Spring Block 4
Energy
© White Rose Education 2023
Year 4 | Spring term | Block 4 – Energy
Small steps
Step 1 What is energy?
Step 2 How can we reduce our energy usage?
© White Rose Education 2023
Year 4 | Spring term | Block 4 – Energy | Step 1
What is energy?
Notes and guidance Key questions
This is the first sustainability block in Year 4 and it provides an • What is electricity?
opportunity for children to consider their energy usage and
how it impacts the planet. In this small step, children explore
• What is energy usage?
the terms “energy” and “energy usage”. They should learn the • Which sources of energy are better for the planet?
different ways in which electricity is generated and the way it is • What is the difference between mains and battery
used in their daily lives. powered electricity?
Children should think about their daily routines and their use • What is renewable energy?
of electricity. They should consider devices that are battery-
powered and mains-operated, both at home and in school. • What is non-renewable energy?
Children may be aware of energy usage, particularly because • What are some examples of renewable and non-renewable
of the high cost, but it may be the first time they have thought energies?
about the impact it has on the planet.
Sustainability link
Things to look out for
• How can we reduce our energy usage?
• Children may think that battery-operated devices are
better for the planet as they might not recognise that
they need to be charged via the mains or that batteries
need to be recycled, rather than discarded in the bin.
National curriculum link
• Children might only be aware about the financial cost • Working scientifically – Using straightforward scientific
of using electricity and might have difficulty recognising evidence to answer questions or to support their
that there is also an impact on Earth’s resources. findings.
© White Rose Education 2023
Year 4 | Spring term | Block 4 – Energy | Step 1
What is energy?
Key vocabulary Practical ideas
• electricity – energy that flows in wires • Share pictures of different sources of energy.
Ask children to sort the images in different ways.
Encourage them to think about their own groups, for example,
sustainable/unsustainable or positive/negative environmental
impact.
• mains electricity – energy flowing to homes, businesses and
schools through wires • Encourage children to carry out an “electricity hunt”.
Search around the classroom/school for devices
that are powered using electricity.
Explore more eco-friendly ways to use these
• battery-powered – a device that needs cells to work devices. For example, turning off the lights
when they are not in use.
• renewable energy – energy sources that do not run out such
as wind and solar (Sun) energy
Factual knowledge
• non-renewable energy – energy sources that will eventually • Electricity is energy that flows in wires.
run out, such as coal, oil and natural gas • We use electricity to power our homes and schools.
• Electricity can be made from burning oil, coal and natural gas
which is harmful for planet Earth.
© White Rose Education 2023
Year 4 | Spring term | Block 4 – Energy | Step 2
How can we reduce our energy usage?
Notes and guidance Key questions
In this small step, children explore how they can reduce their • What is electricity?
energy usage at home and in school. They should then discuss
the positive impacts this has on planet Earth.
• What is energy usage?
Children should be encouraged to reflect on their routines and
• Which sources of energy are better for the planet?
highlight the changes that they could make on a daily basis to • How can we change our routines to impact the planet in a
reduce their energy usage. They also look at other changes they positive way?
can make on a weekly, monthly or even annual basis. • What would happen to the planet if … ?
Encourage children to compare the energy usage of things that • What are the ways that you can reduce energy usage
they use in their lives and think about their impact on the planet, at home or at school?
for example they could compare playing on a games console for
an hour with playing outside with a ball.
Sustainability link
• How can we reduce our energy usage?
Things to look out for
• Children may not be aware that an electrical appliance
has a larger impact on the planet than just the
electricity required to use it. Explain to them that energy National curriculum link
and materials are required to make the item and its
packaging. The transportation and waste disposal of • Working scientifically – Gathering, recording,
the packaging and item also have negative impacts on classifying and presenting data in a variety of ways to
planet Earth. help in answering questions.
© White Rose Education 2023
Year 4 | Spring term | Block 4 – Energy | Step 2
How can we reduce our energy usage?
Key vocabulary Practical ideas
• electricity – energy that flows in wires • Explore the ways in which we can reduce our energy usage in
school and at home.
Ask children to create a list of electrical appliances that they
use regularly and to consider when they could avoid using
them/use them less. Discuss if they are essential or just
desirable.
• mains electricity – energy flowing to homes, businesses and
An example could include hanging washing out to dry instead
schools through wires
of using a tumble dryer.
• appliance – a device used for a particular purpose, for
• Plan a “low/zero energy” day for your class/school.
example a fridge or an oven
Children can think about their daily routine and where the
changes could be made, such as how the register is taken,
how their lessons are conducted and the menu for lunch.
• Earth – the planet we live on Factual knowledge
• There are different ways to reduce our energy usage.
• It is important to reduce our energy usage as this means we
burn less oil, coal and natural gas.
• Turning off lights and appliances, unplugging electronic
• energy usage – the amount of energy that is used in a home, equipment and using natural light as much as possible helps
school or business to reduce our energy usage.
© White Rose Education 2023
