New
New
Year 9

Energy use around the world

I can categorise different types of energy and describe how energy use varies globally.

New
New
Year 9

Energy use around the world

I can categorise different types of energy and describe how energy use varies globally.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Renewable energy resources can replenish naturally over short periods of time (e.g. solar energy).
  2. Non-renewable energy resources take millions of years to form and cannot be quickly replaced (e.g. coal).
  3. Wealthier countries use more energy for transportation, technology, factories, lighting and temperature control.
  4. Many people do not have reliable access to modern energy and instead rely on fuelwood.

Keywords

  • Electricity - a form of energy that powers electronics by moving tiny charged particles

  • Renewable energy resources - sources of energy that can be reused and will not be used up or run out (e.g. solar energy)

  • Non-renewable energy resources - sources of energy that cannot be replaced that will eventually run out (e.g. coal)

  • Fossil fuel - natural substances that were formed over millions of years from the buried remains of ancient organisms; they include coal, oil and gas

Common misconception

Nuclear energy is either a renewable source of energy or a fossil fuel.

Nuclear energy is a non-renewable energy source but is not a fossil fuel.


To help you plan your year 9 geography lesson on: Energy use around the world, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

A potential homework task is to ask students to research sustainable solutions to the problem of fuelwood reliance (for example solar cookers).
Teacher tip

Equipment

Atlas or map of the world with country names

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Match these key terms with their definitions.

Correct Answer:Natural resources,Materials or substances that come from nature & can be used by humans

Materials or substances that come from nature & can be used by humans

Correct Answer:Renewable,Can be replaced naturally in a short time

Can be replaced naturally in a short time

Correct Answer:Non-renewable,Take millions of years to form and cannot be quickly replaced

Take millions of years to form and cannot be quickly replaced

Q2.
Which of these is a natural resource?

Television
Plastic
Correct answer: Coal
Internet

Q3.
Wind is a resource.

Correct Answer: renewable

Q4.
Where would you most likely find oil?

In deep forests
Correct answer: In underground rock layers
In oceans near coral reefs
On mountaintops

Q5.
Which resource is non-renewable?

Water
Trees
Wind
Correct answer: Natural gas

Q6.
What is one example of a managed natural resource?

A smartphone
Correct answer: A fish farm
A wind turbine
A bus stop

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

4 Questions

Q1.
Match the keywords to their definitions:

Correct Answer:Electricity,Energy that powers devices by moving tiny charged particles

Energy that powers devices by moving tiny charged particles

Correct Answer:Renewable energy,Energy sources that can be reused and won’t run out

Energy sources that can be reused and won’t run out

Correct Answer:Non-renewable energy,Energy sources that will run out and cannot be replaced

Energy sources that will run out and cannot be replaced

Correct Answer:Fossil fuel,Energy from ancient remains like coal, oil and gas

Energy from ancient remains like coal, oil and gas

Q2.
Why is nuclear energy sometimes confused with fossil fuels?

Because it’s renewable
Because it’s made from plants
Correct answer: Because it is non-renewable but not formed from ancient life
Because it is renewable but not formed from ancient life

Q3.
Which energy type can be reused many times?

Coal
Correct answer: Solar energy
Natural gas
Oil

Q4.
Which statement about nuclear energy is correct?

Nuclear energy is a renewable energy source.
Nuclear energy is a fossil fuel.
Nuclear energy comes from burning coal.
Correct answer: Nuclear energy is a non-renewable energy source but not a fossil fuel.