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.
- Free Plan
Circuit Diagram Symbols Poster
A poster that shows a range of symbols used for drawing circuit diagrams.
- Plus Plan
Energy of the Sun Worksheet
Investigate and record the amount of energy from the sun with this science experiment for kids.
- Plus Plan
It's Electric! - PowerPoint Presentation
A 23 slide editable PowerPoint to use when teaching your students about electricity in Science.
- Plus Plan
Heat Sources Poster Set
Display these heat sources posters during your heat energy science unit.
- Free Plan
Circuit Diagrams Worksheet
A worksheet that explores how to read and write circuit diagrams.
- Free Plan
Introduction to Electricity Worksheet
A worksheet that explores the concept of electricity.
- Plus Plan
Light Fantastic PowerPoint
A 21 slide editable PowerPoint to use when teaching your students about light in Science.
- Plus Plan
The Wonders of Circuits – Levelled Comprehension Worksheet Pack
Encourage your students to read and learn about circuits with this levelled worksheet pack.
- Plus Plan
Heat Sources Cut-and-Paste Worksheet
Explore different types of heat sources with your students using this cut-and-paste worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Conductors of Electricity Reading Comprehension Worksheet
Challenge your students to show what they know about electrical conductors with this reading comprehension worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Heat Transfer Posters
Display these posters to check understanding or reinforce the teaching and learning of how heat energy transfers.
- Free Plan
Heat Energy Word Search
Help students remember heat energy vocabulary with this word search.
- Plus Plan
Heat Conductors Science Experiment (Feel the Heat)
Investigate heat conductors with your students using this engaging science experiment.
- Plus Plan
What is Heat? Poster
Explore the concept of heat energy with this classroom poster.
- Plus Plan
Electrical Circuits Wall Display
Create a wall display showing different types of circuits and related vocabulary.
- Free Plan
See Light Through Me Worksheet
A worksheet that explores classification of objects according to light transmission.
- Plus Plan
Year 3 Sources of Heat Worksheet Pack
Learn all about different thermal energy sources with this set of heat worksheets.
- Plus Plan
Heat Insulators Science Experiment (Keeping Out the Heat)
Investigate heat insulators with your students using this engaging science experiment.
- Plus Plan
Heat Sources Sorting Activity
Explore various sources of heat with this printable sorting activity for your students.
- 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
All About Circuits Mini-Book
Use this mini-book to teach your students about the different types of circuits, symbols, their components and much more.
- Plus Plan
Sound Energy Project (Buzzing Balloons)
Engage your class with this sound energy exploration! This simple experiment will show students how sound is produced by a source and can be sensed.
- Free Plan
Forms of Energy (Heat, Light and Sound) Worksheet
Guide your students to identify different forms of energy with this cut and paste worksheet.
- Plus Plan
Year 3 Heat Energy Vocabulary Cards
Explore heat energy vocabulary with this set of thermal energy vocabulary cards.
- Free Plan
Design a Musical Instrument Worksheet
A worksheet that can be used as a design technology task that explores the science of sound.
- Plus Plan
Sources of Heat Teaching Slides
Learn about the different sources of heat with this set of engaging teaching slides.
- Plus Plan
What is Heat? Thermal Energy Teaching Slides
Guide students through learning about thermal energy with this set of ‘What is Heat?’ teaching slides.
- Plus Plan
Electricity and Circuits Teaching Slides for Year 6
Use our editable teaching slides to break down the fundamentals of electricity and circuits for your students.
- Plus Plan
How Do Circuits Work? Worksheet for Year 6
Guide your students to create a diagram that shows complete and incomplete circuits and explain their function with this worksheet.
- Plus Plan
What is Heat? Worksheet
A worksheet to help students understand heat energy.
- 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.