You will learn
- Say that energy makes things work.
- Name energy sources.
- Link energy to uses.
- Sort energy uses.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- Energy makes things work.
- We get energy from food, fuel and the Sun.
- Machines use fuel or electricity.
- Batteries store energy.
Words to know
what makes things happen or work
something burned to give energy
a form of energy that moves through wires
a store of electrical energy
1. Discover: The torch and the lunch
On a school trip, Kojo eats his lunch, switches on a torch and watches the bus drive away. “The food gives me energy to run,” he says. “The battery gives the torch energy. And the bus uses fuel.”
Think: What gives each its energy?
2. Understand: Energy at work
Idea 1: What is energy?
Energy is what makes things happen. It makes us move, lights glow and machines work.
Idea 2: Where energy comes from
We get energy from food. Vehicles use fuel. Lights and fans use electricity. Plants use sunlight. A battery stores energy for torches and toys.
Idea 3: Using energy
We use energy to cook, light our homes, power phones and travel. Different tools need different kinds of energy.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Source
A torch.
- Battery.
- Stores energy.
- Gives light.
Answer: A torch uses battery energy.
Example 2 (We do it together): Source
A bus.
- Fuel.
- Burned in engine.
- Moves.
Answer: A bus uses fuel.
Example 3 (You try): Source
Running.
Show the steps and answer
- Food.
- Body uses energy.
- Movement.
Answer: We get energy from food.
Did you know?
The Sun gives Earth more energy in one hour than all people use in a year.
Why this matters
Understanding energy helps us use it wisely and safely.
4. Explore: Energy hunt
List things at school that use energy and what energy they use.
- Walk with an adult.
- List devices.
- Write the energy used.
- Sort into groups.
Think about it: what did you notice?
What did you notice? Many things use electricity.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- Energy makes things ___.
- We get energy from ___.
- Buses use ___.
- A ___ stores energy.
Guided practice
Question 1. What is energy?
What makes things work.
Question 2. Where do we get energy?
Food.
Question 3. What do buses use?
Fuel.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- What is energy?
- Where do we get energy?
- What do buses use?
- What stores energy?
- What do lights use?
Level 2: Grow
- Why do we eat?
- Why do torches need batteries?
- Why do cars need fuel?
Level 3: Stretch
- Sort ten items by energy.
- Explain energy at home.
- Draw an energy map.
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: Science in everyday life
What energy sources are near you?
Show a sample answer
Wood, gas and electricity.
Another one. Tell a family member one thing from this lesson. Use the words you learned.
Show a sample answer
A clear sentence that uses at least one word from Words to know.
7. Common mistakes
Fix: It is what makes things happen.
Fix: Living things do too.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can say that energy makes things work.
- I can name energy sources.
- I can link energy to uses.
- I can sort energy uses.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- Energy makes things work.
- We get energy from food, fuel and the Sun.
- Machines use fuel or electricity.
- Batteries store energy.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Electrical safety. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- What is energy? [1 mark]
- Name three sources. [3 marks]
- Match a device to energy. [2 marks]
- What does a battery do? [1 mark]
- Safety rule? [1 mark]
Total: 8 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- What makes things work [1]
- Any three [1 each]
- Device [1]; energy [1]
- Stores energy [1]
- Do not touch sockets [1]
Score guide: 7 to 8 = secure. 5 to 6 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 5 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- What is energy?
- Where do we get energy?
- What do buses use?
- What stores energy?
- What do lights use?
- Why do we eat?
- Why do torches need batteries?
- Why do cars need fuel?
- Sort ten items by energy.
- Explain energy at home.
Homework
List ten things at home that use energy. Say what energy each uses.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. What is energy? | What makes things work. | 1 |
| 2. Where do we get energy? | Food. | 1 |
| 3. What do buses use? | Fuel. | 1 |
| 4. What stores energy? | A battery. | 1 |
| 5. What do lights use? | Electricity. | 1 |
| 6. Why do we eat? | For energy. | 1 |
| 7. Why do torches need batteries? | Store energy. | 1 |
| 8. Why do cars need fuel? | To move. | 1 |
| 9. Sort ten items by energy. | Table. | 1 |
| 10. Explain energy at home. | List. | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 What makes things work.; 2 Food.; 3 Fuel.; 4 A battery.; 5 Electricity.. Level 2: 1 For energy.; 2 Store energy.; 3 To move.. Level 3: 1 Table.; 2 List.; 3 Picture..
Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 Say that energy makes things work | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Name energy sources | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Link energy to uses | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Sort energy uses | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: “Energy is a thing.” It is what makes things happen.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Link five devices to their energy.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child learns about everyday energy. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Look at devices at home.
- Ask, “What energy does it use?”
- Make a list.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: say that energy makes things work; name energy sources; link energy to uses; sort energy uses.
Prerequisite knowledge. Grade 1 ideas: light and shadows, sounds around us and what makes sound.
Materials. Batteries (adult), toys, torches, paper and pencils. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Check batteries. Prepare tables.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Switch on a torch and ask, “Where does the energy come from?”
Explanation (10 min). Teach energy.
Guided activity (10 min). Learners sort uses.
Independent activity (10 min). Learners present.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. What gives it energy? What does it do?
Teacher explanation notes. Start with real objects and safe, hands-on observation. Then talk about what was seen, then draw and write. Always say “how do you know?”. Keep to the safety notes, and use local, safe materials.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use real objects and pictures, short sentences and a partner. Let learners point, show or draw instead of writing. Extension. Ask learners to find a new example at home and explain how they know.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. “Energy is a thing.” It is what makes things happen.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 8-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Link five devices to their energy. Enrichment. Look for one new example near your home or school, draw it and explain it to someone. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: Next Generation Science Standards, Cambridge Primary Science and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Research used to shape this lesson. Courseversity Science curriculum, Grade 2 Unit 9, topic 7; Next Generation Science Standards, waves and energy (1-PS4 light and sound foundations); Cambridge Primary Science Stage 2, light, sound and energy; IB Primary Years Programme, how the world works. These sources informed the lesson.