ENERGY TRANSFORMATIONS—TEACHER NOTES
KEY CONCEPT: Energy can be transformed from one form to another. It is not lost in the process,
just changed in its form.
OBJECTIVE: The objective for this activity is to allow the students the opportunity to investigate
energy transformations "in action" by a series of simple, yet illustrative hands-on activities.
ADVANCE PREPARATION
You will need to collect all the materials and make the procedure cards. You can arrange a room with
tables or areas around the perimeter that would serve as good work stations for students to rotate
through, OR put the materials and procedure card for each activity in a tub and rotate the tubs.
MATERIALS
Station 1: toy car and ramp
Procedure: Put the car at the top of the ramp and let it go. Record your observations.
Station 2: vinegar, baking soda, plastic shampoo bottle, cork, paper towel, safety goggles, tablespoon,
teaspoon
Procedure: Read the directions through first. Put about a tablespoon of vinegar into the bottle. Put about
a teaspoon of baking soda into a small piece of paper towel and twist it shut at both ends. Put the baking
soda package into the bottle and cork it shut (not too tightly though). Aim the bottle away from people
and breakable objects and shake it up. Record your observations. Repeat, if necessary, with differing
amounts of vinegar and baking sode. Wash out the bottle.
Station 3: yo-yo
Procedure: Make the yo-yo go up and down on the string. Record your observations.
Station 4: bouncing balls
Procedure: Bounce the rubber ball. Record your observations.
Station 5: flashlight, batteries
Procedure: Look inside the flashlight. Record your observations.
Station 6: small candies/fruit pieces on a paper plate
Procedure: Eat one piece of fruit. Record your observations.
Other Station Ideas
 small model electric motor, battery, 2 wires
Procedure: Connect the motor so that it runs. Record your observations.
 balsa wood plane
Procedure: Take the plane out into the hall or other open space. Let the plane go by pushing
the plane lightly. Retrieve the plane and record your observations about both the plane
observations about both the plane and the person pushing.
 small toy boat, tub of water
Procedure: Put the boat in the water and make waves with your had. Also fan the boat,
creating a wind. Record your observations about both the boat and the fanning on the boat.
 wind-up toy
Procedure: Wind up the toy and watch it run along a path. Record your observations.
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battery operated toy (helicopter or truck)
Procedure: Turn on the toy and watch it run along a path. Record your observations.
battery, wires, alligator clips, light source
Procedure: Read the directions through first. Connect the battery to the bulb using the wires
and the alligator clips. Be sure that there is a complete circuit. Take apart the circuit when
you are finished.
PROCEDURE
1. Make procedure cards (included on the next page).
2. Set up work stations around the room with procedure cards (5 x 8 cards taped next to each one.)
3. Have student pairs rotate through stations. For each station they should follow the procedure card,
then make a diagram showing the energy transformations that occur.
4. After each station is completed, the pair working there should be sure that the station is put back in its
original state.
5. Ask the students to draw diagrams for energy transformations at each station. They should report their
findings to each other in small groups.
6. Discuss with the whole groups each of the stations, asking first one student who worked at the station
to show their work. Include the processes of energy transformation and energy conservation in each of
the stations.
7. Compare energy transformation diagrams to see if there is some common source of energy for all of
them. If the diagrams have been done carefully and far back enough, the students should be able to see
that the sun is a common source of energy.
8. Provide a closure for the lesson by discussing the law of conservation of energy.
TYPES OF ENERGY
Potential, kinetic, chemical, thermal, radiant, nuclear, electrical
EXAMPLES OF ENERGY TRANSFORMATION DIAGRAM
potential energy  kinetic energy  electrical energy
radiant energy  chemical energy kinetic energy
PROCEDURE CARDS
STATION ONE
Materials
toy car and ramp
Procedure
1) Put the car at the top of the ramp and let it
go.
2) Record your observations.
3) Make a diagram showing the energy
transformations that take place.
STATION TWO
Materials
vinegar, baking soda, plastic shampoo bottle, cork,
paper towel, tablespoon, teaspoon, safety goggles
Procedure
1. Read the directions through first, then put on the
safety goggles.
2. Put a tablespoon of vinegar into the bottle.
3. Put a teaspoon of baking soda into a small piece of
paper towel and twist it shut at both ends.
4. Put the baking soda package into the bottle and
cork it shut (not too tightly though).
5. Aim the bottle away from people and breakable
objects and shake it up.
6. Record your observations.
7. Make a diagram showing the energy
transformations that take place.
8. Wash out the bottle.
STATION THREE
STATION FOUR
Materials
yo-yo
Materials
bouncing balls
Procedure
1) Make the yo-yo go up and down on the
string.
2) Record your observations
3) Make a diagram showing the energy
transformations that take place.
Procedure
1) Bounce the rubber ball.
2) Record your observations.
3) Make a diagram showing the energy
transformations that take place.
STATION FIVE
STATION SIX
Materials
flashlight, batteries
Materials
fruit pieces, paper plate
Procedure
1) Look inside the flashlight.
2) Record your observations.
3) Make a diagram showing the energy
transformations that take place.
Procedure
1) Eat one piece of fruit.
2) Record your observations.
3) Make a diagram showing the energy
transformations that take place.
Name:
Date:
Class:
INVESTIGATING ENERGY TRANSFORMATIONS
BACKGROUND: Energy can be transformed from one form to another. It is not lost in the process,
just changed in its form. In this activity, you will investigate energy transformations "in action".
Name and define the seven types of energy.
Type of Energy
Definition
At each station perform the procedure as written on the cards.
When finished, put all materials back in good order.
STATION ONE
Observations:
Energy Transformation Diagram:
STATION TWO
Observations:
Energy Transformation Diagram:
STATION THREE
Observations:
Energy Transformation Diagram:
STATION FOUR
Observations:
Energy Transformation Diagram:
STATION FIVE
Observations:
Energy Transformation Diagram:
STATION SIX
Observations:
Energy Transformation Diagram: