A didactic approach to and curricular perspectives of the construction of the energy concept in primary school

We propose activities and materials of a didactic approach to be used for constructing the energy concept in grades 4-5. Our approach integrates disciplinary, methodological and didactic aspects. We construct the energy concept from the cause-effect relationship of physical interactions by focusing on the differences of potentials (fall and rise of potentials) of the extensive quantities involved (such as fluids or heat). Students are introduced to the idea of energy being the agent responsible for the coupling of two processes. They will learn how the fall of an extensive quantity through its potential difference (cause) leads to the build-up of a secondary potential difference through which a different extensive quantity is “pumped uphill” (effect). Raising the potential of a certain amount of an extensive quantity by a certain value is caused by a proportionate lowering of the potential of a certain amount of another extensive quantity. The coupling of two processes is achieved by a kind of balance between cause and effect. The concept of energy then arises from the identification of the “proportion” between two processes taking part in an interaction.