FORMS OF ENERGY – LESSON PLAN 2.

Electrical Energy
This lesson is designed for 3rd – 5th grade students in a variety of school settings Public School
(public, private, STEM schools, and home schools) in the seven states served by System Teaching
local power companies and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Community groups Standards Covered
(Scouts, 4-H, after school programs, and others) are encouraged to use it as well.
State
This is one lesson from a three-part series designed to give students an age- Science Standards
appropriate, informed view of energy. As their understanding of energy grows, it will • KY SC-4-ET-U-3 4
th

enable them to make informed decisions as good citizens or civic leaders.

Common Core
Language Arts/Reading
This lesson plan is suitable for all types of educational settings. Each lesson can be
• ELA.CCSS.W.4.1 KY 4
th

adapted to meet a variety of class sizes, student skill levels, and time requirements. • ELA.CCSS.W.4.3 KY 4
th

Setting Lesson Plan Selections Recommended for Use

Smaller class size, • The “Modeling” Section contains teaching content.
higher student • While in class, students can do “Guided Practice,” complete the
ability, and /or “Recommended Item(s)” and any additional guided practice items the teacher
longer class length might select from “Other Resources.”
• NOTE: Some lesson plans do and some do not contain “Other Resources.”
• At home or on their own in class, students can do “Independent Practice,”
complete the “Recommended Item(s)” and any additional independent
practice items the teacher selects from “Other Resources” (if provided in the
plan).
Average class • The “Modeling” Section contains teaching content.
size, student • While in class, students complete “Recommended Item(s)” from “Guided
ability, and class Practice” section.
length • At home or on their own in class, students complete “Recommended Item(s)”
from “Independent Practice” section.
Larger class size, • The “Modeling” Section contains teaching content.
lower student • At home or on their own in class, students complete “Recommended Item(s)”
ability, and/or from “Independent Practice” section.
shorter class
length

Electrical Safety Reminder: Teachers should remind students that electricity is dangerous and that
an adult should be present when any recommended activities or worksheets are being completed at
home. Always obey instructions on warning labels and ensure one has dry hands when touching
electronics or appliances.

Performance Objectives
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
• Explain the purpose of electrical energy.
• Describe how electricity works.
• Identify how electrical energy is measured.

LESSON PLAN: LESSON 2.8 – ELECTRICAL ENERGY Page 1 of 5

I. Anticipatory Set (Attention Grabber)
Essential Question

How is electricity created?

Videos

• Short video explaining electrical energy and how it works to produce light and heat:
http://www.eschooltoday.com/energy/kinds-of-energy/what-is-electrical-energy.html

• Bill Nye the Science Guy video on energy/electricity: http://www.billnye.com

II. Modeling (Concepts to Teach)

When electrons are forced to move along a path in a conducting substance such as a wire, the result is energy
called electricity. Electrical energy is energy carried by moving electrons along this pathway. Conductors of
electricity do a good job of allowing the flow of electrons. Metals are good conductors and that is why most
electrical circuits use metal wires. Although electricity cannot be seen, it is one of the most useful forms of energy.

http://www.petervaldivia.com/technology/electricity/moving-charges.php

LESSON PLAN: LESSON 2.8 – ELECTRICAL ENERGY Page 2 of 5

Power plants do not create electrical energy, however. Since energy is neither created nor destroyed, according
to The Law of Conservation of Energy, electrical energy is a result of energy transformations. For example,
power plants can convert chemical energy stored in fuels into thermal energy, which evaporates water into steam,
which produces mechanical energy as it moves through turbines. The turbines spin generators, which in turn
produce electricity. This electrical energy is used to power lights, heaters, and appliances in homes.

Electrical energy is also seen in the form of static electricity. Static electricity is the build-up of charge (electrons)
in one location. (Static means to “stay still”, or in “one location”.) When this build-up of charge is released, the
electrons will flow giving off heat, light (lightning), and sound (thunder) in the process.

Read article: http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/natural-disasters/lightning.htm

Electrical Potential is the potential energy a charge has due to its location in an electrical field. Electrical
potential is measured in volts (electrical potential energy per charge). The unit “volt” is named after the Italian
physicist Alessandro Volta who invented what is considered to be the first chemical battery. Since electrical
potential is measured in volts, it is commonly called voltage. Voltage is the amount of potential energy between
two points on a circuit.

III. Checking for Understanding

Teachers can ask students these questions to determine understanding of concepts.

