Energy Conversions

Activity - Classroom

Grades3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8Biology, Physics, Earth and Space Sciences

Scientist Reviewed

Provided by ExploreLearning

Open Resource

What it is

This interactive web application and accompanying resources allow students to explore where energy comes from and how it powers our lives by tracing the path of energy from the sun as it converts from one form to another.
Students will follow the scientific method by creating a hypothesis, running tests, collecting data, analyzing the data, and drawing conclusions from the results.

Teaching tips

Positives

This resource allows students to explore some renewable energy sources like solar, wind, hydropower, and biomass.

Additional Prerequisites

The accompanying resources include a student exploration sheet, answer key, teacher guide, and vocabulary sheet.
To access the interactive media for more than 5 minutes a day, teachers must create a Gizmo account. The free trial period is currently 30 days.
The student activity and vocabulary sheets are available without signing up, however, the teacher guide and answer key are only available with a subscription.

Differentiation

If students do not have access to devices, teachers can use this resource as a demonstration and work through the activity as a class.
If students have access to devices, this resource can be used as an independent or small group classroom activity, or as a homework assignment.
This resource can be used in physical science, Earth science, or life science classes when learning about energy sources, energy conversion, renewable energy, and the interactions between living and non-living systems.

From the scientist review

Renewable energy sources are visualized and this resource is suitable for students to learn how energy is created and transformed. This resource is recommended for teaching.

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At a glance

Grades: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Subjects: Biology, Physics, Earth and Space Sciences
Other types: Worksheets, Interactive Media
Format: Google Docs, PDF, Microsoft Word
Language: English
Location: Earth
Provider: ExploreLearning
Authors: ExploreLearning
Published: April 27, 2021
Last updated: July 16, 2026
: Reviewed by our climate scientists How we review

Standards alignment · MS-LS2-3. + 6 more

Core

Core Standards legacy

MS-LS2-3.MS-LS2-3. Develop a model to describe the cycling of matter and flow of energy among living and nonliving parts of an ecosystem.
MS-PS1-4.MS-PS1-4. Develop a model that predicts and describes changes in particle motion, temperature, and state of a pure substance when thermal energy is added or removed.
MS-ESS2-4.MS-ESS2-4. Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth's systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
4-ESS3-1.4-ESS3-1. Obtain and combine information to describe that energy and fuels are derived from natural resources and that their uses affect the environment.
5-ESS2-1.5-ESS2-1. Develop a model using an example to describe ways the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and/or atmosphere interact.
5-LS2-1.5-LS2-1. Develop a model to describe the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.
5-PS3-1.5-PS3-1. Use models to describe that energy in animals’ food (used for body repair, growth, motion, and to maintain body warmth) was once energy from the sun.

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Teaching tips

From the scientist review

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