Energy Teaching Resources
Explore energy in your science classroom with engaging activities, printable worksheets and more teacher resources aligned with the Australian science 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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Sound Energy Interactive Activity
Reinforce your students' understanding of sound energy concepts with this set of 10 interactive activities.
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Insulators and Conductors Poster Set
Teach your students about the characteristics of insulators and conductors with this set of science posters for the classroom.
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Forms of Energy Poster Pack
Display information about mechanical, electrical, light, thermal and sound energy with this poster pack.
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Energy and Electricity Vocabulary Cards
Reinforce science vocabulary in your classroom with this set of word wall cards that focus on forms of energy and electricity.
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Electric Avenue - Understanding the Non-contact Force of Electrostatics PowerPoint
A teaching presentation introducing the students to the non-contact force of electrostatics.
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Light Display Banner
A classroom display banner to use on your 'Light' display board.
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In the Shadows Worksheet
A worksheet that explores the difference between shadows.
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Light Display Banner Version 2
A classroom display banner to use on your 'Light' display board.
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What's in the Box? - Worksheet
A worksheet to use when exploring the concept of light.
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Electricity Investigation - Worksheet
An investigation of whether electricity moves better through different wire gauges.
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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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Electricity Teaching Resource Pack
A collection of electricity posters, worksheets and activities.
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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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It's Electric! Unit Plan
This Physical Sciences unit addresses the principles of electricity. It explores what electricity is, how it is transferred and how energy is transformed to create it.
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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 Physical Sciences unit addresses the concept of heat energy, including heat sources, heat transfer, thermal conductors and thermal insulators.
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Is It Sustainable? Evaluating Sources of Electricity
A 60 minute lesson in which students will consider whether energy sources are sustainable.
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What is Light?
A 60 minute lesson in which students will research the concept of light and generate a list of statements that can be tested.
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Thermal Insulators - Keeping Out the Heat
A 60 minute lesson in which students will investigate which materials are the best 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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Sensational Senses
A 60 minute lesson in which students will explore the five senses and the information they provide.
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Electricity Explained
An assessment task in which students will demonstrate an understanding of energy transfer and transformation when generating electricity.
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Transforming Energy Into Electricity
A 60 minute lesson in which students will investigate how moving air and water can turn turbines to generate electricity.
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Wired Up! - Building Electrical Circuits
A 60 minute lesson in which students will read and draw circuit diagrams.
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Light and Shadow - Design an Experiment
An assessment task in which students will demonstrate an understanding of light and fair testing.
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Reflecting Light
A 60 minute lesson in which students will use mirrors to investigate some of the properties of reflected light.
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Solar Electricity
A 60 minute lesson in which students will investigate the use of solar panels and determine if they are a viable source of electricity.
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Shine Bright, Electric Light!
A 60 minute lesson in which students will investigate how changes to electrical circuits affect their components.
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Feeling the Flow - Electrical Conductors and Insulators
A 60 minute lesson in which students will classify objects as conductors or insulators of electricity.
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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.