CLASS NOTE: DISCOVERING THE POWER OF ENERGY
Subject: Basic Science & Tech
Class: Nursery Three (Age 5-6)
Topic: Energy and Its Forms
Curriculum: Nigerian Hybrid (National Curriculum + Experiential Learning)
1. COMPREHENSIVE CORE CONCEPTS
A. What is Energy?
Imagine you have a favorite toy car or a dancing robot. What happens when the batteries run out? The car stops moving, and the robot stops dancing. Why? It is because the toy has run out of Energy.
Energy is the "magic power" or strength that makes things move, work, and change. Without energy, the world would be very still and quiet. We cannot always see energy with our eyes, but we can see what energy does. When you see a bird flying, a car driving, or a flower growing, you are seeing energy in action!
For children your age, "work" isn't just a job like being a doctor. Work is anything that uses movement. When you jump, run, or even breathe, your body is doing work, and it needs energy to do it.
B. Heat Energy: The Power of Warmth
Heat energy is the form of energy that makes things feel warm or hot. It is very important for keeping us alive and comfortable.
The biggest and most important source of heat energy in our world is the Sun. Even though the Sun is very far away in the sky, it sends enough heat energy to Earth to keep us warm. We also get heat energy from fire, gas cookers in our kitchens, and even by rubbing our two palms together very fast. When you rub your hands, they feel warm because you are creating heat energy!
C. Light Energy: The Power of Sight
Light energy is what allows our eyes to see the beautiful colors, people, and objects around us. Without light, everything would be pitch black, like being inside a box with no holes.
During the daytime, we get "Natural Light" from the Sun. In Nigeria, we have plenty of bright sunshine! At night, when the sun goes down, we use "Artificial Light" from electric bulbs, torches (flashlights), and candles. Light energy travels very fast—faster than anything else in the world!
D. Sound Energy: The Power of Noise
Sound energy is energy we can hear with our ears. It is made when things vibrate. To vibrate means to move back and forth very, very fast.
When you bang a drum, the top of the drum vibrates and sends sound energy through the air. When you speak, your throat vibrates to make sound. We use sound energy to talk to our friends, listen to music, and hear warnings like a car horn or a school bell.
E. Food Energy: The Power of Growth
Just like a car needs petrol (fuel) to drive, your body needs fuel to play, think, and grow. For humans, our fuel is Food.
Inside the food we eat—like yams, rice, beans, and fruits—there is stored energy. When we eat, our tummies break the food down and turn it into the energy we need to run on the playground. This is why you feel tired or "weak" when you are hungry; your body's battery is low!
2. REAL-WORLD EXAMPLES (SCENARIOS)
- Scenario 1: The Morning Routine: When you wake up, the room is bright because of Light Energy from the sun. You take a bath with warm water heated by Heat Energy. Then, you eat a bowl of Pap or Toast to get Food Energy so you can carry your school bag.
- Scenario 2: The School Assembly: When the teacher rings the bell, Sound Energy travels to your ears to tell you it is time to line up. You use the Food Energy from your breakfast to march to your classroom.
- Scenario 3: The Kitchen: When Mummy is cooking Jollof rice, she uses Heat Energy from the gas stove to make the hard rice soft and delicious. She might turn on the kitchen light (Light Energy) so she can see the ingredients clearly.
3. PROJECT-BASED LEARNING (PBL): "THE DANCING SALT"
This project helps you see sound energy, which is usually invisible!
Materials Needed:
- A small plastic bowl.
- Plastic wrap (cling film) or a large balloon (cut the neck off).
- A strong rubber band.
- A pinch of salt or sugar.
- A metal baking tray and a heavy wooden spoon.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Prepare the Drum: Stretch the plastic wrap or the balloon piece very tightly over the top of the bowl.
- Secure it: Use the rubber band to hold it in place. It should be as tight as a drum skin.
- Add the Salt: Sprinkle a small amount of salt or sugar on top of the tight plastic.
- Make the Sound: Hold the metal tray close to the bowl (but do not let the tray touch the bowl).
- The Big Bang: Hit the metal tray hard with the wooden spoon.
- Observation: Look at the salt! It will jump and "dance."
- The Lesson: The sound energy from the tray traveled through the air as invisible waves. These waves hit the plastic, made it vibrate, and pushed the salt into the air!
4. HOME PRACTICE ACTIVITIES
Activity 1: The "Energy Detective" Walk
- Materials: A notebook and a crayon.
- Instructions: Walk around your house with an adult. Find:
- Two things that give Light (e.g., a lamp, a window).
- Two things that give Heat (e.g., an iron, a toaster).
- Two things that make Sound (e.g., a radio, a doorbell).
- Outcome: Draw these items in your notebook and label them with the help of an adult.
Activity 2: The Sun’s Drying Power
- Materials: Two small pieces of cloth (like washcloths) and water.
- Instructions: Soak both cloths in water until they are wet.
- Place one cloth in a dark, closed cupboard.
- Place the other cloth outside in the direct sunlight.
- Check back in 2 hours: Which one is dry?
- Outcome: The cloth in the sun dries because the Heat Energy from the sun turned the water into invisible steam.
5. LIFE SKILLS & CAREER CONNECTION
- Energy Conservation (Saving Power): In Nigeria, we know that electricity is very important. A great life skill is learning to turn off the lights and the fan when you leave a room. This saves energy for other people to use and helps our planet.
- Healthy Choices: Understanding that food is energy helps you choose "high-energy" foods like eggs and beans over "low-energy" snacks like sweets. This helps you grow tall and strong.
- Careers:
- Electrical Engineers: These are the people who help bring electricity to our homes so we can have light and fans.
- Nutritionists: These are people who study how food energy helps our bodies stay healthy.
- Solar Technicians: These people install solar panels to catch the Sun's energy and turn it into electricity!
6. ASSESSMENT THROUGH APPLICATION
To see if you have become an Energy Expert, try these activities:
- The Energy Sort Game: Look at these four items: A Drum, a Banana, a Flashlight, and a Candle.
- Which one do you eat for energy? (Banana)
- Which one do you hit to make sound energy? (Drum)
- Which two give us light energy? (Flashlight and Candle)
- Action Commands:
- "Show me how you use Sound Energy!" (Action: Child claps or sings).
- "Show me how you use Heat Energy when you are cold!" (Action: Child rubs their arms or hands).
- The "What If" Challenge:
- Question: "What would happen if we had no Light Energy at night?"
- Expected Answer: "We wouldn't be able to see where we are going; we might bump into things!"
7. STUDENT REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Which form of energy do you think is the most important for you to play outside?
- Can you name one thing in your house that uses both Light and Sound energy at the same time? (Hint: Think about the TV!)
- How does your body feel when you haven't eaten any "Food Energy" all day?
- If you were an inventor, what kind of machine would you build that uses the Sun's energy?
DOXCOV ACADEMY