PST Names: Annmarie, Ania, Samantha

Topic: Physical Sciences: Renewable Energy Sources

Year Level: Grade 6
Unit outcomes
AusVELS (All strands, other domains)
Science
Physical Sciences
Electrical circuits provide a means of transferring and transforming electricity (ACSSU097)
Energy from a variety of sources can be used to generate electricity (ACSSU219)
Science as a human endeavour
Scientific understandings, discoveries and inventions are used to solve problems that directly affect peoples lives
(ACSHE100)
Scientific knowledge is used to inform personal and community decisions (ACSHE220)
Science Inquiry Skills
With guidance, pose questions to clarify practical problems or inform a scientific investigation, and predict what the
findings of an investigation might be (ACSIS232)
Construct and use a range of representations, including tables and graphs, to represent and describe observations,
patterns or relationships in data using digital technologies as appropriate (ACSIS107)
Communicate ideas, explanations and processes in a variety of ways, including multi-modal texts (ACSIS110)
English
Language
Identify and explain how analytical images like figures, tables, diagrams, maps and graphs contribute to our
understanding of verbal information in factual and persuasive texts (ACELA1524)
Literature
Create literary texts that adapt or combine aspects of texts students have experienced in innovative ways
(ACELT1618)
Literacy
Participate in and contribute to discussions, clarifying and interrogating ideas, developing and supporting
arguments, sharing and evaluating information, experiences and opinions (ACELY1709)
Plan, draft and publish imaginative, informative and persuasive texts, choosing and experimenting with text
structures, language features, images and digital resources appropriate to purpose and audience (ACELY1714)
Use a range of software, including word processing programs, learning new functions as required to create texts
(ACELY1717)

Concepts: (include representations and practices that may be relevant)

Electrical circuits are a way of transferring energy

Circuits have a range of features
Energy may be produced by either renewable or non-renewable sources
Investigate how electrical energy is generated in Australia and around the world
Consider if an energy source is sustainable

Unit outcomes: (Consider: Content, Skills/processes, Human endeavour, Other domains)

By the end of this unit students will be able to:

Construct and explain both a series and a parallel circuit

Understand and articulate the differences between renewable and non-renewable energy sources
Distinguish between sustainable and unsustainable
Understand how energy is produced through wind and water by using turbines
Understand how energy is produced captured through solar power

Unit overview
Phase/
Lesson
Lesson 1
(Engage)

Science outcomes

Literacy outcomes

Lesson Summary

Explore the different forms of

energy that students already
know about.
Explore the different sources
of energy and categorise
these into non-renewable and
renewable.
Individual and group
definitions of energy.

Consider whether an
energy source is
sustainable
Communicate idea,
explanation and
processes in a variety of
way

Participate and
contribute to
discussions,
evaluating
experiences and
opinions
Use interaction skills
including volume,
tone pitch and pace

Assessment
opportunities
Diagnostic
assessment:
Discussion and
comparison of
experiences and
prior knowledge of
energy and
sources.

Lesson 2
(Explore/expl
ain)
What makes
a circuit?

Lesson 3

(Explore/expl
ain)
Wind and

water and
how they turn
turbines

Lesson 4
(Explore/expl
ain)
Solar Power

Recognise the need for

a complete circuit to
allow the flow of
electricity
Investigate different
electrical conductors
and insulators
Explore the features of
a switch and light globe

Investigate how moving

air and water can turn
turbines to generate
electricity
Consider whether an
energy sources is
sustainable
Investigate the use of
electricity, including the
effects of changes to
electric circuits
Investigate how solar
energy
Consider whether an
energy source is
sustainable
Plan and predict in
groups the success of a
solar oven

Use strategies such

as questioning,
summarising,
reviewing and
asking questions
Recognise that
closed questions ask
for a precise
response, whereas
open questions as
for more information

Explore the elements of a

circuit.
What does a circuit need to
have to be complete?
What are the different types
of circuits?
What are changes happen to
the circuits when elements
are added or taken out?
Lesson reflection

Participate and
contribute to
discussions,
evaluating
experiences and
opinions
Use interaction skills
including volume,
tone pitch and pace

Explore how wind and water

turn turbines and how this is
then converted into
electricity.
Make a mini wind turbine
Evaluate the two designs
Lesson Reflection

Participate and
contribute to
discussions,
evaluating
experiences and
opinions
Use interaction skills
including volume,
tone pitch and pace

Explore the use of solar

energy, the advantages and
the disadvantages.
Build a solar oven in groups.

Formative
assessment:
Ability for students
to create their own
circuit and
articulate the
differences that
adding and
subtracting
elements has on
the circuit.
Requirements of a
circuit.
Formative
assessment:
Ability for students
to create, compare
and evaluate the
two wind turbines

Formative:
Ability to construct
and evaluate a
solar oven based
on the principles of
solar power

Lesson 5
(Elaborate)
Sustainable
energies

Lesson 6
(Evaluate)
Create end
product and
share

Celebration
Day

Consider how personal

and community choices
influence our use of
sustainable sources of
energy
Discuss the use of
electricity and the
conservation of sources
of energy

Construct and use a

range of
representations
Communicate ideas,
explanations and
processes in a variety of
ways including multimodal texts

Participate and
contribute to
discussions,
evaluating
experiences and
opinions
Use interaction skills
including volume,
tone pitch and pace

Evaluate the energy sources

that students know and
discuss if they are
sustainable.
Renewable energies activity

Formative:
Discussions and
evaluation of
sustainable living
and the effect that
energy usage has
on the environment

Use interaction skills

including volume,
tone pitch and pace

Students will create their

representation of a concept
that they have learnt during
this unit. Representations
could include but are not
limited to:
Poster
Advertisement
Rap/ song

Summative:
Evaluation of a
concept through a
representational
means.