Energy on Earth Resources
6.4 Standard Focus Open standard details
These resources support Virginia Science SOL 6.4 by helping students track energy as it enters, moves through, leaves, and changes form within Earth systems and human-designed systems.
- Sources of energy: The Sun is important in the formation of most energy sources on Earth.
- Earth’s energy budget: Energy entering and leaving Earth affects living systems and Earth processes.
- Energy transfer: Radiation, conduction, and convection distribute thermal energy.
- Energy transformations: Energy can change form as it is used in natural and designed systems.
Observe & Wonder Bell Ringers
These bell ringers help students observe real energy phenomena, notice patterns, ask questions, and begin tracing where energy is entering, moving, leaving, or changing form.
Guided Bell Ringers
These bell ringers help students use observations, models, evidence, and energy traces to explain energy transfer and energy transformation.
Interactives
Longer interactive lessons and explorations connected to energy transfer, forms of energy, Earth’s energy budget, and thermal energy.
Vocabulary Practice
Vocabulary resources are pulled out of the mini-challenge section so teachers can quickly find term practice, cloze activities, and review activities.
Mini-Challenges
Short concept checks and diagram-based practice for Earth’s energy budget, solar energy, and energy movement through Earth systems.
Hands-On Demos
Simple classroom demos for making energy transfer and energy transformation visible.
Simulations
Simulation-based resources for testing how energy moves through systems.
Graphs and Data
Data and graph activities connected to energy, temperature, and Earth systems.