Growing the Future by Teaching Children in the Gardens
www.GrannysGardenSchool.org / 20 Miamiview Drive, Loveland, OH 45140 / 513-324-2873
Where is Energy?
Grade One
Lesson Summary
When to use this lesson
Use this lesson when the class is discussing energy.
Objective
Students understand that the primary source of energy is the sun and find evidence of
energy in the garden.
Materials
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Compost thermometer to measure soil temperature
Air thermometer
Worksheet for each student
Clipboard for each student
Pencil for each student
Crepe paper strand
Set of printed energy pictures
Estimated Duration
30 minutes
Ohio Learning Standards Connections
Earth and Space Science
The sun is the principal source of energy.
 Sunlight warms Earth’s land, air, and water. The amount of exposure to sunlight affects the
amount of warming or cooling of air, water, and land.
Life Science
Living things have basic needs, which are met by obtaining materials from the physical
environment.
 Living things require energy, water, and a particular range of temperatures in their
environments.
 Plants get energy from sunlight. Animals get energy from plants and other animals.
 Living things acquire resources from the living and nonliving components of the environment.
In Advance
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Hang the energy signs by items in the garden that represent the sign.
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Place your air and compost thermometers in the garden to take the soil and air
temperatures.
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Hang a strand of crepe paper by the wind sign.
Energy in the Garden
Revised 6/16 © 2014 – 2016 Granny's Garden School, Inc. We encourage you to use these lesson plans and change
them to fit your specific needs. We ask only that you credit Granny's Garden School as your source.
Page 1
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Can you hold energy in your hand? How do you know energy exists? You can turn on lights
with electrical energy; you can cook food with electricity or gas; you can cool or heat your
home using electricity and gas; you can move; you can feel heat. If something moves,
there is some kind of energy at work. How do we get energy? Our energy comes from food.
Energy is stored in food.
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What is the main source of energy for living things? The sun is the main source of energy for
living things.
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In the garden, we’ll look for energy. Discuss the worksheet. Label the sun together as the
main source of energy for living things in the garden. The rays spread the sun’s energy. The
sun’s energy affects our environment and the organisms that live here.
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Students will walk around the garden to look for signs that name something that depends on
energy from the sun. The students print the word on one of the sun’s numbered rays. The
sign tells students what observations to make.
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Gather the students to discuss energy in the garden. Ask students if they know how energy
relates to the items. All of the items need energy from the sun; some are capable of being
energy.
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The sun provides energy to all plants to grow.
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Temperature measures the heat energy from the sun. Read the air and soil temperatures to
students. Why is there a difference? Soil temperature is often cooler because the sun’s rays
don’t shine into the soil. Soil heating happens as warmth from the air is absorbed.
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The leaves of plants use energy from the sun to make food for the plant. The food gives the
plant energy to grow. Leaves can also be food energy for animals.
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Trees not only have food energy in the leaves, but also heat energy from tree wood that is
burned.
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Flowers have pollen and nectar, which are food energy for animals. The flowers have grown
in part due to the sun’s energy.
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All of the plants in the garden need the right amount of heat energy to grow. Some of the
plants can survive colder temperatures, but most need warmth to grow. Think about plants
in winter when the temperature is cold. Are plants actively growing in winter?
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Our very small garden animals are called invertebrates. They need the heat from the sun’s
energy to become warm enough to move. On cold days, our garden animals are less
active. Animals are also food energy for other animals. If the animal is a plant part eater,
the sun’s energy is important for the plants they eat to grow.
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Wind happens when there are temperature differences as the sun’s energy reaches our air.
In some places, people are changing wind energy to electrical energy.
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Wrap up by emphasizing that energy comes in many forms and has many uses and that the
sun is the main source of energy in nature.
Sources
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Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker. Energy Makes Things Happen. HarperCollins Publishers: New
York, New York, 2003.
FUN WITH THE SUN: TEACHER’S ACTIVITY GUIDE for ELEMENTARY GRADES K-2. National
Renewable Energy Laboratory. 27 Jul 2013 <http://www.nrel.gov/docs/gen/fy01/30928.pdf>
Revised 6/16 © 2014 – 2016 Granny's Garden School, Inc. We encourage you to use these lesson plans and change
them to fit your specific needs. We ask only that you credit Granny's Garden School as your source.
Page 2
Growing the Future by Teaching Children in the Gardens
www.GrannysGardenSchool.org / 20 Miamiview Drive, Loveland, OH 45140 / 513-324-2873
Where is Energy – Grade One
Name: ___________________________________
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In science, we learn that the sun is the principal source of energy. In the garden, we looked for
sources of energy that depend on the sun. Ask your student how we get energy. Email
[email protected] to join our next gardening experience!
Revised 6/16 © 2014 – 2016 Granny's Garden School, Inc. We encourage you to use these lesson plans and change
them to fit your specific needs. We ask only that you credit Granny's Garden School as your source.
Page 3
1
leaves
Check for leaves that have holes or lines in
them.
2
tree
Look for signs of animals.
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flower
Observe what it looks like and any visitors.
4
temperature
Is the air warmer or colder than the soil?
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animals
What animals do you see or hear?
What are they doing?
6
wind
Is there a breeze?