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WorksheetYear 7Level 2 · Standard

Free Year 7 Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy Sources Worksheet

Students learn the difference between renewable energy sources (solar, wind, hydro, geothermal) and non-renewable sources (coal, oil, natural gas), how each can be used to generate electricity, and the advantages and disadvantages of each. They interpret a simple data set about a town's electricity and explain how a community could use more renewable energy.

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Year
Year 7
Subject
Science
Topic
Energy, Light, Sound & Electricity
Difficulty
Level 2 · Standard
Estimated time
35 minutes
Curriculum
New Zealand Curriculum
Questions
15
Answers
Included, with working
Format
PDF (A4), print or complete online

Students will practise

  • classifying energy sources as renewable or non-renewable
  • describing how electricity is generated from different sources
  • comparing advantages and disadvantages of energy sources
  • interpreting percentage data about electricity generation
  • explaining how communities can use more renewable energy

Curriculum: New Zealand Curriculum. We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.

What's next?

Completed: Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy Sources

  1. 1Energy Transformations in Everyday Devices

How to use this worksheet

  1. Print the PDF or complete it on screen. Write the student's name and date at the top.
  2. Read the instructions for each part together before starting. Encourage working to be shown.
  3. Mark with the answer sheet. Use the model answers and success criteria as a guide rather than a single right answer.
  4. Record the score, celebrate what went well, then follow the "What's next" suggestion.

Common questions

Who is this worksheet for?

Year 7 students (typically ages 11–12) working on energy, light, sound & electricity. It is pitched at level 2 · standard.

Are the answers included?

Yes. The PDF includes a full answer sheet with model answers and success criteria where there is more than one good answer. You can also view the answers online.

How long does it take?

About 35 minutes for 15 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.

Do I need to sign up to download?

No. Click Download Free PDF and it opens immediately. It is free for personal, classroom and homeschool use.

What should we do next?

Try Energy Transformations in Everyday Devices.

Preview

Success TutoringWorksheetsYear 7 · Science · Energy, Light, Sound & Electricity

Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy Sources

Name

Date

Score /

Ask yourself: will this energy source run out, or is it replaced naturally?

Part A: Two kinds of energy sources

Read the passage. Then circle the best answer.

Most of the electricity we use is made in power stations. Many power stations burn fuel to boil water. The steam spins a turbine, which turns a generator to make electricity.

Non-renewable energy sources will run out because they take millions of years to form. Fossil fuels — coal, oil and natural gas — formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals. Burning them releases carbon dioxide, which adds to climate change.

Renewable energy sources are replaced naturally and will not run out. They include solar (light from the Sun), wind, hydro (moving water, often from a dam), geothermal (heat from deep inside the Earth) and tidal energy.

Wind and moving water can spin turbines directly, so no fuel needs to be burned.

1.Which of these is a renewable energy source?
  1. Acoal
  2. Bwind
  3. Cnatural gas
  4. Doil
2.Why are fossil fuels called non-renewable?
  1. AThey are found underground.
  2. BThey take millions of years to form, so we use them much faster than they are made.
  3. CThey can only be used at night.
  4. DThey do not release any energy.
3.What do solar panels use to make electricity?
  1. Awind
  2. Bmoving water
  3. Clight from the Sun
  4. Dheat from burning coal
4.Which gas is released when fossil fuels are burned and adds to climate change?
  1. Aoxygen
  2. Bcarbon dioxide
  3. Chelium
  4. Dnitrogen

Part B: How is the electricity made?

5.Match each energy source to how it makes electricity.
  • solar panel
  • wind turbine
  • hydro power station
  • coal power station
  • geothermal power station
  • burning fuel boils water to make steam
  • water flowing from a dam spins a turbine
  • changes sunlight into electricity
  • heat from deep underground makes steam
  • moving air spins the blades
6.Coal, oil and natural gas are called (answer space) fuels.
7.Energy sources that are replaced naturally and will not run out are called (answer space).

Part C: True or false?

Write True or False.

8.Solar panels make the most electricity on clear, sunny days. ☐ True   ☐ False
9.Wind turbines make electricity even when there is no wind at all. ☐ True   ☐ False
10.Once coal is burned, it cannot be used again. ☐ True   ☐ False
11.Renewable energy sources produce no waste or effects on the environment at all. ☐ True   ☐ False
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Preview — the PDF contains the full resource and answer sheet.

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About this resource

Created by
Success Tutoring Science Team
Last reviewed
1 October 2026
How it was made
Written by our team

Free to print and share for personal, classroom and homeschool use. Please don't resell. Spotted an error? Let us know.