Forms of Energy Teaching Resources
Explore forms of energy in your science classes with experiments, activities and more resources for primary teachers!
From lesson plans on electricity to worksheets about thermal energy, this collection is packed with Australian science curriculum-aligned printables and digital resources created by teachers for teachers like you. You'll save time on your lesson plans with easily editable resources, plus you'll be able to meet your students' needs with differentiated options.
Best of all? Every single resource has been carefully reviewed by the science teachers on the Teach Starter team to ensure it's ready for your classroom and your students!
Is this your first year covering the different forms of energy in your classroom? Or maybe you are just looking for fresh ideas? Read on for a primer from our teacher team, including a look at the two main types that these forms can fall into.
What Are the 2 Types of Energy?
Energy can take a variety of forms — from the mechanical energy involved in stretching a rubberband to the motion energy in a gust of wind — but every form of energy can be classified into just two main types. Before we dive into the long list of forms of energy that exist in the universe, it might help to take a look at these types:
- Potential Energy
- Kinetic Energy
Read on to learn how we explain these types to our students!
What Is Potential Energy? A Kid-Friendly Definition and Example
Potential energy is the energy that an object has because of its position or condition.
Let's say you take out a rubberband and stretch it way, way, way out with your hands. Because it is stretched out, the rubberband is full of potential energy that will help it fly farther when it is finally released!
What Is Kinetic Energy?
Kinetic energy is the energy of an object in motion. This type of energy depends on the object's mass and speed.
Let's look at that rubberband example again! It may have potential energy when it is held in a stretched-out position, but once it is released, the rubberband now has kinetic energy as it flies through the air!
What Are Forms of Energy? Examples for Kids
Now that we've covered the two types of energy, let's look at the different forms of energy that fall under each type. We've developed these explanations to help you as you work with students to gain a deeper understanding of how energy affects people and the environment around us!
4 Forms of Potential Energy
- Elastic Energy —This is the energy that can be found when an object is stretched or compressed. Elastic energy can be found in a coiled spring or a stretched rubber band.
- Nuclear Energy — Nuclear energy is a form of energy that originates from the nucleus, or the core, of an atom. This kind of energy is commonly used to generate electricity, but it requires the process of releasing it from the atom.
- Gravitational Energy — Gravitational energy is the energy an object has due to its position in a gravitational field. For example, if you hold a book high in the air, its height creates the potential for the book to fall. This is its gravitational energy and its potential energy!
- Chemical Energy — This type of energy is stored in atoms and molecules.
5 Forms of Kinetic Energy
- Mechanical Energy — Mechanical energy is the energy possessed by an object due to its motion or position.
- Electrical Energy — This is the energy produced by the flow of electric charges or electrons. The electricity that we use to power our computers and our lights is a form of electrical energy!
- Light Energy — Light energy is the energy that we see as visible light. We can get this energy from natural sources like the sun or human-made sources like the lightbulb.
- Thermal Energy — Also called heat energy, thermal energy is a form that most students have experienced in their lives. It's energy that comes from the heat of an object or system, such as the energy of the sun.
- Sound Energy — This form is the energy produced by vibrations that create sound waves. It's the type of energy involved when we speak or sing, and it's also the energy involved in all the noises produced around us.
- Plus Plan
Light Word Wall Vocabulary
Sixty light related vocabulary cards for a word wall.
- Plus Plan
Electricity: From Plant to Place - Worksheet
A worksheet that explores how electricity is generated and distributed.
- Plus Plan
Is It Sustainable? Evaluating Sources of Electricity Worksheet
A worksheet for considering whether an energy source is sustainable.
- Plus Plan
Electrical Conductors and Insulators Worksheet
A worksheet that explores conductors and insulators.
- Plus Plan
Conductors and Insulators Teaching Slides
Teach your students about insulators and conductors of thermal and electrical energy with this set of teaching slides.
- Plus Plan
Heat Energy Sources Interactive Activity
Help students identify different sources of heat energy with this engaging, interactive activity.
- Plus Plan
Sound Energy Project (Buzzing Balloons)
Engage your class with this sound energy exploration! This simple experiment will show students how sound is produced by a source and can be sensed.
- Plus Plan
Sound Research Science Experiment for Kids
Immerse your students in an auditory adventure, exploring sound energy with this engaging experiment.
- Free Plan
Forms of Energy (Heat, Light and Sound) Worksheet
Guide your students to identify different forms of energy with this cut and paste worksheet.
- Free Plan
Electricity Word Wall Vocabulary
Use this teacher-created electricity resource to teach electricity-related vocabulary. Build a word wall with your students during your electricity lessons.
- Plus Plan
Heat Transference Worksheet
A worksheet to help students identify examples of heat transference.
- Plus Plan
Conductors and Insulators Poster
A poster highlighting conductors and insulators of heat energy.
- Plus Plan
Wheel of Heat Transfer Project
Explore the process of heat transfer with this engaging wheel of heat project.
- Plus Plan
Heat Transfer Methods Worksheet Pack
Learn about the different ways heat can be transferred using this guided set of heat transfer worksheets.
- Plus Plan
Sound Energy Sources Interactive Activity
With your students, explore the sources of sound energy and how we sense them using this interactive science activity.
- Plus Plan
Heat Sources Sorting Activity
Explore various sources of heat with this printable sorting activity for your students.
- Plus Plan
Famous Inventors Fact File — Alessandro Volta Comprehension Worksheet
Print an Alessandro Volta fact file worksheet to introduce students to this famous inventor and expand their understanding of electricity!
- Plus Plan
Let the Sun Shine In! - Worksheet
A worksheet to use when exploring the sun as a light source.
- Free Plan
Sound Word Wall Vocabulary
Build academic vocabulary with a set of 28 sound vocabulary cards.
- Plus Plan
Sound Energy Poster Set
Display this set of 5 sound energy posters in your classroom to help students remember key information about this form of energy.
- Plus Plan
Light and Shadow - Design an Experiment Worksheet
A worksheet that explores light and shadow and the principles of a fair test.
- Plus Plan
Science Experiment - Angles of Reflection
A science experiment that explores reflected light.
- Free Plan
See Light Through Me Worksheet
A worksheet that explores classification of objects according to light transmission.
- Plus Plan
Sound Energy (First Nations Musical Instruments)Teaching Slides
Help your students discover how traditional musical instruments used by First Nations Australians produce their characteristic sounds with this teaching presentation.
- Plus Plan
Sound Energy (First Nations Instruments) Comprehension Task
Use this read-and-respond task to help your Grade Two students learn about some traditional First Nations Australians musical instruments and their characteristic sounds.
- Plus Plan
5 Fascinating Facts About Sound Worksheet
Use this sound energy worksheet and poster set to teach your student some interesting facts about sound.
- Plus Plan
Sound Energy Drag and Drop Interactive Activity
Enhance students' ability to identify and describe sound energy concepts in a hands-on and immersive manner with this interactive slide deck.
- Plus Plan
Sound Energy Project (Rubber Band Musical Instruments)
Use this sound energy experiment to help your students visualise sound using everyday items.
- Plus Plan
Simple Circuit Diagram
Spark curiosity and illuminate young minds with the wonders of electricity. Download this simple circuit diagram to light up your classroom!
- Plus Plan
Electricity and Circuits Guided Notes for Year 6
Use this set of guided notes when teaching your students about electricity and circuits.
- Plus Plan
In the Shadows Worksheet
A worksheet that explores the difference between shadows.
- Plus Plan
What is Heat? Worksheet
A worksheet to help students understand heat energy.