How can you tell they’ve got it: Renewable vs non-renewable energy?

If they’ve got it, you’ll see things like: Lists at least four renewable and three non-renewable energy resources; Explains what makes a resource renewable or non-renewable; Compares the environmental impact of at least two different energy sources (e.g. wind vs coal); Discusses trade-offs between cost, reliability, and environmental impact in choosing energy resources. Or just try it together: If your child heard about a plan to build a new wind farm in your area, could they explain what the advantages and disadvantages would be compared to a gas-fired power station — both for the environment and for reliability?

Science Energy Ages 12–14

Renewable vs non-renewable energy

Your child can compare energy sources. Wind and solar never run out and are cleaner. Coal, oil, and gas run down and add more pollution.

In curriculum terms

Distinguish between renewable energy resources (solar, wind, hydroelectric, tidal, geothermal, biomass) and non-renewable resources (coal, oil, gas, nuclear), comparing their advantages, disadvantages, and environmental impacts

Ages are typical, not deadlines — follow your child’s pace. How to help at home →

How to tell they’ve got it

Tick these off as you see them — no test required.

Lists at least four renewable and three non-renewable energy resources
Explains what makes a resource renewable or non-renewable
Compares the environmental impact of at least two different energy sources (e.g. wind vs coal)
Discusses trade-offs between cost, reliability, and environmental impact in choosing energy resources

🖨 Print this page to keep the checklist — it prints beautifully.

Try this together

If your child heard about a plan to build a new wind farm in your area, could they explain what the advantages and disadvantages would be compared to a gas-fired power station — both for the environment and for reliability?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on

Energy stores and transfersages 11–12Energy resources convert between energy stores — understanding the energy stores model gives the conceptual framework for comparing resources

Earth's Atmosphere & CO2ages 12–14Evaluating fossil fuels vs renewables links directly to atmospheric CO₂, climate change, and resource depletion

Renewable vs non-renewable energythis skill · ages 12–14

Unlocks

Net Zero & Energy Transitionages 13–14KS3 renewable vs non-renewable energy provides the energy system context for evaluating decarbonisation pathways

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Where this fits in the official school curriculum — our best automated guess, not yet checked by a person.

This skill sits beyond Year 6 in the Australian Curriculum, so no F–6 code is matched. It also sits beyond the NSW K–6 syllabuses. It also sits beyond Level 6 in the Victorian Curriculum.

Nearby on the map

Conduction, convection, and radiationages 12–13 Efficiency, Sankey diagrams, and work doneages 12–13 Heating experiments and Q = mcΔTages 12–13 Ohm's Law: voltage, current, resistanceages 12–13

All Energy skills →