C. Matter and Energy · Energy in Our Lives

What Is Energy?

C2.1 A1.2 A1.5About 35 minutes

Learning goals

I can explain that energy is what makes things move or change.
I can find examples of energy making things move or change around me.
I can do a test to see how more energy makes a toy move farther.

Words to know

energy
The ability to move or change something. You cannot hold energy, but you can see what it does.

move
To go from one place to another, or change position.

change
To become different, like ice melting, bread toasting or a room getting brighter.

predict
To say what you think will happen before you test it.

Wake up!

In the morning you jump out of bed. The toaster turns bread into brown, crunchy toast. The light turns on and the dark room becomes bright. Outside, the wind blows the leaves.

What do all of these have in common? They all need energy!

Two slices of toast popping up from a metal toaster on a sunny kitchen counter. — The toaster uses energy to change soft bread into brown, crunchy toast. Energy makes things change! AI-generated image

What is energy?

Energy is the ability to move or change something.

You cannot hold energy in your hand. But you can see what it does:

Energy makes things move: a ball rolls, a car drives, you run.
Energy makes things change: ice melts, popcorn pops, a room lights up, water gets hot.

What happens	Move or change?	Where the energy comes from
⚽ You kick a ball and it rolls	move	you (your body, from food)
🍃 Leaves blow across the yard	move	the wind
🧊 An ice cube melts on a sunny step	change	the sun's heat
🍞 Bread turns into toast	change	electricity in the toaster
💡 A dark room becomes bright	change	electricity in the light bulb
🛷 A sled slides down a hill	move	you pulled it up the hill; now it slides down

Energy makes things move or change

Is it energy?

Ask yourself: Did something move or change? If yes, energy was used.

A book sitting on a shelf is not moving or changing. When you pick it up, your body uses energy to move it.

More energy, more movement

If you push a toy car gently, it rolls a little way. If you push it harder, you give it more energy, and it rolls farther and faster.

🚗➡️

A gentle push: the car rolls a short way.

🚗➡️➡️➡️➡️

A hard push gives the car more energy: it rolls farther.

Worked example

Let's find the energy

Look at this picture of a winter day. Where do you see energy moving or changing something?

⛸️ kids skating · ❄️ snow falling · 🔥 a fire in the fireplace · 💨 wind blowing a flag

Kids skating: They are moving. The energy comes from their bodies.
Snow falling: The snow is moving down to the ground.
Fire: The wood is changing into ash, and it gives off heat and light that warm the room.
Wind: It moves the flag.

Energy is everywhere! Every time something moves or changes, energy is being used.

Worked example

Let's do a fair test: the ramp

Does a toy car go farther if it starts higher on a ramp?

Make a ramp: Lean a piece of cardboard or a book on 1 book. Mark where the car stops with tape.
Make it higher: Lean the ramp on 3 books. Use the same car and let it go the same way (don't push it).
Predict: I think the car will go farther from the higher ramp.
Test and observe: Let it go. Mark where it stops. Compare the two pieces of tape.

The car goes farther from the higher ramp. Lifting it higher gives it more energy to move. We changed only the height, so it was a fair test.

Just for fun

Riddle: What starts small and hard, gets hot, and then goes POP?

A popcorn kernel! Heat energy changes it into a fluffy snack.

Hands-on activity

Ramp racers

You need: a toy car or a ball, a piece of cardboard or a cutting board for a ramp, books, tape or sticky notes.

Build a ramp on 1 book. Let the car go from the top (no pushing!). Mark where it stops with a sticky note.
Raise the ramp to 2 books. Predict first: farther or shorter? Let it go and mark where it stops.
Try 3 books.
Draw a picture of your 3 tests. Which went farthest?
Tell your grown-up: "When the ramp was higher, the car had more energy, so it..."

What to look for: The higher ramp should make the car roll farther. If a test is surprising, try it again. Scientists repeat tests!

Your turn

What is energy?

A balloon pops. Is that a move or a change?

Where does the energy come from that makes a kite fly?

Name 2 things in your home that use energy to make something change.

You throw a ball gently, then hard. Which throw gives the ball more energy?

Is a sleeping cat using energy? Explain.

More practice: warm-up

Does a bike move by itself, or do you give it energy?

Ice melts into water. Is that a move or a change?

Name one thing the wind can move.

True or false: You can see energy itself.

What makes a light bulb light up?

More practice: on your own

Popcorn kernels pop in a pot. What energy is changing them?

Sara slides down a short hill and a tall hill. Which slide gives her more energy?

In the ramp test, why do we let the car go without pushing it?

A snowman melts on a warm spring day. What gives the energy?

Name something that both moves and changes.

Challenge

A wind-up toy walks across the table and then stops. Why does it stop?

Your ramp car stopped on the carpet sooner than on the wooden floor. Why might that be?

Think of a time today when you used energy to change something. Explain.

Check your understanding

Quiz

Energy is...

Which shows energy making something move?

Which shows energy making something change?

Which push gives a toy car more energy?

A car rolls down a ramp. Where should you start it to make it go farthest?

Where does a kite get energy to fly?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: Energy is the ability to move or change something. We cannot see energy directly, but we see what it does.

Common difficulties:

Thinking energy is a thing you can hold. Say "The battery stores energy" or "The food gives you energy", and focus on what energy does.
Only thinking of "being energetic". Children often connect energy only to running around. Point out energy in toasters, wind, lights and melting snow.
Unfair tests. In the ramp test, the only thing that should change is the height of the ramp (A1.2).

How to help: Play "Move or change?" around the house: the kettle (change), the washing machine (move and change), the fan (move). Ask "Where does the energy come from?" Make predictions before every test.