1. Thinking about Electricity
Learning Objectives
•To know that we can make electricity in
different ways.
•To begin to understand how the way we get
electricity can affect our environment
2. Where does our electricity come
from?
• Electricity is made or generated in different ways. Can
you think of some?
• Most of our electricity is made using fossil fuels. What do
you think these are?
gas
oil
coal
3. Why do you think these are called
fossil fuels?
Millions of years ago, before the dinosaurs roamed the earth,
lots of plants grew strong from the energy of the sun. Then they
died and became buried in thick layers beneath lots of mud and
soil. The remains of animals became buried as well. Over the
millions of years, the mud and soil changed to rock and the
layers above the rotting plants and animal remains grew heavier
and heavier and thicker and thicker.
All these organic remains (dead plants and animals) got
squashed and a mixture of pressure and heat turned some
organic material into coal, some into oil and some into natural
gas. People found out that if they dug down deep enough and
got these fossil fuels out, they could burn them to get energy.
Can you act out this story?
4. So how do we get electricity from
fossil fuels?
• Most electricity is produced by burning fossil fuels in
power stations.
• Coal, oil and natural gas are burned in furnaces to heat
up water. The boiling water makes steam which pushes
the gigantic blades of a turbine to produce electricity.
Power stations give off lots of steam
which you can see.
Power stations give off pollution,
which you can’t see.
When we burn fossil fuels we put
lots of carbon dioxide into the air.
This is a cause of Global Warming.
5. It takes millions of years to make
fossil fuels
• What will happen when they run out?
• Because fossil fuels won’t last for ever we call
them non – renewable. This means they can’t
be renewed.
• Look at a piece of coal – think how long it took it
to be formed. What is it like?
6. Some countries use nuclear power
Nuclear
power
plant
Nuclear power plants use a
material called uranium to produce
electricity.
Nuclear power plants make
electricity by splitting tiny atoms of
the uranium to release energy.
Nuclear plants also have waste
materials that are very dangerous
and have to be looked after safely
for thousands of years.
7. How else can we produce
electricity?
PV
panels
Wind
turbines
These are some of the
ways we can get
‘renewable’ energy.
This means that the
source of the energy
will not run out.
Water
wheels
How is the
electricity
being
generated?
8. Now watch the film of Cassop
Primary School and see how they
get their electricity
How does your school get its electricity?
Do you use any renewables?
10. Glossary
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Atom – an incredibly tiny particle of matter
Electricity – the flow of electrical energy
Fuel – something that is burned to give heat
Furnace – a place where a fuel is burned, which gets very hot
Gas – something that is not a liquid nor a solid at ordinary
temperatures (like air)
Generate – to produce electricity
Global warming – an increase in the world’s temperature believed to
be mainly caused by the greenhouse effect
Greenhouse effect – warming of the earth’s surface caused by
pollution from some gases
Pollution – too much of something we don’t want in the wrong place,
causing harm
PV panel – a panel containing photovoltaic cells which convert energy
from the sun into electrical energy
Turbine – a machine with blades that can be turned to generate power
12. Atom
Electricity
Fuel
an incredibly tiny particle of matter
Gas
Furnace
an increase in the world’s temperature believed to
be mainly caused by the greenhouse effect
something that is burned to give heat
the flow of electrical energy
something that is not a liquid nor a solid at ordinary
temperatures (like air)
a place where a fuel is burned, which gets very hot
Generate
to produce electricity
Global warming
Greenhouse effect
Pollution
too much of something we don’t want in the wrong
place, causing harm
a panel containing photovoltaic cells which can
convert energy from the sun into electrical energy
PV panel
a machine with blades that can be turned to generate
power
Turbine
warming of the earth’s surface caused by pollution
from some gases
