This unit has specifically been aligned to the Australian Science Curriculum year three. In this unit 'Powering Our World' students investigate how heat can cause a change of state and can be used to process ores to produce materials that are used in everyday life. Students focus particularly on solar energy and its effect on everyday materials and also explore how heat is produced by fire, chemicals and electricity. Through an inquiry based approach students examine how heat changes solids to liquids, raises the temperature of objects and can be used as an energy source for cooking.

Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA), Wandoan State School and Xstrata Coal are acknowledged for their support in the development of this resource. This unit is part of a series that has been developed for the Wandoan Earth Science Centre of Excellence (WESCEX).