Turning One Energy Into Another
A 55-minute Grade 4 lesson on designing, testing and refining a device that converts energy from one form into another.
Turning One Energy Into Another is a free 55-minute Grade 4 science lesson plan for Common Core standard 4-PS3-4 — design, test and improve a device that turns one form of energy into another. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the mathematics, names 3 misconceptions with the teaching move that addresses each, and ends with an exit ticket and a printable worksheet with its answer key.
- Grade:
- Grade 4
- Length:
- 55 minutes
- Standard:
- 4-PS3-4
Grade 4 · Physical Science
4-PS3-4
Apply scientific ideas to design, test, and refine a device that converts energy from one form to another.
Objective
Students will be able to build a device that converts energy and say which forms are involved.
Students are successful when they can
- Names the energy going in and the energy coming out.
- Tests the device and records what it did.
- Makes one change and tests again.
What you need
- Rubber bands, card, motors, small solar cells, batteries, buzzers, bulbs
- A record sheet with in, out, and result columns
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up
5 min- Wind a wind-up torch and let it shine.
- Ask what went in and what came out.
Teach — name both ends
14 min- Write the wind-up torch as movement in, light out.
- Do a solar cell and fan: light in, movement out.
- Do a battery and buzzer: stored chemical energy in, sound out.
- Say the rule: every converter has two ends, and you must name both.
- Build a rubber band launcher and name it: stored stretch energy into movement.
- Test it, record how far it launched, then change one thing and test again.
“What goes in, and what comes out?”
Investigate — build, test, refine
19 min- Groups build a converter from the materials available.
- They name the energy in and the energy out.
- They test it and record a measurement.
- They change one thing, test again, and say whether it improved.
Independent practice
14 min- Students complete the 'Turning One Energy Into Another' page.
- Check both ends of the conversion are named.
Close
3 min- Ask which device converted energy most usefully, and why.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Names only what comes out.
Why: The output is what you notice.
Fix: Both ends. A light with no input named is not a conversion.
Thinks energy is created by the device.
Why: Something appeared.
Fix: Trace it back. The winding, the sun or the battery supplied it.
Changes several things when refining.
Why: All of them looked improvable.
Fix: One change per test, or you cannot say what helped.
If they are not there yet
- A part-built device with the conversion to name.
- Cards showing energy forms to match.
If they finish early
- Build a converter with two stages.
- Say where energy is lost in your device.
- Design one that converts light into sound.
Exit ticket
A hand-cranked generator lights a bulb. Name the energy going in and coming out.
What to look for: Movement energy in, electrical energy and then light out. Naming only the light means the input step is missing.
Printable practice for 4-PS3-4
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- Turning One Energy Into AnotherDraw a line from each device to the conversion.
Questions about Turning One Energy Into Another
How long does the Turning One Energy Into Another lesson take?
55 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 5 min, teach 14 min, investigate 19 min, independent practice 14 min, close 3 min. The minutes are stated per section and add up to the stated length, so the plan can be cut or extended at a section boundary rather than abandoned halfway.
Which standard does Turning One Energy Into Another teach?
4-PS3-4 — 4-PS3-4, Physical Science for Grade 4: “Apply scientific ideas to design, test, and refine a device that converts energy from one form to another.” In plain terms, design, test and improve a device that turns one form of energy into another.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
Rubber bands, card, motors, small solar cells, batteries, buzzers, bulbs, a record sheet with in, out, and result columns and the printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan. Everything listed is either ordinary classroom equipment or a free printable from this site — there is nothing to buy and nothing to prepare beyond photocopying.
What mistakes should I expect in this lesson?
Three, each a reasoning error rather than carelessness: names only what comes out; thinks energy is created by the device and changes several things when refining. The plan gives the thinking behind each one and the teaching move that addresses the thinking rather than the symptom.
How do I know whether the lesson worked?
The exit ticket asks: “A hand-cranked generator lights a bulb. Name the energy going in and coming out.” Movement energy in, electrical energy and then light out. Naming only the light means the input step is missing. That tells you whether the class needs a reteach or a thirty-second conversation before you plan tomorrow.
Is there a worksheet to go with Turning One Energy Into Another?
Yes — 1 printable 4-PS3-4 worksheet, linked at the end of the plan and free like the rest of the site. Each one comes with an answer key and 25 versions, so the practice after the lesson can be a different paper on every desk.
Is Turning One Energy Into Another free to use?
Yes. The plan, its printables and their answer keys are free to read, print and photocopy for your own class, with no account and no email capture. It was last reviewed on 8 September 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-09-08. Aligned to 4-PS3-4 of the Next Generation Science Standards.