Science / Year 6 / Science Understanding / Physical sciences

Curriculum content descriptions

Electrical energy can be transferred and transformed in electrical circuits and can be generated from a range of sources (ACSSU097)

Elaborations
  • recognising the need for a complete circuit to allow the flow of electricity
  • investigating different electrical conductors and insulators
  • exploring the features of electrical devices such as switches and light globes
  • investigating how moving air and water can turn turbines to generate electricity
  • investigating the use of solar panels
  • considering whether an energy source is sustainable
ScOT terms

Electricity,  Energy conversion,  Electric circuits

Interactive

Thermal comfort – sustainability action process (Years 3–6)

This thermal comfort learning resource will guide students through an extended school based investigation. Students will develop and implement a chosen sustainability action and then evaluate and reflect on their success and their learning.

Video

Catalyst: Supercapacitors: new battery technology

Discover how nanotechnology is contributing to the creation of new, improved batteries that may soon be used in all our mobile phones and portable music devices - even in cars and trams. Catalyst's Tanya Ha looks at how traditional batteries produce electricity and how their efficiency may be increased by tiny devices known ...

Interactive

Syllabus bites: Electricity

This resource is designed to support science teachers in addressing concepts in electricity in the BOS NSW Syllabus for the Australian Curriculum in Science - Stage 3. Making decisions about the use of electricity is approached from an understanding of circuits, sources and sustainability.

Interactive

Sites2See: Exploring energy for Primary

One page with links to websites with interactive resources, information and activities to support primary students investigating energy and the Climate Clever Energy Savers program.

Video

Quantum: Tidal power

Journey to Bathurst Island where strong tidal currents can be found in the Apsley Strait. Observe how the Nguiu community is investigating the use of tidal power to provide their electricity needs instead of using non-renewable and expensive fossil fuels.

Video

Steam or just a load of hot air?

Take a journey with two 2013 Sleek Geeks Eureka Science Schools Prize finalists, as they present their take on the history of steam power. See how they link steam power, the properties of water and the way energy is converted. WARNING: if flickering light affects you, you may be best to avoid watching this video.

Video

The physics of invisibility cloaks

Could an invisibility cloak actually work? Prashanth and Maria from MIT explore this idea and demonstrate the cool ways that light bounces, bends and mixes. How do the wings of the Morpho Butterfly give clues about how an invisibility cloak could work? How would light need to be channelled in order for something to seem invisible?

Video

Catalyst: Underground coal gasification

How are scientists using technology to get energy out of coal without having to dig it up? Find out how underground coal gasification (UCG) burns and converts the coal to gas underground. Visit UCG trial sites in Queensland and hear how UCG avoids some of the environmental effects of traditional coal mining, but may have ...

Text

About geothermal energy

This resource is a web page that includes information about generating electricity using the heat from beneath the Earth's surface. It gives a brief description, with an annotated diagram, of pumping water deep underground to extract heat from hot fractured rocks, and using the steam generated to drive a turbine. It also ...

Online

Activity: homework task - energy then and now

This is a web resource about changes in energy use over time that provides a student homework activity and a detailed teacher guide including questions for student discussion. The resource requires students to compare the electrical appliances currently used in their home with those used in the past. The activity encourages ...

Text

About bioenergy

This resource is a web page that includes information on clean energy sources including generating electricity using waste organic matter (biomass). Using sugar-cane offcuts as an example, the resource gives a brief description of one way in which organic waste can be used to generate electricity. It defines the terms bioenergy, ...

Online

Activity: design a school energy saving plan

This is a web resource providing guidelines for designing an energy reduction plan for a school. It describes a student activity that involves collecting and reviewing data, identifying energy reduction solutions and sorting these into categories, describing the role of students, teachers and other staff in reducing energy ...

Text

About hydroelectricity

This resource is a web page contains information about generating electricity using the energy of flowing water. It gives a brief description, with an annotated diagram, of the way in which the potential energy of water in a dam can be used to drive a turbine to generate electricity. It also provides information about hydroelectric ...

Text

About wind energy

This resource is a web page containing information about using wind energy to generate electricity. It gives a brief description, with an annotated diagram, of how a wind turbine is used to generate electricity, and provides information about wind energy production and use in Australia. There is a link to a printable PDF ...

Interactive

Ecospace

A resource for Stage 3 students called Ecospace which takes students on a journey through the design process, requiring them to explore a real space in their immediate learning environment and to show a real school audience how improvements could be made.

Video

Catalyst: Coal seam gas production

The latest coal rush is sweeping across Queensland, but this time without having to dig the coal up. Animations show the processes used to extract coal seam gas (CSG) out of the ground, which can then fuel gas turbines in power stations. Discover how CSG avoids some of the environmental effects of traditional coal mining, ...

Video

Clean Energy fact sheets

This resource is a web page that contains links to fact sheets about clean energy and different forms of clean, renewable energy: wind, solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, solar water heating, hydroelectricity, biomass, geothermal and marine energy. The resource also contains a link to a 14.5-minute video of a lecture presentation ...

Video

Colourful Weather, Ep 1: What shape is a rainbow?

All you need is water, the sky and sunlight and you’ve got something that’s colourful – with a pot of gold at each end. What is it? A rainbow! Find out what happens to sunlight inside a raindrop, why rainbow colours are always in the same order and the real shape of a rainbow. Tip: it’s not an arch!

Online

Activity: from audit to solution

This is a web resource about implementing an energy reduction plan in a school or business that includes a teacher guide and student worksheet. It describes a student activity involving carrying out an energy audit in discussion with school or business leadership. The activity requires students to produce a report with ...

Online

Activity: evaluating energy saving technology

This is a web resource that provides a student activity involving evaluating technologies that can reduce the use of non-renewable energy resources, accompanied by a teacher guide. The activity requires students to research and evaluate a particular technology such as solar panels or wind turbines and produce a diagram ...