Embedded Files
PHYSICAL SCIENCE
ENERGY
ENERGY
Lessons are intended to take 1-2 days to complete (1.5-2 weeks)
Table of Contents
Click on the link in the Table of Contents to be taken to the lesson below.
Energy (Don't) Feel the Heat
6.PS.2 Changes of state are explained by a model of matter composed of particles that are in motion.
Weekly Overview: In this project based series of lessons, students will explore different forms of energy and energy transfer. Students will use their understanding from the first few lessons and are invited to design, build, and test a device or package to control the flow of thermal energy? Daily lessons are flexible. The first few lessons combine topics of reading and product design and final letter to client can take more than one day to complete.
Lessons developed by Corrie Nelson
Thermal Energy and Temperature
Thermal Energy and Temperature
Description: Students will be introduced to thermal energy and temperature. Students will discover how a thermometer can measure temperature with a liquid that expands when it gets warmer and contracts when it gets cooler. They will also be introduced to the Kelvin scale for measuring temperature.
Link: Click here to open the Google Slides
Heat and Conduction
Heat and Conduction
Description: Students will define heat and specific heat and be able to describe how thermal energy is transferred. They will also explore the concept of conduction and how it occurs.
Link: Click here to open the Google Slides
Convection and Thermal Radiation
Convection and Thermal Radiation
Description: Students will explore the concept of convection and how convection and convection currents occur. Students will also be introduced to Thermal Radiation and how this is transferred.
Link: Click here to open the Google Slides
Heat, Temperature and Thermal Energy Activity
Heat, Temperature and Thermal Energy Activity
Description: Students will participate in an investigation activity synthesizing their understandings of heat, temperature, and thermal energy.
Link: Click here to open the Google Slides
Stop Heat from Escaping Activity
Stop Heat from Escaping Activity
Description: Students will conduct a scientific experiment to determine which type of insulation conserves the most energy. They will learn about different kinds of insulation materials and that insulation prevents the transfer of heat, electricity or sound. Students will collect data, make calculations, and then compare and discuss their results.
(Don't) Feel The Heat Product Design Activity
(Don't) Feel The Heat Product Design Activity
Description: Based on their understanding from previous lessons, students will develop a plan to design a product for a client to control the flow of thermal energy. Students are invited to test their invention and measure how well it works and draft a letter or create a video for their client explaining the science behind and invention of their product and how their product meets the client’s needs.
TAKING IT FURTHER
TAKING IT FURTHER
Energy
PS.EW.1: Conservation of energy Energy content learned in middle school, specifically conservation of energy and the basic differences between kinetic and potential energy, is elaborated on and quantified in this course. Energy has no direction and has units of joules (J). Kinetic energy, Ek, can be mathematically represented by Ek = 1⁄2mv2. Gravitational potential energy, Eg, can be mathematically represented by Eg = mgh. The amount of gravitational potential energy of an object is measured relative to a reference that is considered to be at a point of zero energy. The reference may be changed to help understand different situations. Only the change in the amount of energy can be measured absolutely. The conservation of energy and equations for kinetic and gravitational potential energy can be used to calculate values associated with energy (e.g., height, mass, speed) for situations involving energy transfer and transformation. Opportunities to quantify energy from data collected in experimental situations (e.g., a swinging pendulum, a car traveling down an incline) should be provided.
Lessons developed by Paula Roberts
Energy: What it is, Types, Conversion
Energy: What it is, Types, Conversion
Description: Students review the fundamentals of energy, the types of energy and energy conversion to illicit previous knowledge of the content. They will exhibit understanding through multiple reflective and creative short writing assignments.
Explore a Skatepark
Explore a Skatepark
Description: Students apply the content including types of energy and energy conversion through formulating a testable question and hypothesis as well as designing and running an investigation using a skatepark simulation.
Link: Click Here for Google Slides
The World of Roller Coasters
The World of Roller Coasters
Description: Students will recall the information learned about KE and PE from the Skatepark lesson and apply it to a roller coaster. They will then expand their knowledge to understand how loops and hills of differing heights affect the movement of a roller coaster. Finally, students will determine the limitations that exist in roller coaster design.
What's a Trebuchet?
What's a Trebuchet?
Description: Students will learn about a medieval weapon called a trebuchet. They will see the scientific process and engineering design in action and they will gain an understanding of how the weapon uses the conversion of potential energy to kinetic energy to move very massive objects.
Link: Click Here for Google Slides
Time to Design
Time to Design
Description: Students will consider the importance of gravity and why we need it in our world. They will then learn more about the concerns of designing using the force of gravity in regard to potential and kinetic energy. Finally, students will design a roller coaster or a trebuchet that is competitive against classmates.
Link: Click Here for Google Slides
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