Forms of Energy Teaching Resources
Explore forms of energy in your science classes with experiments, activities and more resources for primary teachers!
From lesson plans on electricity to worksheets about thermal energy, this collection is packed with Australian science curriculum-aligned printables and digital resources created by teachers for teachers like you. You'll save time on your lesson plans with easily editable resources, plus you'll be able to meet your students' needs with differentiated options.
Best of all? Every single resource has been carefully reviewed by the science teachers on the Teach Starter team to ensure it's ready for your classroom and your students!
Is this your first year covering the different forms of energy in your classroom? Or maybe you are just looking for fresh ideas? Read on for a primer from our teacher team, including a look at the two main types that these forms can fall into.
What Are the 2 Types of Energy?
Energy can take a variety of forms — from the mechanical energy involved in stretching a rubberband to the motion energy in a gust of wind — but every form of energy can be classified into just two main types. Before we dive into the long list of forms of energy that exist in the universe, it might help to take a look at these types:
- Potential Energy
- Kinetic Energy
Read on to learn how we explain these types to our students!
What Is Potential Energy? A Kid-Friendly Definition and Example
Potential energy is the energy that an object has because of its position or condition.
Let's say you take out a rubberband and stretch it way, way, way out with your hands. Because it is stretched out, the rubberband is full of potential energy that will help it fly farther when it is finally released!
What Is Kinetic Energy?
Kinetic energy is the energy of an object in motion. This type of energy depends on the object's mass and speed.
Let's look at that rubberband example again! It may have potential energy when it is held in a stretched-out position, but once it is released, the rubberband now has kinetic energy as it flies through the air!
What Are Forms of Energy? Examples for Kids
Now that we've covered the two types of energy, let's look at the different forms of energy that fall under each type. We've developed these explanations to help you as you work with students to gain a deeper understanding of how energy affects people and the environment around us!
4 Forms of Potential Energy
- Elastic Energy —This is the energy that can be found when an object is stretched or compressed. Elastic energy can be found in a coiled spring or a stretched rubber band.
- Nuclear Energy — Nuclear energy is a form of energy that originates from the nucleus, or the core, of an atom. This kind of energy is commonly used to generate electricity, but it requires the process of releasing it from the atom.
- Gravitational Energy — Gravitational energy is the energy an object has due to its position in a gravitational field. For example, if you hold a book high in the air, its height creates the potential for the book to fall. This is its gravitational energy and its potential energy!
- Chemical Energy — This type of energy is stored in atoms and molecules.
5 Forms of Kinetic Energy
- Mechanical Energy — Mechanical energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its motion or position.
- Electrical Energy — This is the energy produced by the flow of electric charges or electrons. The electricity that we use to power our computers and our lights is a form of electrical energy!
- Light Energy — Light energy is the energy that we see as visible light. We can get this energy from natural sources like the sun or human-made sources like the lightbulb.
- Thermal Energy — Also called heat energy, thermal energy is a form that most students have experienced in their lives. It's energy that comes from the heat of an object or system, such as the energy of the sun.
- Sound Energy — This form is the energy produced by vibrations that create sound waves. It's the type of energy involved when we speak or sing, and it's also the energy involved in all the noises produced around us.
- Plus Plan
Forms of Energy – Year 4 Science Experiments for Kids
Investigate mechanical, electrical, light, thermal and sound energy with this set of science activities for kids.
- Free Plan
Electricity Word Wall Vocabulary
Use this teacher-created electricity resource to teach electricity-related vocabulary. Build a word wall with your students during your electricity lessons.
- Plus Plan
Does the Sun Transfer Heat? – Science Experiment
Discover how the sun transfers thermal energy and which objects absorb more heat with this science experiment for kids.
- Plus Plan
Electrical Circuits Wall Display
Create a wall display showing different types of circuits and related vocabulary.
- Free Plan
Insulators and Conductors Worksheet
Identify different insulators and conductors of electrical energy with this worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Insulators and Conductors Sorting Activity
Distinguish between electrical insulators and conductors with a picture-based sorting activity.
- Plus Plan
Electric Avenue - Understanding the Non-contact Force of Electrostatics PowerPoint
A teaching presentation introducing the students to the non-contact force of electrostatics.
- Plus Plan
Voltaic Pile Poster
A poster showing Alessandro Volta's Voltaic Pile.
- Plus Plan
Light Display Banner
A classroom display banner to use on your 'Light' display board.
- Plus Plan
In the Shadows Worksheet
A worksheet that explores the difference between shadows.
- Plus Plan
Light and Shadow - Design an Experiment Worksheet
A worksheet that explores light and shadow and the principles of a fair test.
- Plus Plan
Science Experiment - Shine Bright, Electric Light!
A science experiment that investigates how changes to electrical circuits affects their components.
- Free Plan
Circuit Diagrams Worksheet
A worksheet that explores how to read and write circuit diagrams.
- Plus Plan
What is Heat? Worksheet
A worksheet to help students understand heat energy.
- Plus Plan
Heat Transference Worksheet
A worksheet to help students identify examples of heat transference.
- Plus Plan
Science Experiment - Angles of Reflection
A science experiment that explores reflected light.
- Free Plan
Light Diffraction Poster
A poster explaining the sunlight and its colours.
- Plus Plan
Moving Heat Worksheet
A worksheet to help students understand how heat moves.
- Plus Plan
Refracting Light Task Cards
A set of 5 Task Cards with activities that allow students to observe the refraction of light.
- Plus Plan
In Living Colour Worksheet
A worksheet that explores how we see colour.
- Free Plan
See Light Through Me Worksheet
A worksheet that explores classification of objects according to light transmission.
- Plus Plan
Science Experiment - True Colours
A science experiment that explores the perception of colour.
- Plus Plan
Science Experiment - Lights Line Up!
A science experiment which explores light.
- Plus Plan
It's Electric! - PowerPoint Presentation
A 23 slide editable PowerPoint to use when teaching your students about electricity in Science.
- Plus Plan
Light Word Wall Vocabulary
Sixty light related vocabulary cards for a word wall.
- Plus Plan
Light Display Banner Version 2
A classroom display banner to use on your 'Light' display board.
- Plus Plan
Conductors and Insulators Poster
A poster highlighting conductors and insulators of heat energy.
- Free Plan
Storm's a Comin' - Worksheet
A worksheet to use when exploring sound in science or music.
- Plus Plan
What's in the Box? - Worksheet
A worksheet to use when exploring the concept of light.
- Plus Plan
Let the Sun Shine In! - Worksheet
A worksheet to use when exploring the sun as a light source.
- Plus Plan
Science Experiment - Line Up the Light!
A science experiment which explores how light travels.
- Plus Plan
Electricity: From Plant to Place - Worksheet
A worksheet that explores how electricity is generated and distributed.