Potential & Kinetic Energy Complete Lesson Plan - MS

This complete unit provides everything middle school teachers need to teach students how to compare and contrast potential and kinetic energy. Through hands-on demonstrations, digital activities, and student-led projects, learners explore the concepts of stored and motion energy in engaging ways. The resource includes editable presentations, worksheets, student-choice projects, a differentiated station lab, and assessments. Designed for multiday use with minimal prep, it emphasizes differentiated, student-led learning so teachers can focus on guiding mastery.

Essential Question for Students

• Compare and contrast potential and kinetic energy.

Note for Texas teachers: This lesson aligns with the 2017 TEKS and will not be updated for the 2021 standards.

Key Features

• Differentiated supports for students who need remediation or enrichment

• Multimodal learning to engage a variety of learning styles

• Flexible delivery—resources are available in both printable and digital formats

• Editable PowerPoints for teacher customization

• Spanish translations of vocabulary, a station lab reading passage, and interactive notebook pages

Instructional Framework: The 5E Model

This lesson follows the 5E instructional model—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate—ensuring a structured balance of inquiry, guided practice, and assessment.

Engage

• Objectives and Word Wall Cards (English & Spanish)

• Teacher file with discussion prompts, activities, and notes on misconceptions

Explore

• A nine-station, student-led lab that introduces potential and kinetic energy concepts

Input Stations:

• Explore It! – Hands-on demonstration or experiment

• Read It! – Differentiated passages (English & Spanish) with comprehension checks

• Research It! – Guided online activity with structured follow-up

• Watch It! – Short video with reflection questions

Output Stations:

• Organize It! – Card sorts and categorization (printable and digital)

• Write It! – Written responses to open-ended questions

• Illustrate It! – Drawing/sketching activities to reinforce understanding

• Assess It! – Vocabulary-in-context and mastery-based questions

Bonus Station:

• Challenge It! – Extension activities such as puzzles, games, and mini-projects for enrichment or early finishers

Explain

• Editable PowerPoints in both standard and interactive versions

• Interactive Notebook templates (digital & print, English & Spanish)

• Guided note-taking organizers

Elaborate

• Student-choice projects on potential and kinetic energy for extended learning in class or at home

Evaluate

• Assessments updated for STAAR 2.0, with standard and modified versions

• Review worksheets and discussion questions for practice, homework, or class review

Flexible Learning Options

This resource is designed for both in-person and virtual instruction. The station lab and interactive notebook activities are fully compatible with PowerPoint and Google Slides, making them easy to integrate into blended or online classrooms.

This is a finished product; it will be updated with formatting or corrections as needed. Future improvements and new features will be sold as a separate product.