REMEMBER What is electrical energy? How is electrical energy measured? (Class discussion)

UNDERSTAND Explain static electricity. (Class discussion)

ANALYZE Investigate how energy is converted into electricity. (Class discussion)

Create a small electric circuit. (Teachers and students work together to draw a diagram of
CREATE a circuit on the board or review the following online circuit exercise:
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/electricitycircuits.html)

LESSON PLAN: LESSON 2.8 – ELECTRICAL ENERGY Page 3 of 5

IV. Guided Practice Ideas
Recommended Item
Electricity Circuit Experiment (see below)

Experiments
• Electricity Circuit Experiments:
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/electricitycircuits.html
• Experiments (Kids Beginner Electronics, Solar Energy, How To Make a Generator Work):
http://sciencewithkids.com/Experiments/Energy-Electricity-Experiments/energy-experiments.html

Games
• Interactive Game – Energy Zone: http://www.kidsenergyzone.com/

V. Independent Practice Ideas

Recommended Items
Scavenger Hunt: Energy in Your home (see below); Electricity Worksheet and Answer Key provided

Other Resources
Personal Practice
• Writing Activity: Teachers write the following questions on the board and ask students to copy and answer the
questions on a sheet of paper: What would the world be like if we didn’t have electricity? In your opinion, what
is the most important form of energy?
• Where Does Your Electricity Come From? Worksheet and Answer Key provided

Practice That May Involve Parents or Guardians

• Scavenger Hunt: Energy in Your Home – Teacher instructs students to find five examples of things that use
electrical energy in their home. Do these products use electricity to power light, heat or motion? Write them on
a sheet of paper and label if they power light, heat or motion. (Ex. Stove – heat; TV – light; Fan - motion).

VI. Assessment
These items provide a check for understanding so teachers can easily determine whether concepts need to be
reinforced. These items can be graded, if desired.
• Where Does Your Energy Come From? Worksheet and Answer Key provided
• Writing Activity (if completed as Independent Practice, as shown above)

LESSON PLAN: LESSON 2.8 – ELECTRICAL ENERGY Page 4 of 5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  VII. Materials Needed
 
  • None for Electricity Circuits Experiments
 
 
 
  VIII. Closing the Lesson
 
  In addition to the Essential Question shown below, teachers can reference Performance Objectives at the top of
  the Lesson Plan.
 
 
 
Essential Question
  How is electricity created?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
   

Set2_LP8of9_ElectricalEnergy_LPCname_FY2014Final

LESSON PLAN: LESSON 2.8 – ELECTRICAL ENERGY Page 5 of 5


 

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WORKSHEET FOR ELECTRICAL ENERGY LESSON 2.8 NAME: _______________________


Where Does Your Energy Come

From?
Objective: Students will be able to explain the purpose of electrical energy, how electricity is used in
homes, and identify how electrical energy is measured.
 
1. Explain the purpose of electrical energy.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

2. Why are most electrical circuits made of metal?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

3. Can we create electrical energy? Why or why not?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

WORKSHEET: WHERE DOES YOUR ENERGY COME FROM? (FOR LESSON 2.8 ELECTRICAL ENERGY) Page 1 of 2
4. How do you use electricity at home?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

5. Explain how electricity is measured and why we measure it this way?

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________
























WORKSHEET: WHERE DOES YOUR ENERGY COME FROM? (FOR LESSON 2.8 ELECTRICAL ENERGY) Page 2 of 2
 

Answer Key





ANSWER KEY FOR WORKSHEET: WHERE DOES YOUR ENERGY COME FROM?

1. Explain the purpose of electrical energy.

Ex. Electrical energy exists when electrons are forced to move along a path in a conducting substance
_______________________________________________________________________________________

such as a wire. Although electricity cannot be seen, it is one of the most useful forms of energy.
_______________________________________________________________________________________

2. Why are most electrical circuits made of metal?

Ex. Metals are conductors of electricity and they do a good job of allowing the flow of electrons.
_______________________________________________________________________________________

3. Can we create electrical energy? Why or why not?

Ex. Since energy is neither created nor destroyed according to The Law of Conservation of Energy,
_______________________________________________________________________________________

electrical energy is a result of energy transformations.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

4. How do you use electricity at home?

Ex. Watching television, playing video games, using the microwave, etc.
_______________________________________________________________________________________

5. Explain how electricity is measured and why we measure it this way?

Ex. Electrical potential is measured in volts, which is the potential electrical energy per charge.
_______________________________________________________________________________________ 







ANSWER KEY FOR WHERE DOES YOUR ENERGY COME FROM? WORKSHEET FOR LESSON 2.8 Page 1 of 1