2.5.2. Some Key Stage Three Text Books Examined
This subsection will present evidence that there is inconsistency in the way different
secondary science text books approach and represent energy.

Two series which present energy in a contemporary manner are the Spotlight series
(Johnson et al., 1993a, 1993b, 1993c) and the Core Science series (Milner et al., 1998a,
1998b). There is an energy unit in each of the three Spotlight Year books for KS3. The
unit in Spotlight 7 (Johnson et al., 1993a) begins by inviting pupils to elicit associations
with energy – consistent with a constructivist approach and with recommendations by e.g.
Osborne and Freeman (1989). From the outset, energy is spoken of as being transferred
and the formal branching arrow Sankey diagram (called an energy transfer diagram) is
used immediately to show useful and non-useful energy transfers. Example for a torch:
energy stored energy lighting up the room
in the battery
energy heating up the bulb
Johnson et al. (1993a, p34)

The nature of energy is explained as:
Energy is needed to get jobs done, or make things work. To get a job done,
energy must be moved or transferred from one place to another.
Ibid., p34, italic as original

The law of conservation, labelled as ‘the energy law’ is introduced next along with the
various forms of potential energy. Energy is also quantified and numbers are placed on the
Sankey diagrams to add up before and after a transfer – with the additional proviso that
not all of the energy is useful. This unit finishes with a study of the energy from food and
then fossil fuels – ‘we get our energy from food’ and ‘food is our fuel.’

The Year 8 energy module (Johnson et al., 1993b pp100-110) begins with a reinforcement
of the Sankey diagram approach. However, potential energy is spoken of as being
transferred into kinetic energy. After a study of energy resources, the unit then examines
the burning of fuels. Again, the fuel is spoken of as storing potential energy. But, it is now
mentioned that this energy can only be transferred if the fuel burns with oxygen.
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