What Is Energy? Primary 6 Science Lesson

Ever wondered…

• Why your phone lights up?
• How a soccer ball zooms across the field?
• Or why the sun makes plants grow?

The secret is… ENERGY!

Energy is all around us — powering our gadgets, keeping us warm, helping us move, and even making popcorn pop!

In this FREE lesson, we’ll dive into what energy really is, the different types, and how it changes form every day around (and inside!) us. Perfect for Primary 6 students prepping for PSLE — and curious parents too!

What is Energy?

It’s not something you can touch—but it makes everything move, light up, heat up, and even grow!

Main Types of Energy:

• Electrical Energy
  Powers phones, fans, and TVs
  
  
• Kinetic Energy
  Things that move like bikes and rolling balls
  
  
• Potential Energy
  Stored energy (gravitational, elastic e.g. a stretched rubber band, chemical e.g. in food, batteries, and fuels)
  
  
• Light Energy
  From the sun or a flashlight
  
  
• Heat Energy
  From fire, ovens, or even friction
  
  
• Sound Energy
  From music, claps, and talking

Energy Conversion:

Energy can change from one form to another. This is called energy conversion.

Examples:

🔌 Toaster → Electrical → Heat
A toaster changes electrical energy into heat energy to make toast.

 🚗 Car → Chemical (fuel) → Kinetic
A car engine changes chemical potential energy in petrol into kinetic energy to move.

🌞 Solar Panel → Light → Electrical
A solar panel changes light energy from the sun into electrical energy.

The BIG Rule – Conservation of Energy:

Energy is the ability to do work. Energy can’t be created or destroyed – it only changes form!

That’s why a bouncing ball goes from potential → kinetic → sound & heat, but the total energy stays the same.

Energy in Real Life:

Turning on a fan = Electrical → Kinetic + Heat

Cooking = Chemical or Electrical → Heat

Cycling = Chemical (food!) → Kinetic

💡 Fun fact: Even your body runs on chemical potential energy from food!

Why This Matters:

We use energy all the time – and it’s up to us to use it wisely. Learning about energy helps us save the planet and become smarter about how things work.

📥 Click here to grab your FREE PSLE Energy Worksheet!

Includes:
✔️ Multiple Choice Questions
✔️ Fill in the Blanks
✔️ Match the Columns
✔️ Short Answers
✔️ BONUS Higher-Order Thinking Q!

👉 Help your child master energy concepts and feel confident in science!