Sorting out the Science is a favorite activity to use at the beginning of any unit. This activity is based on the Inquiry model. Students are given a bag full of images (laminated is best) unless you'd like all students to glue their groupings into their INB.

Students will find commonalities to group the items off of and explain how they grouped them. I make them write the reasons down or share out loud. We would then take notes over energy transformations.

The two included worksheets can be used to explain the way the energy is transformed for each item.