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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: hydroelectric? (renewable / non-renewable) → renewablePrompt: Will it run out, or is it replaced naturally?
  2. Why does burning fossil fuels contribute to climate change? (It releases oxygen / It releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas / It uses up nitrogen / It cools the atmosphere) → It releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gasPrompt: What gas is made when carbon burns?
  3. Energy resources: which statement is NOT true? (Solar panels do not produce electricity at night. / Hydroelectric power uses falling water. / Nuclear fuel is renewable. / Nuclear power stations do not release carbon dioxide while generating electricity.) → Nuclear fuel is renewable.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 wind turbines? (can be noisy and change the look of the landscape, but release no smoke / floods a valley and blocks fish swimming upriver / spills can harm sea life, and burning it adds carbon dioxide / mining scars the land and burning it releases carbon dioxide and smoke) → can be noisy and change the look of the landscape, but release no smokePrompt: 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? (Electric cars run on petrol at night. / If it comes from burning coal, carbon dioxide is still released at the power station. / 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.Prompt: Follow the energy back to the power station.

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. True or false? Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Think about getting, using and wasting each resource.
  2. What is one environmental effect of using oil? (mining scars the land and burning it releases carbon dioxide and smoke / covers a large area of land, but makes no fumes while running / spills can harm sea life, and burning it adds carbon dioxide / can be noisy and change the look of the landscape, but release no smoke) → spills can harm sea life, and burning it adds carbon dioxidePrompt: Think about getting the resource and using it.

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? Coal will never run out.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  2. Question 2

    What is one environmental effect of using oil?

    • A. spills can harm sea life, and burning it adds carbon dioxide
    • B. makes no smoke but leaves dangerous waste that must be stored safely for a very long time
    • C. floods a valley and blocks fish swimming upriver
    • D. can be noisy and change the look of the landscape, but release no smoke

  3. Question 3

    What is a drawback of solar and wind power?

    • A. They release lots of smoke.
    • B. They depend on weather, so electricity must be stored or backed up.
    • C. They cannot make electricity.
    • D. They will run out soon.

  4. Question 4

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

    • A. True
    • B. False

  5. Question 5

    What is one environmental effect of using hydroelectric dam?

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

  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. Electricity is always made from wind.
    • C. It does not matter at all.
    • D. Electric cars run on petrol at night.

  7. Question 7

    True or false? Renewable energy has no effects on nature at all.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  8. Question 8

    What is one environmental effect of using nuclear power?

    • A. makes no smoke but leaves dangerous waste that must be stored safely for a very long time
    • B. covers a large area of land, but makes no fumes while running
    • C. floods a valley and blocks fish swimming upriver
    • D. mining scars the land and burning it releases carbon dioxide and smoke

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Answer key: How using energy resources affects the environment

  1. 1. B. False

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

  3. 3. B. They depend on weather, so electricity must be stored or backed up.

  4. 4. A. True

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

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

  7. 7. B. False

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