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Hit Me With Your Best Shot
Sixth graders discuss the effect of gravity on objects. In groups, they participate in different activities in which they observe the effect of motion on objects and how energy is transferred between objects. To end the lesson, they...
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The Learning Bottleneck
Students identify and analyze what energy is and how they feel after moving around a lot. They identify other ways that they can acquire heat and if there is some sort of mechanism for storing energy. Finally, students construct their...
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Eating your Energy's Worth
Students calculate the amount of electrical energy used in a week in food units. They create ways to reduce energy use. Students discuss the different forms and sources of energy. They discuss how people use electrical energy to power...
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Mechanical Energy
Students discover the difference between kinetic and potential energy in an experiment using toy cars and tracks. In small groups, they set up the experiment to determine the distance milk cartons will travel when hit by toy car. They...
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Energy in the Form of Calories
Students calculate the amount of food calories found in an individual peanut. In small groups, they set up the experiment so that a burning peanut will heat water above it. Using the temperature change and volume of the water they...
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Which Colors Absorb the Most Energy?
Students measure the temperatures over time of different colored envelopes in order to explore the different rates at which each color absorbs energy from a heat lamp. They record their data and graph their results.
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Sunlight and Heat
Learners brainstorm about the sources of heat. They discuss that sunlight is one of those sources. Students complete a lab about cold water and warm water. They record the temperatures from each thermometer and discuss which container...
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Cycling Energy
Fourth graders are introduced to how electricity is produced. In groups, they compare and contrast the linear production of energy with other forms of mechanical energy production. They try to make a turbine work acting like it is part...
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Energy and Fuels
High schoolers compare and contrast the various energy resources available to the general population. Working in groups, they research the energy source of their choice and create a presentation detail their research and comparing their...
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Life with Energy
Pupils identify forms of energy and the advantages/disadvantages of different forms of energy. They describe ways in which technology affects the environment both good and bad. Finally, benefits are determines as well as the...
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Renewing Our Position
Young scholars engage in a lesson in order to analyze the energy needs of the United States and cover the possible future needs depending on the growth of technology. They cover the alternative energy sources and make presentations of...
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Energy Content Of Foods And Fuels
High schoolers engage in a study of food and how it used as fuel for the human body. They research how biological systems require energy and compare them to the physical science systems like machines. They compare and contrast what they...
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Researching Alternative Energy
Sixth graders investigate the concept of energy using a hypothetical story. The power goes out in their house and they no longer can play your videogames. Students must create your own alternative power source. This story sets the stage...
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Energy Efficiency Ambassadors
Students research and compare two products that provide the same function but require different amounts of energy to do the job. They examine and demonstrate energy efficiency and discover how it applies to different technologies and...
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Biomass As a Fuel
Learners investigate the use of biomass as a fuel. They discuss energy and its uses in their homes. They explore the two types of energy, potential and kinetic and examples of both types. They study the process of photosynthesis and...
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Energy Transfer
Students investigate the properties of heated air. They make predictions about what they think makes the wind blow on a worksheet, and conduct two experiments to demonstrate the properties of heated air. Students heat a bottle until a...
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Gotta Have Energy
Students explore energy. They discuss the types and uses of energy and research an assigned energy source. They create a "benefits versus potential environmental impacts" chart that lists energy sources and possible impacts. They...
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Light Travels As A Game
Students identify ways that light can travel and why. In groups, they develop an experiment to show that light can travel because it is a form of energy. They use this information and apply it to other forms of energy to end the lesson.
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Prospects for a Sustainable Energy Future
Students review the definition to the word "sustainability" from two sources. After reading excerpts of the World Commission on Environment and Development, they identify the recommendations of Johansson and Goldemberg. They discuss...
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Making New Electricity
Students investigate the concepts of energy conversion and conservation. They research the history of energy conversions into electrical energy. They design experiments in order to replicate a conversion of energy into electricity.
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Marvelous Magnets
Students identify and classify magnetic and nonmagnetic materials and metals. After determining which materials and metals are magnetic, students create a data table and classify items by two different criteria. Students e-mail various...
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An Introduction to Thermal Spray Technology
Students discuss difference between kinetic and thermal energy, develop and demonstrate understanding of key concepts and characteristics underlying thermal spray techniques, list items used in their daily lives that are coated, examine...
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The Flow of Energy Song
Students recite/perform the lyrics of Jim Walters "The Flow of Energy" song. They incorporate instrumental accompaniment parts for the song as well. In addition, they produce a slide show to explain the reasoning of the lesson....
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Scouting for Circuits
Fifth graders investigate electricity and how it used in a circuit to be useful energy. They also use this investigation in order to understand how energy can change forms and still be considered useful if put into the right form.