Grade
4
Duration
20 mins
Type
Game
Overview
What better way to get kids thinking about the various forms of energy than a fun (and energy-burning) game of tag?
Instructions
What you'll need
- Gym or outdoor space
Let’s use energy
- Head outside or to the gym.
- Start by asking students what they know about energy.
- What is energy?
- Can they think of examples of energy?
- Where does their energy come from?
- Do they think there are different types of energy? If so, what might they be?
- Get things moving with a quick game of tag.
Where does our energy come from?
- After running around, talk about how they feel and how it relates to energy.
- Energy is all around us and we use it every day.
- Explain that there are 10 different forms of energy (see teaching notes).
- Running around and playing tag is an example of kinetic energy or the energy of motion. Ask for other examples of kinetic energy, or things in motion.
- We get our energy from the chemical energy found in food.
- Ask students to look for examples of forms of energy at home.
- Discuss their observations from home in the next class.
Modify or extend this activity
Extensions
- Have your students come up with other forms of energy and think of examples.
- Learn more about different forms of energy in the “Making a forms of energy collage” and “Energy wonder wall” activities.
Curriculum Fit
Grade 4 Science
Content
- Energy has various forms
Curricular competencies
Questioning and predicting
- Demonstrate curiosity about the natural world
- Make predictions based on prior knowledge
Assessments
- Assess student participation during the game of tag and discussion.
Teaching Notes
What is energy?
Energy is the ability or capacity to do work. Energy makes change possible. It is the power or ability to make things happen.
Forms of energy
Energy is all around us. The 10 forms of energy are listed below :
- Electrical energy is produced by the flow of an electric charge. We see or hear the result of this energy as something that turns on, lights up or gets warmer.
- Light energy travels in waves and is visible to us. Light energy is produced by sources such as the sun, fire or light bulbs.
- Sound energy is produced by vibrating objects and travels as sound waves. We hear sound energy in music, birds singing or a fireworks display.
- Thermal (heat) energy is produced by a number of sources such as the sun, a campfire and the oven. We feel this energy as warmth.
- Nuclear energy is stored in the nucleus of an atom and can be released when a heavy nucleus is split into two lighter nuclei (fission) or when two light nuclei join together into one bigger nucleus (fusion). The sun generates its energy through nuclear fusion. This energy can also be released to generate electricity.
- Elastic energy is stored in objects that can be stretched or compressed. We feel the tension when things bounce or are stretched.
- Chemical energy is stored in the bonds of molecules. Chemical energy can be found in food, a battery, gasoline and wood. When the energy is released it transforms into another form of energy. The chemical energy in a battery can be transformed into light energy in a flashlight.
- Magnetic energy is stored within a magnetic field and causes metals to attract or repel each other.
- Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. We can see this energy as things move and change position such as a skateboarder, a skier going downhill or a person walking.
- Gravitational energy is stored in an object due to its height and is caused by the pull of gravity. We see the result of this energy when something falls or feel it when we are jumping off a diving board
