Where does our energy come from?

Investigating how natural resources and energy are used in the UK and the USA as well as developing an understanding of global time zones.

Free trial

New statutory RSHE guidance is here. We’re creating our brand new RSE & PSHE scheme ready for September 2026. Learn more
  1. Subjects >
  2. Geography >
  3. Key stage 2 >
  4. Year 6 >
  5. Where does our energy come from?

Unit outcomes

Pupils who are secure will be able to:

  • Describe the significance of energy.
  • Give examples of sources of energy and their trading routes.
  • Define renewable and non-renewable energy.
  • Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of different energy sources.
  • Describe the significance of the Prime Meridian.
  • Identify human features on a digital map.
  • Discuss how transport links have changed over time.
  • Locate UK cities on a map.
  • Use six-figure grid references to identify features on an OS map.
  • Consider and justify the location of energy sources.
  • Design and use interview questions.
  • Plot points on a sketch map.

Lesson 6 involves fieldwork on the school grounds. It is important to risk-assess the proposed route taking into account any relevant school risk assessment policies and procedures. Refer to the Before the lesson section in Lesson 6 to prepare for this lesson. Please be aware this lesson may take longer than 1 hour.

 

Lessons 3 and 4 require a device (one between two).

Suggested prior learning

Why does population change?

Get started

Lessons

Lesson 1: Why is energy important?

View lesson

Lesson 2: What is renewable energy?

View lesson

Lesson 3: How does the United States generate energy?

View lesson

Lesson 4: How does the United Kingdom generate energy?

View lesson

Lesson 5: What is the best way to generate energy?

View lesson

Lesson 6: Where is the best place for a solar panel on the school grounds?

View lesson
Optional lesson

Optional sustainability lesson: What actions can we take to make the world more sustainable?

View lesson

Key skills

  • Locating more
Lock

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Join Log in

Key knowledge

  • To know
Lock

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Join Log in

Key vocabulary

biofuel

coal

Lock

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Join Log in

Related content

    Resources

Unit resources

Padlock
Geography

Knowledge organiser – Geography Y6: Where does our energy come from?

Aimed at pupils, a single page document that gives key facts and definitions from the unit Where does our energy…

View
Padlock
Geography

Vocabulary display – Geography Y6: Where does our energy come from?

A display version of the vocabulary from the unit 'Where does our energy come from?'.

View

Subject resources

Lock

This content is for subscribers only. Join for access today.

Join Log in

Cross-curricular opportunities

Science: Earth and space

English: Spoken language, reading

Physical education

RSE/PSHE

Build on the learning

Can I carry out an independent fieldwork enquiry?

Get started

Popular content

Other subjects

Please don’t screenshot or copy images from this page.
Kapow Primary resources are created by teachers and protected by copyright. Copying images or slides into your own presentations (for example using the Snipping Tool) counts as reproducing the resource and isn’t permitted under the Kapow licence.
This resource is being accessed through your school’s Kapow licence.
Thank you for respecting the work of the teachers who create these materials.