Power Up! Warm-Up

Think about all the things you do every day that use energy.

1. List three things you did this morning that required energy.
   
   
   
   
2. Where do you think the energy for those things comes from?
   
   
   
   
3. Imagine a world without any electricity. What would be the biggest change in your day?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Lesson Script: Energy's Big Choices

Warm-Up: Power Up! (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something super important that powers almost everything we do: energy! Let's start with a quick warm-up. Please take out your Warm Up: Power Up! and answer the questions. You have about 3 minutes to think and write."

(Allow students to complete the warm-up. Circulate and observe.)

Teacher: "Alright, who would like to share one thing they did this morning that used energy?"

(Call on a few students. Examples: turning on lights, watching TV, riding in a car, charging a tablet.)

Teacher: "Great examples! Now, where do you think that energy comes from? Any ideas?"

(Record student responses on the board. Acknowledge all answers without judgment. This helps activate prior knowledge.)

Introducing Energy Choices (10 minutes)

(Transition to the Energy Choices Slide Deck, Slide 1: What Powers Your Day?)

Teacher: "As you can see, energy is everywhere! But where does it all really come from? Today, we're going to explore different sources of energy and why making smart choices about them is so important for our planet."

(Move to Slide 2: Renewable Energy: The Everlasting Power)

Teacher: "First up, we have Renewable Energy. Look at the word 'renewable.' What do you think 're-new-able' might mean?"

(Guide students to understand 'new again' or 'can be made again'.)

Teacher: "Exactly! Renewable energy comes from sources that replenish themselves naturally, meaning they won't run out, or they come back quickly. Think of the sun! Does the sun ever run out?"

(Pause for response: No!)

Teacher: "Right! So, sunlight is a great example of renewable energy. We call that solar energy. What other examples do you see on the slide?"

(Discuss wind, water (hydro), geothermal, and biomass briefly, giving simple, relatable examples for each.)

(Move to Slide 3: Non-Renewable Energy: Limited Supply!)

Teacher: "Now let's look at the other type: Non-Renewable Energy. If 'renewable' means it can be made again, what do you think 'non-renewable' means?"

(Guide students to understand 'cannot be made again quickly' or 'will run out'.)

Teacher: "That's right! Non-renewable energy comes from sources that take millions of years to form, and we can actually run out of them. Imagine if you only had one juice box for the whole week. Once it's gone, it's gone!"

Teacher: "The main examples are fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. These were formed from ancient plants and animals over millions of years. We also have nuclear energy, which uses uranium."

(Briefly mention the impact of burning fossil fuels, e.g., air pollution, without going into too much detail.)

(Move to Slide 4: Our Energy Choices Matter!)

Teacher: "So, we have these two big categories. Why do you think it's important for us to think about where our energy comes from? What happens if we just keep using the energy sources that can run out?"

(Facilitate a brief discussion, focusing on environmental impact and sustainability. Guide them to consider future generations.)

Energy Source Sort Activity (10 minutes)

(Move to Slide 5: Time to Sort!)

Teacher: "Alright, now it's your turn to become energy detectives! I'm going to put you into small groups. Each group will receive a set of Energy Source Cards and an Energy Choices Worksheet."

"Your task is to work together to sort these cards into two groups: Renewable Energy and Non-Renewable Energy. As you sort, talk with your group about why you're putting each card in that category. Then, use your worksheet to record your answers. You'll have about 7-8 minutes for this."

(Distribute materials and monitor groups, providing support and prompting discussion as needed.)

Review and Cool Down (5 minutes)

(After the activity, move to Slide 6: Let's Review Our Choices!)

Teacher: "Time's up, energy detectives! Let's come back together. How did your groups do? Who would like to share an energy source they put in the 'Renewable' category and why?"

(Call on groups to share their answers. Correct any misconceptions and reinforce the definitions.)

Teacher: "Excellent job, everyone! You've done a great job identifying and understanding different energy sources. To wrap up, please complete the Cool Down: Energy Reflection. This will help you think about what you learned today."

(Distribute the cool-down. Collect completed worksheets and cool-downs as students finish.)

Teacher: "Thank you for your fantastic work today! Remember to think about where your energy comes from and why those 'big choices' matter!"

Energy Source Cards: Cut and Sort!

Instructions: Cut out each card below. Work with your group to sort them into two piles: Renewable Energy and Non-Renewable Energy.

Card 1: Sunlight

• Description: Energy from the sun's rays.
• Uses: Solar panels for electricity, heating water.

Card 2: Wind

• Description: Energy from moving air.
• Uses: Wind turbines for electricity.

Card 3: Coal

• Description: A black, rocky fossil fuel found underground.
• Uses: Burned in power plants to make electricity.

Card 4: Water (Hydroelectric)

• Description: Energy from flowing water, often through dams.
• Uses: Hydroelectric power plants for electricity.

Card 5: Oil

• Description: A thick, black liquid fossil fuel found underground.
• Uses: Gasoline for cars, making plastics, heating homes.

Card 6: Natural Gas

• Description: A gas fossil fuel found underground.
• Uses: Heating homes, cooking, generating electricity.

Card 7: Geothermal

• Description: Heat energy from inside the Earth.
• Uses: Heating buildings, generating electricity.

Card 8: Biomass

• Description: Energy from organic matter like plants, wood, and waste.
• Uses: Burning wood for heat, making biofuels for vehicles.

Energy Choices Worksheet

Name: ____________________________

Instructions: After sorting your Energy Source Cards, fill in the tables below with the correct energy sources.

Renewable Energy Sources

These are sources that replenish naturally and won't run out quickly.

Non-Renewable Energy Sources

These are sources that take millions of years to form and can run out.

Think and Share!

Why do you think it's important to know the difference between renewable and non-renewable energy sources?

Cool Down: Energy Reflection

Name: ____________________________

1. What is one new thing you learned about energy today?
   
   
   
   
2. Why do you think it's important to make