Energy

Grade Level: 4th

Subject: Science

Time Frame: 3 weeks (August/September)

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Essential Questions

 

- what is energy?
- what is the difference between kinetic and potential energy?
- when do objects have more or less energy?
- what are the various forms of energy?
- how does energy shift between kinetic and potential?
- how does energy transfer among the various forms of energy?
- how does a collision transfer energy or force?
- what is the law of conservation of energy?
- what is force and how does it relate to energy?
- what is direct and indirect force? 

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By the end of the unit, students will know:

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- energy is an objects' ability to do work
- energy can be kinetic or potential, and has many different forms
- energy shifts between kinetic and potential 
- energy is not created or destroyed
- energy is transferred among its various forms
- force is a way that energy can be transferred

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By the end of the unit, students will be able to:

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- predict how changes in speed affect an object's energy
- observe how energy can be transferred among its various forms and explain what is happening suing scientific vocabulary
- predict changes in energy that will occur as a result of objects colliding
- test and refine devices that convert energy from one form to another

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Topics

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- what is energy?
- kinetic energy
- potential energy
- forms of energy
- shifting energy
- conservation of energy
- energy transfer

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Standards

4-PS3-1, 4-PS3-2, 4-PS3-3