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Science lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 45 minutes

Faster objects have more energy

Energy

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

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Faster objects have more energy.

  • 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: Energy stores and transfers

Leads to: Where does the energy go when things collide?

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 (Energy stores and transfers). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Which energy store is most important here: a battery? (gravitational potential (height) / elastic potential (stretch or squash) / kinetic (movement) / chemical) → chemicalPrompt: Is it moving, raised up, stretched, hot, or able to release energy by reacting?
  2. A moving car speeds up. What happens to its kinetic energy? (It decreases / It increases / It stays the same / It becomes zero) → It increasesPrompt: Kinetic energy depends on speed.
  3. Which of these mainly has a thermal (heat) energy store? (a child at the top of a slide / a piece of coal / petrol (gasoline) / a hot radiator) → a hot radiatorPrompt: Think about what each object is doing.

Hook · 5 min

  • Wind up a toy or stretch an elastic band and ask where the energy goes.
  • Share the objective: Faster objects have more energy. 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: Why does a fast-moving football hurt more to stop than a slow one?
  • Step 1: The faster an object moves, the more kinetic (motion) energy it has.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: It has more energy of motion to transfer to your hands.
  • Answer: It has more energy of motion to transfer to your hands.
  • 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. Which has the most energy of motion? (a parked bike / the same cyclist riding slowly / the same cyclist standing still / a cyclist riding fast downhill) → a cyclist riding fast downhillPrompt: Same cyclist, different speeds.
  2. True or false? A still object has no energy of motion. (True / False) → TruePrompt: Compare the same object at different speeds.

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? A slow ball has more energy than the same ball moving fast. (True / False) → FalsePrompt: Compare the same object at different speeds.
  2. Which has the most energy of motion? (a parked bike / the same cyclist standing still / a cyclist riding fast downhill / the same cyclist riding slowly) → a cyclist riding fast downhillPrompt: Same cyclist, different speeds.

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: Energy stores and transfers.
  • 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: Where does the energy go when things collide?.
  • 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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Faster objects have more energy

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Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Why do roads near schools have low speed limits?

    • A. Slower cars have less energy, so they stop more quickly and cause less harm if they crash.
    • B. Slow cars use more fuel.
    • C. Speed does not change a car's energy.
    • D. Fast cars are quieter.

  2. Question 2

    True or false? A still object has no energy of motion.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  3. Question 3

    A ball rolled down a ramp from three different heights and hit a wooden block. Which release height gave the ball the most energy when it hit?

    How far the block was pushed (cm)051015206low10medium18high
    • A. low
    • B. medium
    • C. high

  4. Question 4

    Which has the most energy of motion?

    • A. the same cyclist riding slowly
    • B. a parked bike
    • C. the same cyclist standing still
    • D. a cyclist riding fast downhill

  5. Question 5

    True or false? The faster an object moves, the more energy it has.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  6. Question 6

    Why does a fast-moving football hurt more to stop than a slow one?

    • A. Fast balls are hotter.
    • B. It has more energy of motion to transfer to your hands.
    • C. It is heavier when it moves fast.
    • D. Slow balls have no energy.

  7. Question 7

    True or false? A ball rolled from a higher ramp moves more slowly at the bottom.

    • A. True
    • B. False

  8. Question 8

    True or false? A slow ball has more energy than the same ball moving fast.

    • A. True
    • B. False

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Answer key: Faster objects have more energy

  1. 1. A. Slower cars have less energy, so they stop more quickly and cause less harm if they crash.

  2. 2. A. True

  3. 3. C. high

  4. 4. D. a cyclist riding fast downhill

  5. 5. A. True

  6. 6. B. It has more energy of motion to transfer to your hands.

  7. 7. B. False

  8. 8. B. False