TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Transportation and the Environment
Looking at transportation and the environment, students learn that some human-made creations, such as vehicles, can harm the environment. They also learn about alternative fuels and vehicles designed by engineers to minimize pollution....
![Fuel Our Future Now: Gr. 6 8 Module: Designing a Vehicle for the Year 2020 [Pdf] Lesson Plan](https://d15y2dacu3jp90.cloudfront.net/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "Fuel Our Future Now: Gr. 6 8 Module: Designing a Vehicle for the Year 2020 [Pdf] Lesson Plan")
Other
Fuel Our Future Now: Gr. 6 8 Module: Designing a Vehicle for the Year 2020 [Pdf]
For this 6-8 teaching module, students learn about natural resources, human impact on the environment, and engineering design in vehicle transportation. Using real world scientific data and scientific reasoning skills, they investigate...
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: Fewer Watts and Fatter Wallets
Students learn about incentives for alternative energy programs and the role played by non-price determinants in energy choices.
Council for Economic Education
Econ Ed Link: Blowing in the Wind
Wind energy is becoming a viable alternative to more traditional forms of energy generation. In this lesson, students will determine the feasibility of wind generation in different areas of the United States. Finally, students will...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Planning for the End of Oil
As the world's attention focuses on the perils of oil exploration, we present Richard Sears' talk from early February 2010. Sears, an expert in developing new energy resources, talks about our inevitable and necessary move away from oil....
Museum of Science
Museum of Science and Industry: Online Science: Activities: Build a Wind Turbine
Step-by-step instructions, with photos, of how to construct and test a wind turbine that produces energy. This experiment does require preparation as it uses PVC pipes, a small motor, and a multimeter, for example.
Climate Literacy
Clean: Life Cycle Assessment of Biofuels 101
Multi-lesson activity in which students conduct a life cycle assessment of energy and carbon dioxide used and produced in ethanol production.
NOAA
Noaa: Ne Mo: Chemosynthesis
Deep under the ocean there is no light for plants to perform photosynthesis. This site is a good overview of the alternative energy method, chemosynthesis. Read all about it.
Other
Florida Dept. Of Education: Conservation of Renewable and Nonrenewable Resources
In this learning module, students learn to differentiate between renewable and nonrenewable resources, and identify resources that fit into each category. It explains the environmental effects of using nonrenewable resources, such as...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Biodiesel: The Afterlife of Oil
Natascia Radice describes the process of turning used cooking oil into useful biodiesel. [4:15]
Energy4Me
Energy4me: Wind Energy
Learn about the alternative energy source, wind energy. Find out the history of this renewable resource and how it works to convert wind energy into electricity.
Energy4Me
Energy4me: Biofuels
Learn the history of the use of biofuels, and find out how this works to convert the energy stored in biological materials into electrical power.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Wind Power
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How wind can be used to generate power, and its consequences.
Smithsonian Institution
Lemelson Centre: Spark!lab: Make Your Own Wind Turbine
A wind turbine is a machine that captures the force of the wind to produce electricity. Learn how to make a wind turbine as a student or as a teacher. An experiment can be downloaded.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Economics of Installing Solar Pv Panels: Is It Worth It to the Individual?
Help determine the financial calculations involved in an actual solar photovoltaic system installed Denver, Colorado in 2013.
Other
Terc: Catching Sunshine
A hands-on challenge to build a solar collector to investigate how much the air temperature inside the collector goes up. Site includes information for teachers and students. Teachers page include time requirement, materials needed, the...
Other
Terc: Chocolate Melt
A design challenge to build a solar cooker that will melt a chocolate chip quickly. Site includes both teacher and student links to help with the challenge. Information for teachers includes timeline, materials, link to standards,...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Mn Step: Researching, Constructing, and Testing (Student Made) Solar Ovens
For this science investigation, students will research models of solar ovens, choose one design, and create it. Once built, they will test it outside and record the internal temperature at intervals. Next, they are to change on variable...
Other
Engineering Your Future Ohio: Della Steam Plant Case Study
This lesson plan gives a real world example of challenges and choices engineers face in their careers. The Della Steam Plant Case Study allows students to analyze and present finding about a problem found in the power plant's turbine...
Museum of Science
Museum of Science and Industry: Online Science: Activities: Solar Oven
Step-by-step instructions, with photos, of how to construct a solar oven using everyday materials.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: How Do Nuclear Power Plants Work?
M.V. Ramana and Sajan Saini detail the challenges of nuclear power.
Better Planet Productions
Earth Care: Toys for the Future [Pdf]
For this activity designed for Grade 8, students are given the hypothetical task of designing a new school playground area for the younger children. The space must highlight technological innovation and renewable or alternative energy use.
Other
Ecological Enterprises, Inc.: Climate Ark
Provides links, a search tool, and an archive to climate change related news stories on topics including greenhouse effect, deforestation, alternative energy sources, global warming, and other environmental issues.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Biodiesels: Converting Oil Into Clean Fuel
Experiment making biodiesel from different types of oil and determine which oils give the best result. This science fair project from Science Buddies, although in an abbreviated format compared to other Science Buddies experiments, gives...