Energy Transfer Script

Warm-Up: What is Energy? (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning, scientists! Today we're going to explore something that makes everything happen around us. Look around the room. What do you see moving? What makes it move? What makes you move?"

Teacher: "You're all talking about something called energy! Energy is like the 'power' or 'oomph' that makes things happen. It makes things move, grow, and change. Think about when you play. What gives you the energy to run and jump?"

Teacher: "That's right, food gives us energy! And where does the energy in our food come from originally?"

Introduction to Energy Transfer (7 minutes)

(Display Energy Transfer Slide Deck - Slide 1: Pass the Energy, Please!)

Teacher: "Today we're going to talk about how energy doesn't just stay in one place, it can move! This is called energy transfer. Can anyone guess what 'transfer' might mean?"

(Display Energy Transfer Slide Deck - Slide 2: What is Energy?)

Teacher: "Great ideas! 'Transfer' means to move from one place to another. So, energy transfer is simply when energy moves from one object or one place to another. It's like passing a hot potato – the heat energy transfers from the potato to your hand!"

(Display Energy Transfer Slide Deck - Slide 3: Energy on the Move!)

Teacher: "Let's think about a soccer ball. When you kick a soccer ball, where does the energy come from? And where does it go?"

Teacher: "Exactly! Your leg has energy, and when you kick the ball, some of that energy transfers to the ball, making it move! The ball then has kinetic energy. What if the ball hits another player?"

(Display Energy Transfer Slide Deck - Slide 4: Examples of Energy Transfer)

Teacher: "Here are some more examples: When you hit a baseball, your energy transfers to the bat, and then to the ball. When you ride a bike, your leg energy transfers to the pedals, making the bike move. And think about dominoes! The energy from one falling domino transfers to the next, causing a chain reaction."

Hands-On Activity: Pass the Energy! (10 minutes)

(Display Energy Transfer Slide Deck - Slide 5: Activity Time: Pass the Energy!)

Teacher: "Now it's your turn to be energy detectives! We're going to do an activity where we can see energy transfer in action. I have a small ball here. When I throw it, what happens to the energy in my hand?"

(Demonstrate throwing a ball and catching it, or hitting a target.)

Teacher: "My energy transfers to the ball, making it fly! Now, when the ball hits my hand, what kind of energy transfer might be happening?"

Teacher: "For our activity, we are going to do a simple 'energy chain' (or dominoes if available). I want you to work with a partner. One person will gently push the ball, and the other person will try to catch it, or you can set up a small chain of objects (like books or dominoes) and observe what happens when you knock the first one over. As you do this, I want you to really think about: Where did the energy start? Where did it go?"

(Distribute materials or arrange students for the activity. Circulate and observe, asking guiding questions from the Energy Transfer Activity as needed.)

Discussion and Reflection (5 minutes)

(Display Energy Transfer Slide Deck - Slide 6: Reflect and Connect)

Teacher: "Alright everyone, let's bring it back together. What did you observe during our activity? Tell me about one way you saw energy transfer happen."

Teacher: "Excellent observations! So, to sum it up, energy is always on the move, transferring from one object to another to make things happen. It doesn't disappear; it just changes hands, or objects in this case!"

Cool-Down: Energy Exit Ticket (3 minutes)

Teacher: "For our cool-down today, I want you to complete this Energy Cool-Down exit ticket. On your paper, please write down one example of energy transfer that you learned about or observed today. It can be something we discussed, something from the activity, or even an example from your own life!"

(Collect exit tickets.)

Energy Warm-Up: What Powers You?

Instructions: Think about your day so far. What things have moved? What things have changed? Write down three things that needed energy to happen.

1. Something that moved:
   
   
   

2. Something that changed:
   
   
   

3. Something you did that required energy:
   
   
   

Bonus Question: What do you think energy is?

Energy Transfer Activity: Pass the Energy!

Goal: To observe and describe how energy moves from one object to another.

Materials:

• A small ball (like a tennis ball, bouncy ball, or even a rolled-up sock)
• Optional: a line of dominoes, or small books that can fall like dominoes

Part 1: Ball Pass

Instructions: Work with a partner or in a small group.

1. One person gently throws or rolls the ball to another person.
2. The other person catches the ball.
3. Discuss with your partner:
   • Where did the energy start in this activity?
     
     
     
   • How did the energy transfer from one person to the ball?
     
     
     
   • How did the energy transfer from the ball to the catcher?
     
     
     

Part 2: Domino Effect (Optional - if materials are available)

Instructions: With your group, set up a line of 5-10 dominoes or small books standing on their ends.

1. Gently push the first domino/book so it falls and hits the next one.
2. Observe what happens to the rest of the line.
3. Discuss with your partner:
   • Where did the energy start in this activity?
     
     
     
   • How did the energy transfer from one domino/book to the next?
     
     
     
   • What would happen if there was a big gap between two dominoes? Why?
     
     
     

Think & Share: Be ready to share one example of energy transfer you observed with the class!

Energy Cool-Down: Where Did It Go?

Instructions: On the lines below, describe one example of energy transfer that you learned about or observed today. Explain where the energy started and where it went.