Science: Lesson 1 – Introductory sequence
What do you know about energy?

Energy comes in many forms.
There are many sources of energy but most depend on the radiation from the sun or the heat from nuclear reactions inside the earth.

Science:

E&C 3.3 Students identify different ways of obtaining energy.
E&C 4.3 Students present alternative ways of obtaining and using energy (including energy from the sun and from fossil fuels) for particular purposes.
E&C 5.3 Students discuss the consequences of different ways of obtaining and using energy (including nuclear energy).

Students:

establish the scientific meaning of the word 'energy' (details in Fact sheet 3 page 18-19)
brain storm the forms of energy that they know or can identify from an illustration;
view video or segment of it.

If students find this difficult to do and intervention is required Level 3–4 activity 1 or 3 may be useful.

Students:

use critical literacy skills to identify whose 'voice' (opinion or view) is put forward in the video;
explain what the message of the video is;
revisit their original list checking against the forms of energy mentioned in the video.

Extension Students design a poster or a mind map to illustrate issues relevant to the key ideas. (This may be an assessment task.)

Students consider and discuss:

why did earlier residents use the sources and forms of energy that they did;
what other voices (opinions or views) do we need to hear to know whether alternative sources of energy are effective and appropriate;
what do we need to know to develop options for a preferred future?

Extension
Students:

list key words and their meaning relevant to the key ideas to be used in a glossary.

Video:

Power For Sustainable Future
Mining and Energy and Education,
State of Queensland, 2000

Booklet:

Powerwise, Integrated Curriculum Resource,
Unit 2 Electricity Production
Queensland Electricity Industry

Internet: