Compare & Contrast Energies Complete Science Lesson - New TEKS 6.8A

This comprehensive unit provides middle school teachers with everything needed to teach students how to compare and contrast potential and kinetic energy. Students explore gravitational, elastic, and chemical potential energy alongside kinetic energy, developing a strong foundation in energy concepts. The resource includes editable presentations, worksheets, student-choice projects, a differentiated station lab, and assessments. Designed for multiday use with minimal prep, it emphasizes student-led, differentiated learning so teachers can focus on facilitating mastery.

Essential Questions for Students

• How does potential energy compare to kinetic energy?

• What are gravitational, elastic, and chemical potential energies?

Standards Alignment: Meets 2021 TEKS standard 6.8A.

Key Features

• Differentiated materials to support a range of learners

• Multimodal activities to keep students engaged and motivated

• Flexibility in implementation—resources are available in both printable and digital formats

• Editable PowerPoints for easy 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 mix of inquiry, practice, and assessment.

Engage

• Objectives and Word Wall Cards (English & Spanish)

• Teacher file with engaging discussion prompts, classroom activities, and common misconceptions

Explore

• A nine-station, student-led lab introduces and reinforces energy concepts in differentiated ways

Input Stations:

• Explore It! – Hands-on demo or experiment to connect ideas through application

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

• Research It! – Structured online activity with guided questions

• Watch It! – Short video with discussion prompts

Output Stations:

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

• Write It! – Open-ended written responses in complete sentences

• Illustrate It! – Drawing/sketching activities to reinforce learning visually

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

Bonus Station:

• Challenge It! – Crosswords, games, or mini-projects for enrichment or early finishers

Explain

• Editable PowerPoints in both standard and interactive formats

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

• Guided note-taking templates

Elaborate

• Student-choice projects on comparing and contrasting different types of energy to extend or apply learning

Evaluate

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

• Review worksheets and questions for homework, practice, or class discussions

Flexible Learning Options

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

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