Forms of Energy Teaching Resources
Explore forms of energy in your science classes with experiments, activities and more resources for teachers!
From lesson plans on electricity to worksheets about thermal energy, this collection is packed with NGSS 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 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.
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Electricity Crossword Puzzle
Review vocabulary for electricity concepts with a science crossword puzzle.
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Electrical Insulators Reading Comprehension Worksheet
Discover the shockingly interesting world of electrical insulators with our downloadable reading comprehension worksheet.
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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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Conductors and Insulators Worksheet
Use this insulators and conductors worksheet with your students to practice identifying the characteristics of thermal and electrical energy.
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Simple Circuit Diagram
Spark curiosity and illuminate young minds with the wonders of electricity. Download this simple circuit diagram to light up your classroom!
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How Do Circuits Work? Worksheet
Guide your students to create a diagram that shows complete and incomplete circuits and explain their function with this worksheet.
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Electricity and Circuits Guided Notes
Use this set of guided notes when teaching your students about electricity and circuits.
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Parts of a Circuit Worksheet
Guide your students to identify and label the 4 parts of a circuit with this electrical circuit worksheet.
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The History of Electricity - Reading Comprehension Worksheet
Read to learn about the history of electricity with a pack of printable Reading Comprehension worksheets.
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Famous Inventor Fact File - Alessandro Volta Comprehension Worksheet
Read and learn about Alessandro Volta and his amazing innovations with a Fact File reading passage and comprehension worksheet.
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Forms of Energy – Science Experiments for Kids
Investigate mechanical, electrical, light, thermal, and sound energy with this set of science activities for kids.
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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.
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Energy of the Sun Worksheet
Investigate and record the amount of energy from the sun with this science experiment for kids.
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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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Energy and Electricity Crossword Puzzle
Reinforce science vocabulary with an energy and electricity crossword puzzle.
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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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Circuits Bulletin Board Display
Create a bulletin board displaying different types of circuits and related vocabulary.
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Electricity and Circuits Instructional Slide Deck
Use our editable instructional slide deck to break down the fundamentals of electricity and circuits for your students.
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Understanding Insulators Teaching Slides
Teach your students about electrical and thermal insulators with this teaching presentation.
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Insulators and Conductors Worksheet
Identify different insulators and conductors of thermal and electrical energy with this worksheet.
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Insulators & Conductors Sorting Activity
Distinguish between insulators and conductors with a picture-based sorting activity.
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Forms of Energy PowerPoint
An editable PowerPoint to use when teaching about the different forms of energy.
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Forms of Energy Foldable
A foldable to use when learning about the different forms of energy.
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Heat Transfer Worksheet
A worksheet to practice identifying the methods of heat transfer.
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Thermal Energy Transfer Sorting Activity
Learn about conduction, convection, and radiation with this set of 24 sorting cards.
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All About Heat Transfer
Challenge your students to show what they know about conduction, convection, and radiation by identifying examples of each.
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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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Thermal Energy Transfer Foldable
A foldable to use when learning about the three types of thermal energy transfer.
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Kinetic and Potential Energy: Pendulum Experiment
A science experiment to use with your students when learning about kinetic and potential energy and work.
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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.