dioxide while generating electricity. / Solar panels do not produce electricity at night. / Hydroelectric power uses falling water. / Renewable resources never have any environmental impact.) → Renewable resources never have any environmental impact.Prompt: Will uranium last forever?

Hook · 5 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 · 10 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 · 10 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? (can be noisy and change the look of the landscape, but release no smoke / covers a large area of land, but makes no fumes while running / mining scars the land and burning it releases carbon dioxide and smoke / 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 use up coal. / They make the weather windier. / They work only at night. / They are renewable and do not release carbon dioxide while making electricity.) → 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 · 10 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 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 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 oil? (makes no smoke but leaves dangerous waste that must be stored safely for a very long time / covers a large area of land, but makes no fumes while running / spills can harm sea life, and burning it adds carbon dioxide / mining scars the land and burning it releases carbon dioxide and smoke) → spills can harm sea life, and burning it adds carbon dioxidePrompt: Think about getting the resource and using it.
  2. Electric cars make no exhaust fumes. Why do scientists still say where the electricity comes from matters? (It does not matter at all. / Electricity is always made from wind. / If it comes from burning coal, carbon dioxide is still released at the power station. / Electric cars run on petrol at night.) → If it comes from burning coal, carbon dioxide is still released at the power station.Prompt: Follow the energy back to the power station.

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/ 8

  1. Question 1

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

    • A. True
    • B. False

  2. Question 2

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

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

  3. Question 3

    What is one environmental effect of using oil?

    • A. spills can harm sea life, and burning it adds carbon dioxide
    • B. can be noisy and change the look of the landscape, but release no smoke
    • C. floods a valley and blocks fish swimming upriver
    • D. mining scars the land and burning it releases carbon dioxide and smoke

  4. Question 4

    What is one environmental effect of using coal?

    • 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. spills can harm sea life, and burning it adds carbon dioxide
    • D. mining scars the land and burning it releases carbon dioxide and smoke

  5. Question 5

    True or false? Dams can change river habitats.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  6. Question 6

    Electric cars make no exhaust fumes. Why do scientists still say where the electricity comes from matters?

    • A. If it comes from burning coal, carbon dioxide is still released at the power station.
    • B. It does not matter at all.
    • C. Electric cars run on petrol at night.
    • D. Electricity is always made from wind.

  7. Question 7

    What is one environmental effect of using hydroelectric dam?

    • 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. mining scars the land and burning it releases carbon dioxide and smoke

  8. Question 8

    True or false? Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide.

    • A. True
    • B. False

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Answer key: How using energy resources affects the environment

  1. 1. A. True

  2. 2. D. using less energy, for example by insulating homes and switching things off

  3. 3. A. spills can harm sea life, and burning it adds carbon dioxide

  4. 4. D. mining scars the land and burning it releases carbon dioxide and smoke

  5. 5. A. True

  6. 6. A. If it comes from burning coal, carbon dioxide is still released at the power station.

  7. 7. A. floods a valley and blocks fish swimming upriver

  8. 8. A. True