Energy Unit Overview

Energy Sources

In the Energy Sources module, students are introduced to the idea that all plants and animals need energy. In fact, people need energy to live, work, grow, and play. Interactive games help students practice identifying energy types that we use every day, such as electricity, food, and sunlight.

Light Energy

In the Light Energy module, students learn that light energy is the energy that allows them to see the matter around them. Through interactive lesson and activities, students explore the differences between natural and man-made light.

Heat Energy

In the Heat Energy module, students explore this type of energy that can be felt. Students use their hands to build friction and make heat energy. In the Larry in his Laboratory activity, students learn about conduction and radiation with an animated host and live-video examples.

Sound Energy

The Sound Energy module allows students to experiment with energy that can be heard when matter is present to carry the vibration. Students learn about pitch, volume, and vibration as they explore and watch different methods of making sound.

Electrical Energy

Electrical energy is energy that is used to run appliances and tools. Electricity is generated at power plants from renewable and nonrenewable energy sources before it travels through power lines to all of the necessary locations. In this module students explore the various uses of electricity and the energy sources used to generate electricity.

Energy Transformations

In the Energy Transformations module, students learn about energy flow. They connect what they have learned about sound, heat, and light energy with new knowledge about energy transformations.