Science Made Easy: Practical ways for kids to understand matter and energy

Science cannot be studied by cramming. To excel in the subject, it is essential to clearly understand every concept and its application by thinking critically. It is when you lack concept clarity that you find the subject to be intimidating.

Hands-on learning is the way to go to get a thorough understanding of scientific concepts. This involves drawing real-life examples or conducting practical experiments to explain various phenomena.

“The most original way to spark children’s interest in a subject is to teach it through practical experiments. Practical experiments benefit children more than theoretical concepts, and science is the best subject for them to understand. Practical experiments are not only engaging but also help improve the skills necessary for future careers,” says Seeta Gulati, a Science teacher from Apeejay School, Faridabad Sector 15.

Also Read: Science Made Easy: Easy kitchen experiments to learn concepts

How do practical experiments benefit? The Apeejay teacher says, “When children participate in science activities, it nurtures curiosity and helps them to analyse and synthesise. They acquire observational and inferential skills while improving eye-hand coordination. Introducing Science to children at a young age helps with their brain development. Every child can do science experiments with some guidance. It helps them build big ideas by understanding the fundamental concepts. It increases their desire to learn new concepts, even if the concepts are of a higher level.”

Introduction to matter and energy: Explained with examples

These are the two fundamental concepts that any beginner is introduced to. To help them understand states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) and energy better, the Apeejay teacher shares some effective tips and experiments:

Introduce children to the word ‘energy’

What do they think energy is? Did they use any energy today? List the ways they used energy today. Using collaborative learning, children can share ideas with peers.

Energy is the ability to do work or make a change. Energy is invisible. However, you can tell when energy is there. One way to tell is if something is moving. A person walking down the street, a tree blowing in the wind, and the hands of a clock spinning are all signs of energy.

Relation between matter and energy

Show a child how ice melts or water boils. Simple activities like these can help kids understand the relationship between changes in states of matter and heat energy.

Potential vs kinetic energy

Potential energy and kinetic energy can be introduced by the rolling of a ball and bouncing back on a hard surface. The interconversion of energy occurs when we turn on a fan, heat water, burn firewood, and so on. Students can actively be involved and list a few more interconversion of energy.

Flow of energy and cycling of matter in ecosystems

A food web is a model of feeding relationships in an ecosystem. When an organism is eaten, the matter and energy stored in its tissues are transferred to the organism that eats it. Energy and matter are conserved during ecosystem processes. As energy moves through an ecosystem, it changes form, but no new energy is created. Similarly, as matter cycles within an ecosystem, atoms are rearranged into various molecules, but no new matter is created. So, during all ecosystem processes, energy and matter are conserved.