Sustainable Energy

60 minutes for Year 6 to 9

Generate electricity from a variety of different sources, including wind, solar and people power.

Room requirements

Double classroom or bigger, with at least 6 tables available and floorspace in the centre of the room for students to watch opening presentation. We require access to electricity. Set up time: 30 minutes. Pack up time: 30 minutes.

Australian Curriculum links

Year 6

Science Understanding

Physical sciences: Energy from a variety of sources can be used to generate electricity. Investigating how moving air and water turn turbines to generate electricity. Investigating the use of solar panels. Considering whether an energy source is sustainable.

Science as a Human Endeavour

Nature and development of science: Science involves testing predictions by gathering data and using evidence to develop explanations of events and phenomena. Investigating how knowledge about the effect of using the Earth's resources has changed over time.

Use and influence of science: Scientific understandings, discoveries and inventions are used to solve problems that directly affect people's lives. Investigating how electrical energy is generated. Scientific knowledge is used to inform personal and community decisions. Discussing the use of electricity and the conservation of sources of energy.

Science Inquiry Skills

Questioning and predicting: pose questions, to clarify practical problems or inform a scientific investigation, and predict what the findings of an investigation might be. Discussing in groups possible situations to investigate or identify problems that relate to students' lives. Applying experience from similar situations in the past to predict what may happen in a new situation. Sharing ideas about what may happen in an investigation and why.

Planning and conducting: Use equipment and materials safely, identifying potential risks. Discussing possible hazards involved in conducting investigations, and how these risks can be reduced.

Processing and analysing data: Construct and use a range of representations, including tables and graphs, to represent and describe observations, patterns or relationships in data. Describing simple cause-and-effect relationships as shown by trends in quantitative data. Compare data with predictions and use as evidence in developing explanations. Discussing possible reasons for predictions being incorrect.

Year 7

Science Understanding

Earth and space sciences: Some of Earth's resources are renewable, but others are non-renewable. Considering timescales for regeneration of resources. Comparing renewable and non-renewable energy sources, including how they are used in a range of situations.

Science as a Human Endeavour

Nature and development of science: Scientific knowledge changes as new evidence becomes available, and some scientific discoveries have significantly changed people's understanding of the world.

Use and influence of science: Science and technology contribute to finding solutions to a range of contemporary issues; these solutions may impact on other areas of society and involve ethical considerations. Considering how human activity in the community can have posititve and negative effects on the sustainability of ecosystems.

Science Inquiry Skills

Questioning and predicting: Identify questions and problems that can be investigated scientifically and make predictions based on scientific knowledge. Using information and knowledge from previous investigations to predict the expected results from an investigation.

Planning and conducting: Use equipment and materials safely, identifying potential risks. Discussing possible hazards involved in conducting investigations, and how these risks can be reduced.

Processing and analysing data: Construct and use a range of representations, including graphs, keys and models to represent and analyse patterns or relationships. Using spreadsheets to aid the presentation and simple analysis of data. Understanding different types of graphical representations. Using diagrammatic representations to convey abstract ideas.