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Where does energy come from?

Where does energy come from?

Lesson narration:
Scroll for prep
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DISCUSS:

What changed? Why was Doug's childhood life so much easier than his great-grandma’s?

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DISCUSS (1 of 2):

So far, what are the advantages (good parts) of getting energy by burning coal?

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DISCUSS (2 of 2):

Besides coal and wood, what other sources of energy have YOU heard of that you burn to release energy?

Hint...

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DISCUSS:

What kinds of alternative sources of energy have you heard of?

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# Extensions
Below are ideas for extending this topic beyond the Exploration and Activity you just completed.
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# Readings about Renewable Energy Sources

These readings are free with registration at Newsela or Readworks, both excellent sources of supplemental reading.

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# Readings about solar energy

These readings are free with registration on Newsela. Readings can be adjusted for reading level. A writing prompt and a quiz question are available for each reading.

  • Read about groups who want to bring solar power to more communities. (Grade 3)

  • This article describes a new solar panel that can make power from sunlight and rain. (Grade 3)

  • This reading introduces a Thai street vendor who cooks chicken with sunlight. (Grade 4)

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# Activity: Solar Oven

If you live somewhere with sunny weather, consider building a solar oven to make s’mores, a tasty treat.

You’ll find instructions here on NASA’s Climate Kids site. If you’d like the instructions as a pdf, scroll to the bottom of the page and look for “download this activity as a pdf.”

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# Videos about Energy Sources
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energy


1 of 17

the ability to do an action
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electricity (electrical energy)


2 of 17

a type of energy, such as what usually powers light bulbs
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windmill


3 of 17

a large structure that can turn wind into other forms of energy
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wind energy (wind power)


4 of 17

energy of moving air; a renewable resource
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solar panel


5 of 17

a panel that can absorb the Sun's light to use as a source of energy
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solar energy (solar power)


6 of 17

energy from the Sun that can warm things up and be made into electricity; a renewable resource
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hydroelectric energy (water energy)


7 of 17

using energy from flowing water to spin turbines to make electricity; a renewable resource
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turbine


8 of 17

a machine that can turn the movement of wind and water into energy
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coal


9 of 17

a dark rock made of fossil plants that can be burned and used for fuel
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heat energy (thermal energy)


10 of 17

energy that is in the form of heat
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pollution


11 of 17

something harmful in the environment
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natural gas


12 of 17

a type of gas that can be used as a source of energy
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renewable resource


13 of 17

a natural resource that exists in a limitless amount, such as wind
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nonrenewable resource


14 of 17

a natural resource with a limited amount, such as coal
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invent


15 of 17

to create something new, often an object or a way of doing something
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engineer


16 of 17

a person who uses science to come up with solutions to problems
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graph


17 of 17

an image that helps you understand information
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Image & Video Credits

Mystery Science respects the intellectual property rights of the owners of visual assets. We make every effort to use images and videos under appropriate licenses from the owner or by reaching out to the owner to get explicit permission. If you are the owner of a visual and believe we are using it without permission, please contact us—we will reply promptly and make things right.

Other
100 year old woman by Dan Negureanu
1945 firewood collection Berlin by Archival collection
AC window unit by Your best digs
Blue fire by Only Backgrounds
Blue flame by Mehmet Cetin
Boiling water by Arsenyg
Boy in shopping cart by Melbourne's biggest family album
Boy looking out winter by Maja Marjanovic
Boy mountain bikes by Collin Quinn
Burning wood by Love and Rock
Chemistry by Olivier Le Queinec
Coal Pile by Oleandra
Coal Pile by Oleandra
Coal chute by Overcrew
Coal miner working by Desperado
Coals by Rostislaw RST
Digital thermostat by Topseller
Electric heater by Freer
Electric power tower by QuiJu Song
Five Generations by Adam Selwood
Florence Italy, 1890 by North Wind Picture Archives
Horse and hay by Tasmanian archive
Kids around a camp fire by VIA Films
Malabotta Wood, forest by Diego Barucco
Man at computer by Director photo collection
Old Venetian courtyard by Niday Picture Library
Outlet by Rhonda Roth
Pumping gas by Dapoppta
Refrigerator door open by Marcello
Shipping containers by Lynn Media Global
Smoke village in winter by Grishayev
Smokey chimney by I'm Visuals Pictures
Tea kettle by Tedgun
Timber truck by tidepool stock
Tinder by AmyLv
Train fire, shovel by DocDop
Woman grocery shopping by 06 Photo
Wood burner stove by Andy Rogers
Lesson narration:

Activity Prep

Print Prep

In this lesson, students analyze the advantages and disadvantages of different sources of energy, including burnable fuels and alternative (renewable) energies. In the activity, Power this Town, students obtain and combine information about wind energy, solar energy, and water energy. They use this information to determine the best alternative energy sources for a town called Boulderville.

Preview activity

Exploration

21 mins

Wrap-Up

4 mins

Extend this lesson