Macmillan Natural and Social Science 4

UNIT 6
Dear Parent / Carer,

Your child is about to start unit 6 of their Science coursebook Macmillan Natural and Social
Science 4. The topic of this unit is Energy. In this unit, your child will

 learn to identify some different forms of energy and recognise that energy changes
from one form to another
 learn to understands the importance of energy in our everyday lives
 learn to identify light as a form of energy and recognise some characteristics of light
 learn to identify sound as a form of energy and recognise some characteristics of
sound
 learn to classify energy sources as renewable or non-renewable
 learn to identify some advantages of renewable energy
 learn to identify some disadvantages of non-renewable energy
 learn to listen to, read and understand a story about mirrors
 learn to write a simple text about how you use energy

Additionally in this unit, your child will investigate energy in things that are hot and cold as well as
shadows and the way light interacts with objects. They will say the Energy chant. This chant allows your
child to review the key vocabulary of the unit in context. Encourage your child to listen and say the
chant with you. Look at the Picture dictionary on pages 160 and 161 of the Pupil’s Book together.

The energy chant (CD track 18)

Thermal energy …light energy …sound energy …electrical energy …chemical energy …kinetic energy.

They will also sing the Light and sound song.

The light and sound song (CD track 19)

Light travels in all directions and in a straight line.
Light can travel through air and water and through space,
but light can't travel through an object that’s solid and opaque.
Light is the fastest form of energy.

Sound travels in all directions and in waves.

Sound can travel through air and water but NOT through space,
and sound can travel through an object that’s solid and opaque.
When sound is reflected we hear an echo.

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© Macmillan Publishers Limited 2011

The homework for this unit is about saving energy in the home. Your child will think of and write down
four things that electrical energy in the home. For each object they will then write a sentence about how
they can save energy by using this object differently.

Thank you again for making your child’s contact with Science as enjoyable and successful as
possible. I hope that you and your child enjoy this unit and the whole course.

With best wishes,

Class Science teacher

PHOTOCOPIABLE

© Macmillan Publishers Limited 2011