seegongsik
Grade 5 (age 10-11)

grade 5 Resources & Energy

The electricity and heat we use come from a range of energy resources. Things that keep being renewed by nature, like sunlight, wind and flowing water, are renewable energy; coal, oil and natural gas, which built up underground over ages and cannot be made again once burned, are non-renewable energy. Burning fossil fuels releases a lot of carbon dioxide and adds to global warming, so using more renewable energy and saving energy both matter. Press the sun, wind, water and fossil fuel buttons in turn to compare how each resource becomes electricity and whether it is renewable.

Where does energy come from?

⚡ Energy resources
①Electricity, heat and the power that moves cars all come from energy resources.
②Sunlight, wind, flowing water, heat from underground, coal, oil and natural gas are all energy resources.
③Power stations use them to turn generators, or turn sunlight straight into electricity.
④Which resource we use changes how much harm is done to the environment.

Renewable and non-renewable energy

Energy Classification

Renewable and non-renewable energy
💡 Why does renewable energy matter?
①There is only a fixed amount of fossil fuel underground, so one day it will run out.
②Burning it releases a lot of carbon dioxide and adds to global warming.
③Renewable energy gives off almost no carbon dioxide while it is used, and it does not run out.
④But sunlight and wind change with the weather, so ways of storing electricity are being developed too.

Saving energy

🌍 Saving energy every day
①Switch off lights and devices you are not using.
②Set heating and cooling to a sensible temperature.
③Walk or cycle for short trips.
④Save water. Cleaning and pumping water takes energy too.
⑤Take care of things and recycle them.

Summary

Renewable Energy
Sun + wind + water + geothermal → energy we can keep using
It gives off almost no carbon dioxide while in use.
Non-Renewable Energy
Coal + oil + natural gas → energy in limited supply
Once burned it cannot be made again, and it releases carbon dioxide.
🎯 Key points
①Energy resources are what we use to get electricity and heat.
②Renewable energy, like sun, wind, water and geothermal heat, keeps being renewed.
③Non-renewable energy, like coal, oil and natural gas, exists in a fixed amount.
④Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide and adds to global warming.
⑤Saving energy and using more renewable energy both matter.

Examples and Unit Test

Example 1
Which is renewable energy: solar energy or coal?
1
Renewable energy keeps being renewed by nature, like sunlight, wind and water.
2
The sun shines again every day, so solar energy is renewable; coal cannot be made again once burned, so it is non-renewable.
▸ Solar energy
Press the sun button in the picture and a green renewable badge appears; press fossil fuels and a red non-renewable badge appears.
Example 2
What problems come from using fossil fuels all the time?
1
Fossil fuels such as coal and oil exist in a fixed amount underground, so they run down as we use them.
2
Burning them releases a lot of carbon dioxide, which adds to global warming.
▸ They will run out one day, and the carbon dioxide from burning them adds to global warming.
That is why people are trying to use less fossil fuel and more renewable energy.
Unit-test style
Which statement about resources and energy is correct?
①Coal is renewable energy that can be used again.
②Solar energy is renewable energy that we can keep using.
③Burning fossil fuels gives off no carbon dioxide.
④Oil can be used forever.
⑤Wind energy is non-renewable.
▸ ② Solar energy is renewable energy that we can keep using.
1
The sun shines again every day, so solar energy is renewable.
2
Coal and oil are non-renewable and limited (①, ④), burning them releases carbon dioxide (③), and wind energy is renewable (⑤).
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Using Electricity

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