Energy Conversions

Where does energy come from? How does energy get from one place to another? Find out how electrical current is generated and how living things get energy to move and grow. Trace the path of energy and see how energy is converted from one form to another.

Launch Gizmo

Learning Objectives

Create energy pathways to show where our energy comes from.
Describe the different forms of energy.
Identify ways that energy is converted from one form to another.
Determine that sunlight is the primary source of most of the usable energy on Earth.
- Solar cells convert sunlight to electricity.
- Sunlight causes wind and rain, powering wind turbines and hydroelectricity.
- Sunlight provides energy for plant growth.
- Plants or plant remains can be burned or eaten to provide energy.
Describe four types of renewable resources. (Extension)

Vocabulary

chemical energy, electrical current, energy, fossil fuel, global warming, gravitational potential energy, hydroelectricity, kinetic energy, light, nonrenewable resource, nuclear energy, renewable resource, sound, thermal energy

Lesson Materials

Student Exploration Sheet

Google Doc PDF MS Word

Exploration Sheet Answer Key

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Assessment Questions

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Teacher Guide

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Vocabulary Sheet

MS Word PDF

Cell Energy Cycle

Explore the processes of photosynthesis and respiration that occur within plant and animal cells. The cyclical nature of the two processes can be constructed visually, and the simplified photosynthesis and respiration formulae can be balanced.

Flower Pollination

Observe the steps of pollination and fertilization in flowering plants. Help with many parts of the process by dragging pollen grains to the stigma, dragging sperm to the ovules, and removing petals as the fruit begins to grow. Quiz yourself when you are done by dragging vocabulary words to the correct plant structure.

Growing Plants

Investigate the growth of three common garden plants: tomatoes, beans, and turnips. You can change the amount of light each plant gets, the amount of water added each day, and the type of soil the seed is planted in. Observe the effect of each variable on plant height, plant mass, leaf color and leaf size. Determine what conditions produce the tallest and healthiest plants. Height and mass data are displayed on tables and graphs.

Plants and Snails

Study the production and use of gases by plants and animals. Measure the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in a test tube containing snails and elodea (a type of plant) in both light and dark conditions. Learn about the interdependence of plants and animals.