Evidence of Energy Transfer Activities for 4th Grade Science

The Kesler Science Evidence of Energy Transfer 5E Lesson is a comprehensive unit designed to engage elementary students in understanding the evidence of energy transfer. This physical science lesson includes editable presentations, worksheets, student-choice projects, and assessments, all requiring minimal prep. Differentiated, student-led activities ensure accessibility for all learners.

Students explore essential questions such as how energy transfers between objects and what is needed for a circuit to function. The lesson aligns with NGSS 4-PS3-2 and Texas TEKS standards for electricity in closed circuits. Multimodal learning keeps students engaged through flexible formats, including printable and digital options. Spanish translations of key materials are also provided.

Following the 5E Model, the lesson begins with engaging discussions and misconceptions, leading into a differentiated station lab. Stations include hands-on experiments, reading passages, research activities, videos, and creative tasks like writing, illustrating, and categorizing information. An extension station challenges early finishers. Explanation materials include interactive PowerPoints, note-taking templates, and interactive notebooks in English and Spanish. Students extend learning through choice projects and demonstrate understanding via assessments aligned to STAAR 2.0. Designed for classroom or virtual learning, this resource offers a well-structured approach to teaching energy transfer.

Immerse your 4th-grade students in an engaging, student-led exploration of Evidence of Energy Transfer with this interactive station lab. Through hands-on activities, students investigate how energy moves from place to place via sound, light, heat, and electric currents. Designed for both in-class and virtual learning, this lab fosters curiosity and critical thinking while allowing students to take charge of their learning experience. 

Students rotate through nine differentiated stations that provide multimodal learning opportunities. They engage with new concepts through experiments, research, readings, and videos, then demonstrate their understanding by organizing information, illustrating models, writing responses, and completing assessments. A challenge station offers extension activities for early finishers, encouraging deeper exploration through creative mini-projects. 

This low-prep resource includes all necessary signage, literature, and task cards, supporting independent and small-group learning. Differentiated reading passages in English and Spanish ensure accessibility for all learners. Whether used in a traditional classroom or virtual setting, this lab encourages hands-on discovery and reinforces key physical science concepts.

The Evidence of Energy Transfer Student Choice Projects allow 4th grade students to select a project that matches their preferred output style. A project page outlines six student-led options plus a “design your own” project, all supported by a grading rubric for teacher, peer, or self-assessment.

These flexible projects provide creative ways for students to demonstrate understanding. Teachers can modify the rubric to fit grading needs, and two versions of the project page support differentiation. The modified version includes three options designed for students needing remediation, while advanced learners can combine projects for an added challenge.

Projects use standard classroom supplies like paper, markers, and scissors, with many options available for digital completion. Some crafting materials may be useful for model-building.