Potential and Kinetic Energy Science Review Puzzles NGSS Skill Boosters MS-PS-3

A set of 8 puzzles that have students practice critical thinking skills and apply concepts related to types of energy, kinetic energy, potential energy, and the relationship between mass and speed to total kinetic energy. The puzzles are designed to align with the NGSS physical science standards.

Usage Recommendations:
These worksheets are versatile and can be utilized for independent practice, in stations, as homework assignments, or as part of emergency substitute teacher plans for unexpected schedule changes.

NGSS Standards Addressed:

• MS PS 3-1 Construct and interpret graphical displays of data to describe the relationships of kinetic energy to the mass of an object and to the speed of an object.
• MS PS 3-2 Develop a model to describe that when the arrangement of objects interacting at a distance changes, different amounts of potential energy are stored in the system

Puzzles

1. Energy Logic Puzzle Students will use logic skills and background knowledge about types of energy and the relationship between kinetic energy, mass, and speed to solve the puzzle. Students are not required to use the formula for kinetic energy but have to determine the new amount of Kinetic Energy if the mass is halved or doubled while the speed stays the same or the new amount of Kinetic Energy if the speed doubles, while the mass stays the same. Supports MS PS 3-1 and MS PS 3-2
2. Chef Secret Message Students will knowledge about the relationship between mass and speed to kinetic energy and the relationship of mass, height, and gravity to gravitational potential energy to solve the puzzle. Does not require the use of the formula but does require students to know the proportional relationships for kinetic and potential energy ( mass and height are proportional: double, halving while speed is related to the square: quadruple) Supports NGSS MS-PS-3-1 and NGSS MS-PS-3-2.
3. Cactus Hidden Message (Three versions included) Students will use background knowledge about types of energy and the relationship between kinetic energy, mass, and speed to solve the puzzle. Students are not required to use the formula for kinetic energy to solve the puzzle but have to determine the new amount of Kinetic Energy if the Mass is halved or doubled while the speed stays the same or the new amount of Kinetic Energy if the speed doubles, while the mass stays the same. Supports NGSS MS-PS-3-1 and NGSS MS-PS-3-2. 3 versions of the worksheet are available depending on your expectations for student math skills (NGSS standards cover grades 6-8 so you can pick the "just right" level of difficulty for your students)
4. Donut Hidden Message Students will use background knowledge about types of energy and the relationship between kinetic energy, mass, and speed to solve the puzzle. Students are not required to use the formula for kinetic energy Supports NGSS MS-PS-3-1 and NGSS MS-PS-3-2.
5. Ghostly Hidden Message (Two versions included ) Students are required to calculate work, and potential energy using the provided formulas. Also to work with kinetic energy quantitatively (have to determine the new amount of Kinetic Energy if the mass is halved or doubled while the speed stays the same or if the speed doubles, while the mass stays the same) 2 versions of the worksheet are available depending on your expectations for student math skills (NGSS standards cover grades 6-8 so you can pick the "just right" level of difficulty for your students) Supports NGSS MS-PS-3-1
6. Why did the burglar break into the bakery? MS PS 3-1 This focuses on the mathematical relationships of GPE and KE. Using the actual formula is not required but students are expected to know if the relationship is direct or proportional. A few questions might be considered “trick” questions, as they check that students are carefully focusing on the relationships and that while mass affects both GPE and KE, there are other factors that only apply to KE (speed) and only apply to GPE (height) so changing height would NOT affect KE and changing speed would NOT affect GPE.
7. How do clowns cook eggs? Students practice identifying types of energy as potential or kinetic from images of different types of energy Supports MS PS 3-2
8. Why did the monster need lip balm? Supports MS PS 3-2 3-2 Students review key vocabulary related to types of energy.

Contains

Cover and TOU (2 pages)

Answer Keys for puzzles (8 pages)