Year 6 - Science
Water as an energy source (non-statutory)
Climate change and sustainability (non-statutory)
Study Hub
Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit examines our climate and the factors affecting it. Emphasis is on using data, taking precise measurements, recording data, and presenting findings.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe how we use moving water to generate renewable electricity.
Key Notes
- Scientists investigate alternative energy sources to fossil fuels.
- Water turbines are built below dams. Water flows down from the reservoir and turns the turbine.
- The movement of the turbine is used to generate electricity.
- Moving water is a renewable energy source as there will always be water on Earth.
- Scientists investigate how moving water in oceans can be used to generate electricity
Vocabulary To Learn
- energy source: Energy sources can be used to provide heat, light, or power.
- generate: To generate electricity is to produce or make it.
- reservoir: A water reservoir is a large artificial lake used to store water.
- dam: A dam is a barrier constructed to hold back water.
- water turbine: A water turbine is a device that is turned by water to generate electricity.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Children may think that water wheels and water turbines cause water to move when they spin.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Scientists investigate alternative energy sources to fossil fuels. Water turbines are built below dams. Water flows down from the reservoir and turns the turbine.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'energy source'
Energy sources can be used to provide heat, light, or power. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Children may think that water wheels and water turbines cause water to move when they spin. Correction: Teaching slides explain that water wheels and water turbines harness the energy of water to do work for us or to generate electricity.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Carbon capture (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Fossil fuels (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Reducing air pollution (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Reducing our carbon footprint (non-statutory) Study Guide
- The Sun as an energy source (non-statutory) Study Guide
- The wind as an energy source (non-statutory) Study Guide
- What carbon is (non-statutory) Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 6 Science guide library.