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Grade 7 Science Vocabulary · Trimester 1, Topic 1.4

Transfer of Energy

How a force moves energy (work), the kinds of stored potential energy, and how generators and motors change energy from one form to another.

Ohio science standards in this unit

  • 7.PS.4 · Energy transfer & wavesEnergy can be transferred through a variety of ways.

15 science words (Tier 3) and 6 academic words (Tier 2). Every word has a plain-language definition and an example sentence, written to support WIDA's Standard 4 (Science) English Language Development standard.

One word list, many ways to practice

These are the same 15 words, used in different tools. Students can start any of them right away. No student accounts or sign-in.

See the words in a picture

Label the Diagram: Ways energy is stored and moved

A ball on top of a tall shelf with a dashed height arrow, a pulled-back slingshot, a battery, a hand-crank machine wired to a small fan, and a person pushing a box with a red arrow pointing the way it moves.

Students place 7 words on numbered spots: gravitational potential energy, elastic potential energy, chemical potential energy, generator, electric motor, work, force. They can turn on meanings and hear each word read aloud.

Teachers: open the same picture in ELLEvision to move labels, add words or audio, and publish your own version. ELLEvision needs a teacher sign-in.

Label the diagram

Break words into meaningful parts

Build It in ELLEments

Science words are often built from smaller parts. 5 words in this unit come with their parts ready, so students can hear each word, read it in a sentence, and build it from its pieces.

  • kinetic energykineticenergy

    A rolling bowling ball has a lot of kinetic energy.

  • electrical energyelectricalenergy

    Batteries supply electrical energy to the flashlight.

  • thermal energythermalenergy

    A chemical reaction often gives off thermal energy.

  • generatorgenerator

    Turning the crank on the generator lit the bulb.

  • energy transferenergytransfer

    Energy transfer happens when the bat hits the ball.

Tier 2 · Academic language

Words students need to talk and write about this unit

These are not science words, but students meet them in every task and question. Pre-teach them alongside the science words.

evidence
Facts or observations that show something is true.
“A change in height is evidence that potential energy changed.”
design
To plan and make something for a purpose.
“Design a pinball machine that gives the ball more energy.”
analyze
To study the parts of something closely to understand it.
“Analyze the data to see which design works best.”
hypothesis
A testable idea about what will happen and why.
“Write a hypothesis about which spring launches the ball farthest.”
convert
To change something into another form.
“A generator can convert motion into electricity.”
present
To show and explain your work to others.
“Present your design to the class.”

Study guide

Words are grouped by the standard they support. Blue tiles show a word’s parts.

Energy transfer & waves (7.PS.4)

work
Energy transferred when a force moves an object some distance.You do work when you lift a box onto a shelf.
force
A push or a pull.She used a strong force to push the heavy box.
distance
How far something moves.The box moved a distance of two meters.
mechanical energy
The energy an object has from its motion and position.A swinging hammer has mechanical energy.
kinetic energykineticenergy
The energy of motion. Faster or heavier objects have more.A rolling bowling ball has a lot of kinetic energy.
gravitational potential energy
Stored energy an object has because of its height above a reference point.A ball on a high shelf has more gravitational potential energy than one on the floor.
elastic potential energy
Energy stored in something that is stretched or squeezed, like a spring.The pulled-back slingshot stores elastic potential energy.
chemical potential energy
Energy stored in the way atoms are arranged in a substance, like in food, fuel, or a battery.A battery holds chemical potential energy.
electrical potential energy
Energy stored because of where electric charges are compared to each other.Charges pulled apart have electrical potential energy.
reference point
A place or object you use to compare position or height.We used the floor as the reference point for height.
electrical energyelectricalenergy
Energy carried by moving electric charges.Batteries supply electrical energy to the flashlight.
thermal energythermalenergy
The total energy of the moving particles in a substance; we feel it as heat.A chemical reaction often gives off thermal energy.
generatorgenerator
A machine that turns motion into electricity using magnets and wire.Turning the crank on the generator lit the bulb.
electric motor
A machine that turns electrical energy into motion.An electric motor spins the fan blades.
energy transferenergytransfer
Energy moving from one object or place to another.Energy transfer happens when the bat hits the ball.

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