What Makes Things Move? Exploring Energy Through Everyday Play

What makes a ball bounce, a light glow, or a magnet pull without touching? Young children are constantly exploring different forms of energy in their everyday play, yet it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking about “energy” as only electrical.  

Energy is categorised in two ways: energy stored (potential) or in use (kinetic) — and energy will often change form as it moves through the world. In early childhood settings, this shows up in familiar moments like objects warming or cooling, moving or slowing, pulling or pushing, and stretching or bouncing back.

In this practical, interactive Online Workshop, educators will explore a variety of age-appropriate forms of energy— heat, elastic, chemical, and electrical — and learn how to turn these “invisible” energy forces into playful, hands-on explorations for children 0-8 years. For example, investigating heat transfer with ice and warm water and stretching elastic loops to feel stored energy.

In this workshop, educators will: 

• Build confidence introducing potential and kinetic energy through simple, hands-on investigations. 

• Explore five age-appropriate types of energy and how they appear in children’s everyday play. 

• Transform familiar moments — melting ice, bouncing bands, glowing torches, magnetic “push and pull” — into rich STEM learning. 

• Adapt energy explorations for different age groups, including birth to three. 

• Connect energy experiences to sustainability by exploring where energy comes from, how it’s used, and why using it wisely matters. 

• Strengthen their role as a facilitator of inquiry, guiding children as they ask questions, test ideas, and deepen their scientific understanding. 

This Online Workshop recording is suitable for educators and teachers of children 0-8 years old. It is aligned with the EYLF 2.0.

After you purchase a recording, you can view it for 30 days before the link expires.