Introducing Energy

We have finished up the basic ideas of phases of matter at my house and are moving on to energy.  I started by letting my kids burn some energy.

Then we started talking about what had happened while they were playing.  This was my attempt at engagement.  The big idea I wanted to get across was, ” You used energy to run and play.”   Then I wanted them to want to know more, “How are you going to have the energy to play again?”  Let’s see if we can figure out how to store energy.

I gave them energy cards.  In this sort, I wanted them to put the cards into two categories: energy in use and and energy not in use.

I asked the BIG Question, ” Alright explorers, you put these cards into categories based on types of energy. What is energy?”  Let’s make a list of our ideas.  My kids zeroed in on movement.

After you have a list, help your explorers see the similarities between the items on the list.  Most kids will give examples rather than a definition, which is a great way to make them think a little harder.  The idea you are trying to get to do is a good working definition of energy.  I like this one.  Energy is what makes things go, move, work, or change.  Now we went back to our cards with our definition of energy.

The kids had a great time self-evaluating their work. We took the two piles and discussed if we thought it was stored energy or using energy and why.  The last step was to figure out which type of stored energy our body uses for fuel…. food.

Quick and Easy 5 E lesson on Energy.

I am sharing at Science Sunday and Fun Sparks