Renewable and Non-Renewable

Energy
Second Grade, Third Grade Science,

Energy is an essential part of our daily lives, but the resources that power the Earth are being threatened. In
this lesson, students learn about renewable and non-renewable resources, including those that need protection.

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to differentiate between renewable and non-renewable resources. Students will be able to
classify resources as renewable or non-renewable.

Materials and preparation Key terms

Board markers energy

Natural Resources Match And Mix worksheet renewable
Non Renewable Versus Renewable Energy non-renewable
worksheet
Renewable Energy worksheet
Write and Draw paper
Notebooks or lined paper
Colored pencils

Attachments

Renewable Vs. Non-Renewable Energy (PDF)

Renewable Energy (PDF)
Natural Resources Mix and Match (PDF)
Write and Draw Paper (PDF)

Introduction (10 minutes)

Begin the lesson by flipping off the light in your classroom. Explain that in a world without energy, many
of the things we depend on every day—including lights, cars, washing machines, and phones—would not
exist.
Ask the class to explain what the word energy means. After some discussion, explain that energy refers
to the power created by the use of resources.
Prompt the class to guess what the word renewable means. Explain that renewable refers to something
that can be replaced.
Ask for a volunteer to tell you what the word non-renewable means, based on the use of the prefix non.
If no one correctly defines it, explain that non-renewable refers to something that can't be replaced.

Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling (30 minutes)

Pass out a copy of the Renewable Versus Non-Renewable worksheet to each student.
Review the worksheet as a class, explaining why each example is renewable or non-renewable.
Encourage your class to come up with their own reasons as to why each source of energy is renewable or
non-renewable.
Once several students have shared their input, explain to the class why each type of energy is classified
the way it is. For example: Solar energy is renewable since it comes from the sun. The sun provides
energy every day for all living things, and it is inexhaustible. Petroleum is non-renewable, since there is a
Get more lesson plans at https://www.education.com/lesson-plans/
Find worksheets, games, lessons & more at education.com/resources
© 2007 - 2021 Education.com
 limited supply of it left on Earth. We use a lot of petroleum every day, in factories, in cars, and to heat our
homes.

Guided Practice (20 minutes)

Pair off students in groups of two, either assigning each a partner or asking them to find a partner to work
with.
Assign each pair the Natural Resources Match And Mix worksheet to complete together.
Review the worksheet as a class.

Independent working time (30 minutes)

Ask your students to complete the Renewable Energy worksheet independently. As students work, walk
around the class to answer questions and guide students toward the answers they're looking for through
use of examples.
Once everyone has finished, review the worksheet as a class.

Differentiation

Enrichment: Ask your students to think of ten actions they do every day that requires either renewable
or non-renewable energy. Have them write three complete sentences for each action. The first sentence
should describe the action. The second sentence should describe the resources required to complete the
action. The third sentence should state whether the energy used is renewable or non-renewable. An
example could be drinking water as the action, water as the resource required and renewable as the
energy required. Explain to your students that some actions may require both energies.
Support: Review the Renewable Versus Non-Renewable worksheet. Describe some other examples of
renewable and non-renewable resources. Ask your students to draw two columns in their notebooks or on
a sheet of paper, and label the columns Renewable and Non-renewable. Ask your students to write the
examples you discussed in the appropriate column.

Assessment (10 minutes)

Give each student a piece of Write and Draw paper.

Instruct the class to write and draw one renewable resource and one non-renewable resource.

Review and closing (20 minutes)

Ask your students to share ways they use renewable energy every day. Great answers include: drinking
water, taking a shower, and riding a bicycle.
Invite the class to share ways they use non-renewable energy each day. Great answers include: heating
their home, riding in a car, and cooking dinner.

Get more lesson plans at https://www.education.com/lesson-plans/

Find worksheets, games, lessons & more at education.com/resources
© 2007 - 2021 Education.com
 RENEWABLE VERSUS
NON-RENEWABLE ENERGY
Energy is all around us in nature. Some sources of energy will never run out so that energy is
known as renewable energy. Other sources of energy are available in specific amounts and will
not regenerate, so they make non-renewable energy; it is energy from a source that will run out.

RENEWABLE BIOMASS, WIND, WATER,

GEOTHERMAL, SOLAR
ENERGY Efforts are being made today to use
more of these energy sources which are
sometimes called “green energy” sources.

NON-RENEWABLE COAL, NATURAL GAS,

ENERGY PETROLEUM (OR CRUDE
OIL), PROPANE, URANIUM
Coal, petroleum, natural gas and propane
are known as fossil fuels because of the
way they were formed.

Get more lesson plans at https://www.education.com/lesson-plans/

Find worksheets, games, lessons & more at education.com/resources
4 © 2007 - 2021 Education.com
 RENEWABLE
review
ENERGY
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ABOUT RENEWABLE ENERGY.

1. Why is it important to try to use as many renewable resources as possible?

2. Name all 5 renewable energy sources and give a brief description of each.

LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING PICTURES AND LABEL THEM ACCORDING TO WHICH

RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCE THEY DEMONSTRATE.

Get more lesson plans at https://www.education.com/lesson-plans/

Find worksheets, games, lessons & more at education.com/resources
4 © 2007 - 2021 Education.com
 RENEWABLE
review
ENERGY
ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ABOUT RENEWABLE ENERGY.
ANSWERS MAY VARY
1. Why is it important to try to use as many renewable resources as possible?

It is important to use renewable resources because they’ll always be available. Non-

renewable energy sources, like fossil fuels, will eventually run out.

2. Name all 5 renewable energy sources and give a brief description of each.

Geo-thermal: This type of energy is produced by hot rocks deep beneath Earth’s surface.

Wind: The wind’s energy is converted to electricity through the use of turbines.

Biomass: This type of energy comes from living things like trees and plants.

Water: Hydro power is created by converting the energy of moving water into electricity.

Solar: This type of energy comes from the Sun.

LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING PICTURES AND LABEL THEM ACCORDING TO WHICH

RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCE THEY DEMONSTRATE.

geo-thermal wind biomass

water solar
Get more lesson plans at https://www.education.com/lesson-plans/
Find worksheets, games, lessons & more at education.com/resources
4 © 2007 - 2021 Education.com
Get more lesson plans at https://www.education.com/lesson-plans/
Find worksheets, games, lessons & more at education.com/resources
© 2007 - 2021 Education.com
Get more lesson plans at https://www.education.com/lesson-plans/
Find worksheets, games, lessons & more at education.com/resources
© 2007 - 2021 Education.com