Energy | Small Group
In this small-group lesson, children explore the idea of energy as the power that makes things move, light up, or make sounds. Through simple hands-on experiences, students notice that energy can come from their bodies, from the sun, and from batteries.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| energy | The power that makes things move, light up, or make sounds. |
| move | To go from one place to another. |
| light | Something that helps us see. |
| sound | Something we hear. |
| power | A force that helps things work. |
Invite children to stand in a small space and copy simple actions such as clap, jump, tiptoe, and freeze. Say, 'Our bodies use energy to move.' Ask children to notice how their bodies feel after moving.
Copy the movements, listen to the teacher, and share how their bodies feel.
Show a flashlight, drum, and toy car. Model turning on the flashlight, tapping the drum, and rolling the car. Ask, 'What did we see? What did we hear? What made it happen?' Guide children to connect these examples to energy.
Watch closely, answer simple questions, and describe what they notice using gestures or words.
Place picture cards on the table. Ask children to sort them into groups: move, light, and sound. Support children by modeling one card at a time and naming the category aloud.
Work together to sort the cards and explain their choices with words, pointing, or matching.
Use the sun picture and ask, 'What helps plants grow and gives us light?' Connect the idea that energy can come from the sun and from batteries. Keep language simple and repeat key words.
Respond to questions, repeat vocabulary, and connect examples to everyday life.
Act out one example, such as shining like a flashlight, moving fast like a toy car, or making sound like a drum. Invite children to guess the energy example.
Guess the action, take turns acting, and say the matching word.
Review: 'Energy helps things move, light up, and make sound.' Point to the vocabulary cards and have children repeat the sentence together.
Repeat the sentence and name one example of energy.
End by reviewing the big idea: energy helps things move, light up, and make sound. Have children show a thumbs-up or point to a picture card for one thing they learned.
Use teacher observation during the movement, object exploration, and picture sort to note whether each child can recognize an example of energy, use one vocabulary word, and make a simple match or sort with support.