University of Wisconsin
The Why Files: Diesel Smells Sweet!
Fess up. Faced with the morning craving for caffeine, do you, with trembling hand, pour that first delicious, nutritious cuppa joe, and then just trasho the soggy coffee grounds?
National Geographic
National Geographic: Stakeholder Debate: Wind Energy
Using a case study of the Cape Wind Project in Nantucket Sound, students examine the various points of view of stakeholders, and hold a debate to argue about the pros and cons of this wind energy project. Includes handouts for...
American Institute of Biological Sciences
Action Bioscience: Rethinking Fossil Fuels
Find out how fossil fuels impact the environment and cause climate change.
Other
Kid Wind Project: Wind Turbine Blade Design
Learn how blade design affects the power output of a wind turbine. This is a short description but links to extensive information, a PowerPoint, and a lesson on designing your own turbine blades.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Corn for Fuel?!
In this activity, students examine how to grow plants the most efficiently. They imagine that they are designing a biofuels production facility and need to know how to efficiently grow plants to use in this facility. As a means of...
PBS
Kqed: Quest: How Nuclear Reactors Work
This interactive explorer allows students to click on a hot spot on the image and learn more about how nuclear reactors work.
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
The National Academies: Emerging Technologies: Advanced Nuclear Fission
A brief explanation of the advances being made in the design of nuclear power facilities.
Other
Molleindustria: Oiligarchy
Interactive game lets players consider the downside of our dependence on oil by having them step into the role of a purposefully bad oil industry executive driven to extremes by insatiable demands for more oil and more profits. Everyone...
Read Works
Read Works: Coastal Drilling in Sunny California
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about off-shore drilling and the need for alternate energy sources. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Science Museum, London
Science Museum: Antenna: Nanotechnology: Small Science, Big Deal
A description of how nanotechnology can manipulate tiny particles and have applications in sports, clothing, foods, electronics, pollution control, alternative fuels, crime fighting, wars, and healthcare.
University of Wisconsin
The Why Files: Time for Nukes?
The Why? Files article features the alternative energy source nuclear power and discusses the benefits and hazards of nuclear power plants. Also contains additional links for further study.
Other
Warm Air: Solar Heating
Solar heating systems and their operation are described, and their benefits, both economic and environmental are discussed in detail.
Other
Advanced Thermoelectric: Fundamental Thermoelectrics
Discusses the scientific principles (the Peltier effect) and the reliability and operation of thermoelectric modules. Includes a link to several other pages, one of which contains an animation of their operation.
Environduck
Enviroduck: Green Transportation Environmentally Friendly Transport
Learn how green transportation such as cars, autos, busses, and trains can help our environment.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Hydroelectric Power Study Guide
Review the main concepts of hydroelectric power with this review guide.
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]
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Biology: Carbohydrates
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Discusses the structure and role of carbohydrates.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Science Explorations: Kids' Environment Report Card
Cast your vote on the important environmental issues. Associated with each issue, there are at least three links to sites which can further your understanding of the issue. To encourage others to respect the environment, you can also...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Learning Sustainability With Sim City
Helps educators develop SimCity-based lesson plans that will encourage students to think critically about the challenges facing modern cities. SimCity is a city-building simulation computer game where players become the mayor and design...
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Biomass
Learn about "biomass," organic non-fossil material of biological origin. Includes external links.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Oil Shale
When converted to petroleum, oil shale is a valuable resource produced by many countries around the world, including the U.S. Wikipedia discusses the geology, history, economics, and environmental considerations of oil shale.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: A New Ecosystem for Electric Cars
Forget about the hybrid auto- Shai Agassi says it's electric cars or bust if we want to impact emissions. His company, Better Place, has a radical plan to take entire countries oil-free by 2020. [18:03]
Climate Literacy
Clean: Evaluating Woody Biomass Options for North Carolina's Electricity Future
In this activity, students learn about the pros and cons of co-firing woody biomass fuels with coal to produce electricity.
Climate Literacy
Clean: Fueling the Future: Evaluating the Sustainability of Biofuels
Learners consider the impact and sustainability of use of different biofuels on the economy, the environment, and society. Students also learn about bioelectricity and how converting biomass to electricity may be the more efficient way...