Tricky Energy Terminology

I was recently reading the September/October 2021 issue of "Science & Children" a publication of the National Science Teaching Association. In this issue, I read the section "Science 101" written by Matt Bobrowsky. Matt wrote an article entitled "What is Energy?" Energy is one of those scientific terms that is commonly used outside of science and outside of the classroom with a variety of colloquial meanings. This is another case where students don't enter the classroom as blank slates but come with preconceptions about what energy means. It's a good idea to first find out what your students already think energy is, and then later they can compare their original ideas with what we know about it from scientists.