Energy Stores - SEN

Energy Stores Part 1 - This 50-minute KS3 lesson introduces energy stores in a clear, structured, and SEN-friendly way. Created for students in KS3 in an SEN Secondary School.

Students build understanding through explicit teaching, scaffolded questioning, regular checking for understanding, and visual worksheet-based activities.

Lesson Structure:
Starter – Everyday Energy Discussion:

• Students discuss activities they completed that morning which required energy, helping them connect the concept of energy to real life before introducing Joules as the unit of energy.

Quick Check – Food Label Energy:

• Students explore a chocolate bar food label to understand that food stores chemical energy and that energy is needed for a wide range of daily activities.

Explicit Teaching – Energy Stores. Students are introduced to:

• What energy is
• Energy as a measurable quantity (Joules)
• Kinetic energy
• Thermal energy
• Chemical energy
• Nuclear energy

Each concept includes visual examples and checking for understanding questions.

• Task 1 – Identifying Energy Stores: Students identify the correct energy store shown in a series of images, applying their understanding of movement, heat, fuel, and nuclear energy.

• Task 2 – Energy Store Colour Hunt: Students colour-code objects in a picture according to the energy stores they contain, reinforcing classification and observation skills.

• Plenary – Whiteboard Retrieval: Students identify the main energy store shown in an image as a final check for understanding.

Includes:

• Fully resourced PowerPoint
• Double-sided worksheet (first 2 slides – print double-sided)
• Answer slides included
• SEN-friendly scaffolded learning