Routes through

There are several ways to use the E.ON Energy Experience resources. You could explore energy through a mini-project, for example during a week dedicated to science, or base half a term’s science teaching and learning on it. You could also integrate the activities into your science teaching for topics such as electricity, or use the activities to support topics in other subjects, eg handling data in maths.

The diagram below suggests three different routes through the resources. It shows how the print activities can be used to support the online activities. If you are only using the print materials  the same routes can be followed with the online activities  omitted.

A focused mini-project

Whichever route you decide to take, if you are using the online materials begin by introducing the concept of energy through  What is energy? with the whole class, on an interactive whiteboard if available. Invite pupils to make the choices and decisions that are required. Having completed the on-screen activities, pupils can work through  1: Energy sources and  2: Energy at home. If you are using only the print materials, introduce the concept of energy through  1: Energy sources and  2: Energy at home, which encourage pupils to think about what things use energy and where things get their energy from.

You could then follow one of the three routes suggested in the diagram:

1. Using energy route: Pupils investigate the appliances that use electricity and gas at home. They think about the appliances that they use every day and complete  3: Energy diary. Then they can explore different ways of saving energy.

2. Energy sources route:  Where does energy come from? and  4: Where does electricity come from? and  5: Where does gas come from? develop pupils’ understanding of how energy reaches their homes. Energy sources extends this understanding to consider where electricity and gas come from and whether energy sources will run out.

3. Circuits and safety route:  Shine a light! and  7: Circuits encourage pupils to investigate electrical circuits. Pupils can then go on to think about how they and their families can keep themselves safe when using electricity and gas in the home.

A major energy project

When preparing to teach a major science topic on energy, you can base your planning around the four topics of the E.ON Energy Experience:

• What is energy?
• Using energy
• Wasting energy
• Safety

Each topic can be explored through online activities supported by activity cards or just using the activity cards. The activity cards contain a mixture of games, written projects and experiments to provide pupils with a variety of skills when investigating this topic. An information card for each topic summarises the key ideas for pupils.

The topics can be explored in any order, although you might find that the order above provides natural links between the topics. Use   What is energy? as a class, to introduce the concept of energy and how it applies to pupils themselves. Pupils should then be able to complete  1: Energy sources and  2: Energy at home. If you are using only the print materials, introduce the concept of energy through  1: Energy sources and  2: Energy at home, which encourage pupils to think about what things use energy and where things get their energy from.

Depending on their experience, pupils could then explore the other topics by completing the activities individually or in groups.

A single activity

Many of the online activities and activity cards could be used when teaching other science topics or other subjects. Here are some suggestions.

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