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
Heat Conductors Science Experiment (Feel the Heat)
Investigate heat conductors with your students using this engaging science experiment.
- Free Plan
Circuit Diagrams Worksheet
A worksheet that explores how to read and write circuit diagrams.
- Plus Plan
Looking at Light Energy PowerPoint
Teach the wonders of light energy with an engaging slide deck covering light energy for kids!
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It's Electric! - PowerPoint Presentation
A 23 slide editable PowerPoint to use when teaching your students about electricity in Science.
- Plus Plan
Heat Insulators Science Experiment (Keeping Out the Heat)
Investigate heat insulators with your students using this engaging science experiment.
- Free Plan
Circuit Diagram Symbols Poster
A poster that shows a range of symbols used for drawing circuit diagrams.
- Plus Plan
Sound Energy (First Nations Musical Instruments)Teaching Slides
Help your students discover how traditional musical instruments used by First Nations Australians produce their characteristic sounds with this teaching presentation.
- Plus Plan
Build a Pizza Box Pizza Oven - Solar Energy STEM Project
Build a pizza box solar oven to demonstrate the power of thermal energy with an exciting Solar Oven Stem Project
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Year 3 Sources of Heat Worksheet Pack
Learn all about different thermal energy sources with this set of heat worksheets.
- Free Plan
Heat Energy Word Search
Help students remember heat energy vocabulary with this word search.
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Heat Conductors and Insulators Sorting Worksheet
Explore materials and everyday items as heat conductors or heat insulators during your heat energy unit plan with this cut-and paste worksheet.
- Plus Plan
The Heat is On Worksheet
A worksheet to consolidate your students' understanding of heat energy.
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The Wonders of Circuits – Levelled Comprehension Worksheet Pack
Encourage your students to read and learn about circuits with this levelled worksheet pack.
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Sound Energy Project (Rubber Band Musical Instruments)
Use this sound energy experiment to help your students visualise sound using everyday items.
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Forms of Energy & Electricity Vocabulary Worksheets
Review forms of energy and electricity terms with this science vocabulary worksheet pack.
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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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Heat Transference Worksheet
A worksheet to help students identify examples of heat transference.
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Sources of Heat Teaching Slides
Learn about the different sources of heat with this set of engaging teaching slides.
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Electricity: From Plant to Place - Worksheet
A worksheet that explores how electricity is generated and distributed.
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Conductors of Electricity Reading Comprehension Worksheet
Challenge your students to show what they know about electrical conductors with this reading comprehension worksheet.
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Sound Energy (First Nations Instruments) Investigation
Use this sound energy investigation to help your students record their learnings about First Nations traditional instruments and how they produce sound.
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Heat Sources Cut-and-Paste Worksheet
Explore different types of heat sources with your students using this cut-and-paste worksheet.
- 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.
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Heat Sources Poster Set
Display these heat sources posters during your heat energy science unit.
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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.
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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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Conductors and Insulators Poster
A poster highlighting conductors and insulators of heat energy.
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Types of Circuits Interactive Task Cards
Test your students’ knowledge of different types of circuits with this set of 24 interactive task cards.
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Conductors and Insulators Teaching Slides
Teach your students about insulators and conductors of thermal and electrical energy with this set of teaching slides.
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Heat Transfer Posters
Display these posters to check understanding or reinforce the teaching and learning of how heat energy transfers.
- Plus Plan
Electrical Insulators Reading Comprehension Worksheet
Discover the shockingly interesting world of electrical insulators with our downloadable reading comprehension worksheet.