Energy Transfer and Transformation engages Grade 4 students with the idea that whenever there is a change, there is at least one form of energy causing that change. Students investigate evidence of energy all around them—when they flip on a light switch, feel a car start to move, or hear a phone ring. The relationship between energy and change becomes clearer when students understand that energy is observed in different forms, such as sound, light, thermal energy (heat), and electrical energy.

Students also learn that engineers use their knowledge of energy as they develop solutions to problems and build things that are useful to people. As a series of culminating activities, students explore the principles and practices of engineering design, such as scientifically defining a problem to be solved and evaluating and optimizing possible solutions.