An oscilloscope demonstrates how sound energy travels in waves.
Energy is inescapable. Wherever you go, some sort of energy is powering everyday activity. Whether it is the electrical energy that runs the lights and appliances in your house, the thermal energy that heats and cools your food and water, friction for stopping and starting your car, water power, wind power, solar power or even the beating of your heart, energy keeps all the activities you take for granted on the move. Fifth-grade energy activities help children understand the science behind energy and properly steward Earth's energy resources for the future.
Thermal Energy
Although children do not often stop to think about it, simply heating water for hot chocolate or freezing ice cubes for a tall, cool glass of lemonade produces thermal energy by speeding up or slowing down the molecules within the liquid. To observe this energy at work, leave a glass of water at room temperature overnight. Refrigerate a second glass of water for a couple of hours. Boil water and fill a third glass. Put a few drops of food coloring into one cup and time how long it takes for the color to dissipate completely. Repeat with the other two glasses of water and compare results. Have them note which one dissipates the fastest and the slowest. Discuss how molecule movement speed changes with heating and cooling affecting the rate of dissipation.
Potential vs. Kinetic Energy
An object at rest contains stored or potential energy waiting to be released. An object in motion changes the potential energy into kinetic energy capable of performing a task. On an inclined plane, the higher the starting end of the ramp the greater the stored energy available to be released. To test this principle, set up an inclined plane path for a marble. Set a small milk carton or paper cup at the bottom of the ramp. Release the marble and measure how far it moves the cup or carton. Try the experiment with different size marbles and different ramp heights to compare the effect of mass and elevation on the kinetic energy released when the marble is set in motion.
Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy
Energy comes from renewable sources like water, sun and wind as well as nonrenewable sources such as coal, oil and wood. If the fifth-graders of today are to have energy to power homes, appliances and cars in the future, it is important that they learn to steward them well now. Ask students to research the different types of energy sources and classify them as renewable or nonrenewable. Create a flier that lists the pros and cons of each and identifies common uses of each type at home and commercially. Describe what families can do now to protect the renewable resources for future generations.
Energy Options
If energy conservation is the goal, discuss what options people have for energy sources that do not deplete the environment and rob resources from their children and grandchildren. Ask fifth-graders to consider this question and make a set of cards showing the different energy sources and applications and places where nonrenewable energy is still in use. Sort the cards by type of energy used. Suggest which alternative renewable energy source would be most suited to each application and why.
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