Forms of Energy Lesson – Energy Detectives

Energy is present everywhere, both inside and outside of us, and your students will discover this through an exciting and hands-on lesson. Perfect as an introduction or recap for your “Forms of Energy” unit, this activity gets students moving and thinking critically as they hunt for various types of energy in their surroundings.

Lesson Plan Overview:

• Interactive Warm-Up: Start by energizing your students with physical activities like running in place, doing star jumps, or push-ups. Use this moment to explain that their bodies require energy to perform these actions. Introduce the concept that energy exists in multiple forms. To support this, consider using educational videos on YouTube that effectively explain different forms of energy.
• Energy Definitions Worksheet: Provide students with a worksheet to help them define and understand the various forms of energy. You can use a pre-filled sheet or have students fill it out themselves. This worksheet will serve as a useful reference during the main activity.
• Energy Hunt Activity (with Differentiated Record Sheets): Pair up the students and have them walk around your school’s indoor and outdoor spaces for 15-20 minutes. Their task is to identify and record the different forms of energy they observe. The record sheets can be tailored to different learning levels to ensure every student is engaged.
• Class Discussion: After the energy hunt, gather your students for a class discussion. Encourage them to share the types of energy they found and discuss their observations. This activity works well in any weather—don’t hesitate to take the class outside, even if it means putting on rain gear!