US Department of Energy
Geothermal Energy
With Earth Day quickly approaching, as well as many science fairs, why not challenge your class to investigate geothermal energy or other renewable energy resources? There are five driving questions explored in depth here, as well as...
National Wildlife Federation
Master P in the House: An All School Energy and Climate Change Plan
A person in the US uses 20 times more energy than a person in India—that's a drastic difference! The final activity in the 12-part series goes back to the initial energy audits, analyzes which room showed the most conservation of energy,...
Curated OER
Are you an Energy Saver STAR?
Young scholars examine how to use energy more efficiently in their own home. They collect data from their home, complete a chart, read a power meter, interpret the data from an electric and gas bill, and create a poster demonstrating how...
Texas State Energy Conservation Office
Investigation: Insulation
Youngsters compare the heat-holding abilities of three different cans by insulating two with different materials and measuring the temperature change of hot water over a 20-minute period.
Polar Bears International
Taking Action!
Motivate young scientists to stand up and take action with this environmental science instructional activity. To begin, the class works in small groups brainstorming actions that support the conservation of the earth before creating and...
Beyond Benign
Ecological Footprint
How does your lifestyle measure up in terms of your ecological footprint? Young ecologists examine their impact on the planet using an insightful online calculator. A short quiz asks users to rank the size of their homes, their energy...
Curated OER
Solar Kit Lesson #7 - Positioning Solar Panels I: Explorations with Tracking
In this first part of a two-part lesson, learners track and record the sun's azimuth using a solar panel. They graph and analyze the data to identify relationships among the time of day, the altitude and azimuth of the sun, and the...
Curated OER
Photovoltaics and Solar Energy
Students experiment with photovoltaic cells and determine the energy use of their appliances. In this renewable energy lesson plan, students calculate the energy emitted by a photovoltaic cell through an inquiry-based lab. They keep...
Curated OER
Take the Energy Action Challenge
Pupils take an energy challenge and implement it in their lives. In this energy conservation lesson students read a handout and complete an energy activity.
Curated OER
Energy Efficiency in the Home
Students discover ways to conserve energy in their homes. In this energy efficiency activity students analyze a set of data and design a solution that results in higher energy efficiency.
Curated OER
The Efficient City
Students research and create a realistic plan for energy efficiency. In this investigative activity students answer questions and fill out a worksheet on energy.
Curated OER
The Three Little Pigs
Students divide into small groups and read the story of THE THREE LITTLE PIGS. Each group brainstorms a list of terms relating to energy efficiency and global climate change. Then they rewrite one page of the story of the book using as...
Curated OER
Energy In Our Lives
First graders investigate the use of energy resources in the community. Using the tools of research and surveys in order to gather information about home and business energy usage they analyze the information in order to come up with...
Curated OER
Insect Conservation
Students make a diorama. In this insect lesson plan, students review what they know and what they need to know about insects. Students define conservation, discuss why it is important to conserve insects, and make an insect diorama.
Curated OER
New Year's Resolution
Students brainstorm ways they can reduce their energy consumption and then create New Year's Resolutions with their families to put these conservation plans into action.
Curated OER
Energy Agents in Action
Students share information about energy use and conservation. In this energy use lesson, students work as a production team to make an instructional video about basic energy information. They develop a short survey about energy use that...
Curated OER
Energy Alternatives Explorations
In this energy alternatives explorations activity, students explore alternative energy sources by using the linked web resources to answer 8 questions about different resources and identify the ones that would work in their community.
Curated OER
The Power of PV: Measuring the Power and Energy of Photovoltaic System
Students explore photovoltaic systems. In this alternative energy lesson plan, students calculate solar panel efficiency and convert devices to solar energy using photovoltaic cells.
Curated OER
Energy Alternatives: Nature offers a solution
Students describe the pros and cons of different energy sources. In this earth science lesson, students respond to survey questions and discuss each other's opinion about the issue. They research an energy source of their choice and...
Curated OER
Window Treatments for Energy Savings
Students investigate energy-saving window treatments. In this environmental lesson, students research how energy-saving windows work by conducting an experiment using a thermometer and graphing data. Students identify why energy-saving...
Curated OER
Electric Blues
Students brainstorm a list of electrical devices used in their home. They read an article about electricity usage in a heat wave. In groups, they create public service announcements promoting energy conservation. They share their ideas...
Curated OER
Swinging Pendulum
Students engage in an activity which demonstrates how potential energy (PE) can be converted to kinetic energy (KE) and back again. Given a pendulum height, students calculate and predict how fast the pendulum will swing by understanding...
Consumers Energy
The Cost of Electricity
How much is your toaster costing you every day? Young environmentalists calculate the monetary costs of household appliances based on their average consumption of wattage.
Curated OER
Cooking With Solar
Identify how solar energy generates thermal energy by constructing solar cookers with your students. They will evaluate the factors that affect efficiency and the lesson plan can be adapted to capture data in a variety of ways.