You will learn
- Name sources of electricity.
- Compare renewable and non-renewable.
- Explain how batteries store energy.
- Describe a solar cell.
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
- Batteries store chemical energy.
- Solar cells use sunlight.
- Generators turn movement into electricity.
- Renewable sources do not run out.
Words to know
a machine that makes electricity
a device that turns sunlight into electricity
an energy source that does not run out
coal, oil or gas
1. Discover: The solar lamp
Kwasi’s village has no mains electricity, but his family has a solar lamp. In the day the panel sits in the sun. At night the lamp gives light. “The Sun fills the battery,” his mother says. “The battery then lights the lamp.”
Think: Why is solar energy a good choice for a village?
2. Understand: Sources
Idea 1: Batteries and cells
A battery stores chemical energy and changes it to electrical energy when connected in a circuit. Batteries are used in torches, clocks and phones.
Idea 2: Solar and generators
A solar cell changes sunlight to electricity. A generator turns movement, from water, wind or engines, into electricity.
Idea 3: Renewable or not
Renewable sources such as sunlight, wind and flowing water do not run out. Fossil fuels take millions of years to form and make pollution when burnt.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Source
Torch.
- Battery.
- Chemical energy.
- Light.
Answer: A torch uses a battery.
Example 2 (We do it together): Source
Wind turbine.
- Moving blades.
- Generator.
- Electricity.
Answer: A turbine turns a generator.
Example 3 (You try): Compare
Coal vs sun.
Show the steps and answer
- Coal runs out.
- Sun renews.
- Cleaner.
Answer: Solar is renewable.
Did you know?
The Sun delivers more energy to Earth in an hour than all of humanity uses in a year.
Why this matters
Choosing clean energy protects the future.
4. Explore: Source sort
Sort energy sources into renewable and non-renewable and give an example of each.
- Read source cards.
- Sort into two groups.
- Match to an appliance.
- Explain one choice.
Think about it: what did you notice?
What did you notice? Renewable sources often depend on weather.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- A ___ makes electricity.
- A ___ cell uses sunlight.
- ___ sources do not run out.
- ___ fuels are coal, oil and gas.
Guided practice
Question 1. What stores chemical energy?
Battery.
Question 2. What uses sunlight?
Solar cell.
Question 3. What makes electricity?
Generator.
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- What stores chemical energy?
- What uses sunlight?
- What makes electricity?
- Name renewable.
- Name fossil fuel.
Level 2: Grow
- Why renewable?
- Why avoid fossil fuels?
- Why store energy?
Level 3: Stretch
- Sort sources.
- Draw a solar lamp.
- Compare two sources.
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: Science in everyday life
Choose a power source for a village.
Show a sample answer
Explain.
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: They store it.
Fix: They run out.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can name sources of electricity.
- I can compare renewable and non-renewable.
- I can explain how batteries store energy.
- I can describe a solar cell.
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
- Batteries store chemical energy.
- Solar cells use sunlight.
- Generators turn movement into electricity.
- Renewable sources do not run out.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Simple circuit components. 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.
- Name three sources of electricity. [3 marks]
- Compare renewable and non-renewable. [3 marks]
- Explain how a solar lamp works. [3 marks]
- Safety rule? [1 mark]
Total: 10 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- 1 each
- Renewable [1]; non-renewable [1]; comparison [1]
- Sunlight [1]; stored in battery [1]; lights lamp [1]
- Any [1]
Score guide: 9 to 10 = secure. 6 to 8 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 6 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- What stores chemical energy?
- What uses sunlight?
- What makes electricity?
- Name renewable.
- Name fossil fuel.
- Why renewable?
- Why avoid fossil fuels?
- Why store energy?
- Sort sources.
- Draw a solar lamp.
Homework
Find three things at home powered by batteries or sunlight.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. What stores chemical energy? | Battery. | 1 |
| 2. What uses sunlight? | Solar cell. | 1 |
| 3. What makes electricity? | Generator. | 1 |
| 4. Name renewable. | Wind. | 1 |
| 5. Name fossil fuel. | Coal. | 1 |
| 6. Why renewable? | Do not run out. | 1 |
| 7. Why avoid fossil fuels? | Pollute. | 1 |
| 8. Why store energy? | Use at night. | 1 |
| 9. Sort sources. | Table. | 1 |
| 10. Draw a solar lamp. | Diagram. | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 Battery.; 2 Solar cell.; 3 Generator.; 4 Wind.; 5 Coal.. Level 2: 1 Do not run out.; 2 Pollute.; 3 Use at night.. Level 3: 1 Table.; 2 Diagram.; 3 Sentence..
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 Name sources of electricity | 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 Compare renewable and non-renewable | 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 Explain how batteries store energy | 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 Describe a solar cell | 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: “Batteries make energy from nothing.” They store it.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Explain electrical sources.
- 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 electricity sources. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Look for solar lights.
- Ask “Where does the power come from?”
- Never open batteries.
- 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: name sources of electricity; compare renewable and non-renewable; explain how batteries store energy; describe a solar cell.
Prerequisite knowledge. Grade 3 physical ideas: forces, magnets, materials and measuring in fair tests.
Materials. Cards, notebook. 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. Print source cards.
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). Show a torch and ask, “Where does its energy come from?”
Explanation (10 min). Teach sources.
Guided activity (10 min). Learners sort.
Independent activity (10 min). Learners compare.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. Renewable or not?
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. “Batteries make energy from nothing.” They store it.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 10-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. Explain electrical sources. 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 4 Unit 6, topic 2; Next Generation Science Standards, energy; Cambridge Primary Science Stage 4, physics: electricity; IB Primary Years Programme, how the world works. These sources informed the lesson.