Energy Sources
Background Information & Activities

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Help children understand the differences between renewable and non-renewable sources of energy. Share different ways to conserve energy and promote ecologically conscious daily habits so children can become more responsible global citizens. This movie will review different sources of energy, including fossil fuels like natural gas and petroleum, and explore alternative sources of energy, including wind, solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric power. You may want to extend the topic by screening the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle movie.

Review with children that energy is the ability to do work or change. Many cars burn gasoline for energy, we use electricity to power our homes, and we may use natural gas in our stoves and ovens to cook. Brainstorm different ways we use energy in our daily lives. Be sure to discuss how individual items we use, such as pencils and paper, rely on fuel or energy to get manufactured. Gasoline powered the vehicles used to harvest wood, and the machines used to make pencils or process wood pulp for paper most likely relied on natural gas or electricity. Help children understand how we rely on sources of energy. Remind children that sources of energy can be non-renewable or renewable.

Review with children that fossil fuels are fuels formed in the earth and made from the remains of plants and animals. Fossil fuels take millions of years to form, so they are not easily or quickly made or replaced. For example, coal is a fossil fuel. Coal is a type of rock that burns easily, so some power plants burn coal to generate, or make, electricity. Crude oil, or petroleum, is also a fossil fuel. We use it to make gasoline and kerosene, and many people use it to heat their homes. We also use petroleum to manufacture plastic. Natural gas is the gas released by plants and animals as they decay over millions of years. We mine natural gas and use it in our homes. Help children realize that billions of people around the world rely on these fossil fuels, and we're using them faster than they can be replaced. Today, about 92% of our energy sources in the United States are non-renewable. Burning fossil fuels causes pollution, releases greenhouse gases into our atmosphere, and contributes to global climate change.

Renewable forms of energy are much friendlier to our environment. Review with children that renewable energy includes forms of energy that can be replaced easily. People have been using wind and water power for thousands of years. Vikings, ancient Egyptians, and ancient Romans utilized wind and water power in different ways to help them do work. Now we use wind to generate electricity that can power entire communities. Wind turns a turbine, and the rotors generate electricity, which can travel through power lines to reach communities. Dams use the energy of flowing water to turn turbines and generate electricity. Many children will have encountered a solar-powered calculator or toy. Explain that solar cells use sunlight to generate electricity to power the device, and today solar farms can provide power to communities. Remind children that wind power, hydroelectric energy, and solar power are renewable sources.

Help children become aware of their energy consumption. Brainstorm different ways to conserve, or save, energy at home or at school. For example, children can turn off the lights when they are not needed, open windows to cool off instead of running energy-draining fans and air conditioners, or put on an extra sweater to stay warm instead of turning up the thermostat. To save fossil fuels, children can use public transportation or carpools, or they can ride their bikes or walk to where they need to go. Even cutting down a few trips in the car contributes to a cleaner environment. Each of us can also make smarter decisions when we buy items. We can choose to purchase things made from recycled materials or items that have less wasteful packaging, since packaging takes a considerable amount of water and energy to manufacture. There are plenty of ways we can all be more responsible global citizens. Brainstorm different ways and share tips with each other.

See more lesson plans and resources: BrainPOP Educators.

Energy Sources Teacher Activities

© 1999-2012 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

Solar Power

Have students research different devices, machines, or vehicles that use solar power. Tell children that the International Space Station runs on solar power! Students may be surprised to discover what can be powered by the Sun's energy. Have individuals or partners pick one solar-powered item and prepare a presentation for the whole class. Students may want to create a poster or even make a model of their findings. How might a solar-powered calculator be better for the environment than one that uses disposable batteries or one that plugs into a wall socket?

Wind Power

Explain to students that the shape of windmill blades can help them turn faster and work more efficiently. Research a few wind turbines together and compare and contrast the blades. Then as a simple engineering project, challenge small groups to come up with different designs of pinwheels using paper, pushpins, and straws. Which shape turns the fastest? Why? Have groups test their pinwheels outside on a particularly windy day. They can count the number of rotations per minute to test their shapes. Encourage them to record their findings and then share their pinwheels and data with the class.

Energy Sources Family Activities

© 1999-2012 BrainPOP. All rights reserved.

Green Improvement

As a design challenge, have your child improve a device or machine by making it "greener" and friendlier to the environment. Ask questions to help him or her start the thinking process: What makes the device successful or what do you like about the device? What can be improved? What kind of power does it use? How can you incorporate renewable sources of energy to help it function? Your child can sketch pictures or diagrams or write specifications to flesh out ideas. He or she could even make a digital prototype using online tools or a physical model using blocks, clay, or other material.

Plugged In

Did you know that when appliances are plugged in, but not in use, they still consume energy? Some appliances, such as refrigerators, are always plugged in because they are constantly used. However, other appliances such as coffee makers may be plugged in even when they are not in use. Have your child go through your home and make a record of every item that is plugged into a wall socket. The results may surprise you. What appliances should be plugged in? What can only be plugged in when used? See how much you can save on your energy bill!