Energy in Earth Science: Quick Review and Check-In

Energy | Assessment Review

Grade 3 Earth Science Energy Assessment Review Challenging Professional 6 Views

Professional Lesson Plan

Energy in Earth Science: Quick Review and Check-In

Energy | Assessment Review

GradeGrade 3

SubjectEarth Science

TopicEnergy

Duration15 Minutes

Lesson TypeAssessment Review

DifficultyChallenging

Lesson Overview

A short, challenging review lesson for Grade 3 students to revisit key ideas about energy in Earth science, including the sun as a source of energy, energy in weather and moving water, and how energy causes change in Earth’s systems.

Learning Objectives

Identify the sun as a major source of energy for Earth.
Explain how energy can cause changes in weather, water, and land.
Use simple evidence from examples to match energy sources to Earth science effects.
Review and talk through key energy vocabulary accurately.

Materials Needed

Chart paper or board
Markers
Picture cards or slides showing the sun, wind, moving water, plants, and land changes
Student whiteboards or paper and pencils
Optional: sticky notes

Vocabulary

Term	Definition
energy	The ability to cause change or make things happen.
source	Where something comes from.
sun	The main source of energy for Earth.
weather	The conditions outside, like wind, rain, heat, or cold.
change	To become different.

Lesson Sequence

Warm-Up Review3 minutes

Teacher Actions

Show the sun and ask: ‘Where does Earth get most of its energy?’ Call on a few students and review that the sun is the main source of energy.

Student Actions

Answer the question, repeat the key idea, and name other examples of energy they know.

Guided Picture Sort5 minutes

Teacher Actions

Display 3–4 pictures one at a time. Ask students to decide: ‘What kind of energy is shown?’ and ‘What change might it cause on Earth?’ Use quick think-pair-share responses.

Student Actions

Discuss with a partner, then share short answers such as wind moving leaves, sun warming land, or water shaping land.

Challenging Review Questions4 minutes

Teacher Actions

Ask higher-level review questions: ‘How does the sun help plants and weather?’ ‘Why can moving water change Earth’s surface?’ ‘What might happen if Earth had no energy from the sun?’ Encourage complete sentences.

Student Actions

Respond orally or on whiteboards, using vocabulary words in their answers.

Quick Sort and Explain3 minutes

Teacher Actions

Give two categories on the board: ‘Energy Source’ and ‘Earth Change.’ Ask students to name an example for each and explain the connection.

Student Actions

Sort ideas, explain reasoning, and listen for classmates’ examples.

Support

Use picture cards and gestures for key ideas.
Provide sentence frames such as ‘The sun gives energy to ___.’ and ‘Energy can change ___ by ___.’
Allow partner talk before whole-group responses.
Repeat and post vocabulary with simple definitions.

Challenge

Ask students to explain two ways the sun affects Earth.
Invite students to compare wind and moving water as energy that causes change.
Ask students to use at least two vocabulary words in one answer.
Have students justify their answers with because statements.

Checks for Understanding

Listen for correct use of sun, energy, source, and change.
Use thumbs-up/thumbs-sideways after each picture to check understanding.
Collect quick whiteboard responses to see who can match energy sources to Earth changes.
Ask one exit-style oral question: ‘What is one way energy affects Earth?’

Closure

Review the big idea: Energy helps Earth change and the sun is the main source of energy for our planet. Ask students to say one new thing they remembered today.