Energy of Conversions 5E Science Unit Plan for Fourth Grade | 4-PS3-4

This Energy Conversions 5E Science Unit Plan is an inquiry-based unit where students learn about how energy is converted from one form to another. Students are asked to think about the factors that affect how energy is converted and how that conversion affects is affected by the components of a system. Students will design, test and refine a device that converts energy from one form into another. The unit includes three parts for each of the 5E’s (Engage, Explore, Explain, Extend, and Evaluate) and more.

KEY CONCEPTS IN THIS 5E ENERGY CONVERSION UNIT INCLUDE

• Energy conversions from one form to another
• What happens when energy moves through a system
• Factors that affect how energy is converted within a system

Included in this Energy of Conversions Science Resource

• Teacher Notes that provide an overview of the resource and explanation of the NGSS standard for Energy Conversions 4-PS3-4
• Common Misconceptions about the Energy Conversions
• Teaching Timeline available with four different options, including a correlation with the Fourth Grade Science Stations
• Vocabulary Cards to reinforce key terms throughout the unit. These are similar vocabulary cards available in the Fourth Grade Science Stations
• Big Idea Posters that illustrate the main concepts students will learn
• Exit Tickets in three formats: short answer, fill-in-the-blank, and multiple choice
• Google Slides Teacher Presentation that supports the student resources
• Google Slides Student Resources for a paperless option
• Google Form Exit Cards

FREE UPGRADE TO GOOGLE DIGITAL COMPONENTS:

• Google Slides Teacher Presentation that supports the student resources
• Google Slides Student Resources for a paperless option
• Google Form Exit Cards to monitor student understanding

What is the 5E Instructional Model?

The 5E Model is student-led, with the teacher acting mainly as the facilitator. Through open-ended questions, real-life experiences, guided investigations, and research, the students gain a deep understanding of the scientific topics that are covered in the lessons. Each stage of the model serves as a foundation to the next, creating a coherent model that frames lessons, activities, and units.

Find out more about the 5E Unit Plans in this blog post.

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Objectives and Timeline for Each Section of the 5E Energy Conversions Unit

ENGAGE

Objectives:

• Students will access their prior knowledge about energy conversions.
• Student interest in energy conversions will be elicited.
• The teacher will be able to identify student misconceptions about energy conversions.

Parts and Duration:

• Part 1 (What Is This?):  10 minutes
• Part 2 (My Experiences):  15 minutes
• Part 3 (Introducing):  15 minutes

EXPLORE

Objectives:

• Students will work together to investigate how energy is converted from one form to another.  They will do this by observing what happens when energy moves through a system.
• Students will gather general information about the conversion of energy.
• Students will begin to think about the factors that affect how energy is converted.
• Students will analyze and interpret data to provide evidence that the conversion of energy is affected by the components in a system.

Parts and Duration:

• Part 1 (Check It Out):  20 minutes
• Part 2 (Read This): 15 minutes
• Part 3 (You Try It):  30 minutes

EXPLAIN

Objectives:

• Students will work collaboratively to observe energy conversions.
• Students will listen to the teacher’s explanation about energy conversions.
• Students will use the new information to revise their explanations about energy conversions.

Parts and Duration:

• Part 1 (What Does It Mean?):  20 minutes
• Part 2 (What Are Energy Conversions?):  20 minutes
• Part 3 (Putting It All Together):  10 minutes

EXTEND

Objectives:

• Students will apply what they have learned about energy conversions to a new situation.
• Students will deepen their understanding of energy conversions, gaining a more generalized knowledge of this specific scientific concept.
• The teacher will resolve all persisting student misconceptions about energy conversions.

Parts and Duration:

• Part 1 (Where Is the Energy Conversion?):  15 minutes
• Part 2 (Show What You Know): 30 minutes
• Part 3 (Have Fun With It):  20 minutes

EVALUATE

Objectives:

• Students will evaluate their own understanding of the conversion of energy.
• Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the concepts and vocabulary.
• The teacher will encourage students to ask questions that could lead to future investigations.

Parts and Duration:

• Part 1 (What I Know):  15 minutes
• Part 2 (Showing Energy Conversions): 30 minutes
• Part 3 (Going Forward): 15 minutes

These 5E Unit Plans correlate with the Fourth Grade Science Stations.