Energy's Big Choices Script

Warm-Up: What Powers Our World? (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something super important that we use every single day. I want you to think about all the things you use at home or at school that need power or resources to work. What comes to mind? Shout them out!"

(Listen to student responses and write them on the board or chart paper. Examples might include lights, computers, cars, heating, air conditioning, phones, toys, etc.)

Teacher: "Wow, you've named so many important things! Look at this list. From keeping our houses warm to playing with our favorite toys, we rely on so many things that need energy and resources. But where does all this energy and power come from? Today, we're going to learn about the different kinds of resources that power our world, and why it's so important to understand them!"

Introduction to Resources (Slides 1-4) (10 minutes)

(Display Slide Deck: Energy's Big Choices - Slide 1)

Teacher: "Take a look at our first slide: 'Energy's Big Choices: What Powers Our World?'. This is our big question for today!"

(Display Slide Deck: Energy's Big Choices - Slide 2)

Teacher: "So, what exactly are these 'resources' I keep talking about? Well, resources are simply things we get from nature that we use to make energy or to create products. They're like ingredients that help us do all the cool things we want to do, like lighting up our classrooms or driving our cars. We use them for so many things! But here's the interesting part: not all resources are the same. We can actually split them into two big groups. Can anyone guess what those two groups might be?"

(Allow a few guesses, then move on.)

(Display Slide Deck: Energy's Big Choices - Slide 3)

Teacher: "Our first group is called Renewable Resources. Can you say 'renewable'? Excellent! Now, the word 'renewable' sounds a lot like 'new again,' right? That's because these are resources that can be replaced naturally over a short period of time. Think of them like a magic well that never runs dry! We can use them, and they'll either come back quickly or they're always there.

"Look at the examples on the slide. Sunlight is a great example. Does the sun ever stop shining? No, it's always there, giving us light and warmth! What about wind? The wind blows every day, and we can use special windmills, called wind turbines, to catch that wind and turn it into electricity! Water is another one. The water cycle means water is constantly moving and replenishing. And plants, like trees? We can plant more trees and grow more crops!"

"So, why do you think these resources are so special? What's good about them?"

(Encourage answers like 'they don't run out,' 'they're good for the Earth,' etc.)

(Display Slide Deck: Energy's Big Choices - Slide 4)

Teacher: "Now, for our second group: Non-Renewable Resources. Say 'non-renewable'! This means 'not new again.' These are resources that cannot be easily replaced once they are used up. They took millions and millions of years to form deep inside the Earth. Imagine a piggy bank. Once you spend all the money, it's gone, right? That's kind of how non-renewable resources work. Once we use them up, they're gone for a very, very long time—much longer than we'll be around.

"Some examples are coal, which we burn to make electricity; oil, which we turn into gasoline for our cars and planes; natural gas, which heats our homes; and minerals, like the metals we use in building and electronics.

"Why is it important for us to think about how much we use these non-renewable resources? What might happen if we use too much too quickly?"

(Guide students to think about them running out, or the impact of burning them on the environment.)

Activity: Resource Sort! (10 minutes)

(Display Slide Deck: Energy's Big Choices - Slide 5)

Teacher: "Alright, brilliant scientists! Now that we've learned about our two big types of resources, it's time for you to become resource sorters! I'm going to hand out a Worksheet: Resource Sort!. On this worksheet, you'll see a list of different resources. Your job is to read each one and decide if it's a Renewable Resource or a Non-Renewable Resource. Then, you'll write it in the correct column.

"Remember: Renewable means it can be replaced or is always available. Non-renewable means once it's used up, it's gone for a very long time.

"I'll give you about 7 minutes to work on this. Do your best, and don't worry if you're not sure about every single one. We'll go over it together!"

(Distribute the Worksheet: Resource Sort!. Circulate the room, offering guidance and answering questions. After students have had time to work, bring the class back together.)

Teacher: "Okay, let's go through these together! Who would like to share their first answer? For example, where did you put 'Solar Energy'? Why?"

(Go through each item on the worksheet, having students share their answers and reasoning. Use the Answer Key: Resource Sort! to guide the discussion and correct any misconceptions. You can also have volunteers write the answers on the T-chart prepared earlier.)

Wrap-Up: Reflect and Review (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Fantastic work, everyone! You are all becoming resource experts! Just to recap, can someone tell me in their own words what a renewable resource is? And what about a non-renewable resource?"

(Call on students for definitions and quick examples.)

Teacher: "Exactly! You've got it. Now, for our final question: Why do you think it's so important for us, as humans, to understand the difference between renewable and non-renewable resources? Why does it matter to our planet and to us?"

(Encourage discussion about conservation, protecting the environment, ensuring resources for the future, making smart energy choices.)

Teacher: "You've brought up some really important points. Knowing about these resources helps us make smart choices, like saving energy, recycling, and looking for ways to use more renewable power. Great job today, everyone!"

Resource Sort!

Name: ____________________________

Instructions: Read each resource in the list below. Decide if it is a Renewable Resource (can be replaced naturally or is always available) or a Non-Renewable Resource (cannot be easily replaced once used up). Write each resource in the correct column.

Resources to Sort:

• Sunlight
• Coal
• Wind
• Oil
• Water
• Natural Gas
• Trees
• Iron Ore
• Geothermal Energy (Heat from Earth)
• Uranium (for nuclear power)

My Resource Sort Chart

Resource Sort! Answer Key

Instructions:

This answer key provides the correct classification for each resource listed in the Worksheet: Resource Sort!. Use this to guide discussion and assessment.

Correct Resource Sort Chart