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2
Research
Preparation time: 45 min
Teaching time: 90 min

Sources of Energy

In this unit students will find out what the available sources of energy are on Earth. Energy can be extracted from both renewable and non-renewable sources. Each energy source has advantages and disadvantages. They will explore these through experiments and demonstrations.

Format

  • Discussion
  • Hands on activity
  • Scientific demonstration
  • Scientific/technological inquiry

Age

  • 11-12

What

The possible connections with your curriculum

  • Engineering & Technology
  • Physical Sciences
  • Science

Who

The people who take up the teacher role

  • Teacher

Where

The locations where learning takes place

  • Classroom

With

The community stakeholders to collaborate with

-

Ready for action?

Resources

Web links

Downloadable Resources

Tangible Resources

battery holders, batteries, cables with crocodile clips, motor, buzzer, fan x2, toy car, marble, tower with track, water wheel, bowl, bottle of water, ball x2, torch, bell

Preparation

Prepare the equipment and organise the room into stations; prepare and print worksheets for each activity. 

  • Station 1: Battery holder, battery, 3 cables (with alligator clips), motor
  • Station 2: Battery holder, battery, 3 cables (with alligator clips), buzzer
  • Station 3: Toy car
  • Station 4: Marble, tower with track
  • Station 5: Water wheel, bowl, bottle filled with water
  • Station 6: Fan and nearby electrical outlet 
  • Station 7: Fan and nearby electrical outlet, table, ball
  • Station 8: Torch
  • Station 9: Bell
  • Station 10: Ball, basin

Goals, messages & concepts

Specific goals

  • Learn about renewable and non-renewable energy sources, and understand the pros and cons of each.

Specific messages

  • Energy has many sources, some renewable (like wind), and some non-renewable (fossil fuels, such as natural gas or oil).

Main terms

  • renewable energy sources
  • non-renewable energy sources

Practices & skills

STEM practices

  • Constructing explanations and designing solutions
  • Engaging in argument from evidence
  • Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information
  • Asking questions and defining problems

Soft skills

-

Management skills

  • Planning
  • Use of resources

Course of activity

step 1

Recap the previous lesson and ask, what is energy?

step 2

Introduce the concept of sources of energy - how do we produce energy?

step 3

Students will have a go at each activity station (see resources). While doing the activities, they will fill in the following columns on the worksheet (see downloadable resources):

  • What happened / changed?
  • What caused the change?
  • The last column (Type of energy that caused the change) will be filled out in the next lesson.

step 4

Discuss the difference between a renewable and a non-renewable energy source. What type of energy source is preferable? What are the pros and cons of using renewable / non-renewable energy?