Energy Teaching Resources
Explore energy in your science classroom with engaging activities, printable worksheets and more teacher resources aligned with the NGSS curriculum.
This collection of teacher-created resources covers everything you need to introduce primary students to sound, light, heat, electricity and so much more! Save time on your lesson plans with easily editable resources and differentiated options that have been carefully reviewed by the science teachers on the Teach Starter team to ensure they're ready for your classroom and your students.
Is this your first year engaging kids on the topic of energy? Or maybe you are just looking for fresh ideas? Read on for a help from our teacher team!
What Is Energy? A Kid-Friendly Definition
Ever wish you had a script handy to introduce any topic to your class for the first time? We hear you! The Teach Starter site is packed with kid-friendly definitions made just for teachers! Here's one that we use to explain what energy means to our students:
Energy is the ability to do work or cause change. It's found all around us — even when we can't see it — making things happen!
For example, energy is what makes a lightbulb glow or creates the sound we hear when we play a musical instrument.
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Heat Transfer: Radiation Guided Notes
A set of guided notes to use when teaching about radiation.
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Identifying Forms of Energy Worksheet
A worksheet to practice identifying different forms of energy.
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Forms of Energy Task Cards
A set of 12 task cards to practice identifying forms of energy found in everyday tasks.
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Light Diffraction Poster
A poster explaining the sunlight and its colors.
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Electricity Experiment
An experiment to investigate if electricity moves better through different gage wires.
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The Energy Cycle - Worksheet
A worksheet for students to sequence the steps of the energy cycle.
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Science Experiment - True Colors
A science experiment that explores the perception of color.
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In the Shadows Worksheet
A worksheet that explores the difference between shadows.
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Science Experiment - Angles of Reflection
A science experiment that explores reflected light.
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Refracting Light Task Cards
A set of 5 Task Cards with activities that allow students to observe the refraction of light.
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Science Experiment - Shine Bright, Electric Light!
A science experiment that investigates how changes to electrical circuits affects their components.
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Light Display Banner
A classroom display banner to use on your 'Light' display board.
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Light Display Banner Version 2
A classroom display banner to use on your 'Light' display board.
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Storm's a Comin' - Worksheet
A worksheet to use when exploring sound in science or music.
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It's Electric! - PowerPoint Presentation
Teach your students about electricity with this editable 23-slide teaching PowerPoint.
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What's in the Box? - Worksheet
A worksheet to use when exploring the concept of light.
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Let the Sun Shine In! - Worksheet
A worksheet to use when exploring the sun as a light source.
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Introduction to Electricity Worksheet
A worksheet that explores the concept of electricity.
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How Does a Flashlight Work? Energy Transfer Worksheet
Explore the inner workings of a flashlight and discover how energy flows through a circuit with a printable Energy Transfer Worksheet.
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Light Teaching Resource Pack
A comprehensive set of posters, activities and worksheets related to the concept of light.
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Heat Energy Teaching Resource Pack
A comprehensive set of posters, activities and worksheets related to the concept of heat energy.
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Light Fantastic Unit Plan
This Physical Sciences unit addresses the properties of light. It explores the phenomena of reflection, refraction, shadow and more.
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Light and Sound Unit Plan
This Physical Sciences unit addresses the concepts of light and sound and how they are sensed.
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The Heat is On Unit Plan
This science unit addresses the concept of heat energy, including heat sources, heat transfer, thermal conductors, and thermal insulators.
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Design a Musical Instrument
An assessment task in which students will demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of sound.
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Sound Research
A 60 minute lesson in which students will investigate how sound travels.
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Sounds of Change
A 60 minute lesson in which students will investigate if the pitch and volume of sounds can be changed.
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Make a Sound
A 60 minute lesson in which students will investigate if similar sounds can be made in different ways.
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C'mon, Feel the Noise
A 60 minute lesson in which students will explore sound and how it is made.
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Line Up the Light
A 60 minute lesson in which students will investigate if light travels in a straight line.
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No Light, No Sight
A 60 minute lesson in which students will investigate if light is needed in order to see.
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Let the Sun Shine In
A 60 minute lesson in which students will explore sources of light and identify the sun as a light source.