Curated OER
Just Turn it Off
Students explore energy. In this energy lesson, students discover why it is important to conserve energy. Students discover how energy is used in items we use everyday. Students discover how batteries work. Students do an experiment with...
Curated OER
Protecting Natural Resources
Third graders recognize what our natural resources are and their importance. In this natural resource recycling instructional activity, 3rd graders understand why it is important to recycle and conserve natural resources. Students can...
Curated OER
A Day In My Life
Learners brainstorm how they can conserve energy in their daily lives. In this energy lesson plan, students discuss how they use energy and ways to conserve it.
PHET
Masses and Springs
Have you ever stretched out a Slinkie so much it wouldn't go back to its original shape? Slinkies, like all springs, follow Hooke's Law. A simulation uses springs and masses to demonstrate kinetic, potential, and thermal energy. It...
Curated OER
Energy: The US in Crisis?
Students research and assess past, present, and future decisions related to energy shortages by focusing on the California energy crisis as a case study. Students develop their own news articles about decisions that need to be made...
Intel
Energy Innovations
Collaborative groups examine the importance of energy resources on quality of life by researching different energy sources and alternative energy sources through data analysis. They make a comparison of different countries and cultures,...
Teach Engineering
Engineering Brainstorming
Here is a instructional activity that offers a great hybrid of forming new skills and using current knowledge to come up with a plan. The class brainstorms information they would need to know or already know about hybrid vehicles. They...
Curated OER
Conserving Energy Resources
Seventh graders research on energy conversion. After they have researched several types of energy resources, teams of two to four create posters which depict how these resources can be conserved.
Curated OER
Chemistry: Energy Resources and Transfers
Students explore the concepts of energy resources and energy transfers. In this chemistry instructional activity, students examine renewable and non-renewable energy sources as they view classroom demonstrations and discuss the concepts...
Curated OER
Energy Saving Digital Video Project
In this energy worksheet, students click on the links to research the internet about energy and follow directions in order to create a digital video project. Students follow 8 sets of directions.
Curated OER
Introduction to Photovoltaic Systems
The Green Education Foundation found that this lesson plan, written by the Texas State Energy Conservation Office, is right up their alley when it comes to teaching sustainability. It is ideal as a first lesson plan on photovoltaic...
Curated OER
Energy Plans and their Impact on You
In this energy worksheet, students read articles on the internet about energy and answer short answer questions. Students answer 10 questions total.
Curated OER
Thinking about Energy
Young scholars examine their understandings about energy concepts by completing an online survey. Students participate in a class discussion about their uses of resources and the differences between perpetual, renewable, and...
California Academy of Science
Energy: A Day in My Life
If only we could harness the energy of fifth graders, our energy problems would be over! The class discusses where different forms of energy come from and how we use them. They complete a chart of the activities that they do daily that...
Curated OER
Potato Launcher Energy Lab
Students investigate conservation laws using a potato launcher. In this physics lesson, students measure angles, time and distance of the potato. They discuss applications of experiments like this.
Columbus City Schools
What’s Up with Matter?
Take a "conservative" approach to planning your next unit on mass and matter! What better way to answer "But where did the gas go?" than with a lab designed to promote good report writing, research skills, and detailed observation. The...
Curated OER
Conservation Connection
Students work in groups to create a script for a one minute commercial on how to conserve our reusable energy sources. When the scripts are written, explain to the students that a story board is similar to a cartoon.
Curated OER
The Energy Task Force
Students simulate a meeting of the President's energy task force in order to observe how energy policy may be developed with the input of various groups. Students will form groups with the following roles: lobbyists, members of the...
Curated OER
Trophic Relationships, Cycling of Chemicals, Human Impact on Ecosystems and Conservation
Learners explore how the energy flow through a system is related to trophic levels. They investigate how organisms affect the cycling of elements and water through the biosphere. Students participate in lab activities to observe ways...
Curated OER
Energy Conversion
Students describe how energy can be transformed from one form to another. In this physics instructional activity, students calculate kinetic and potential energy using mathematical equations. They give real life applications of this...
Curated OER
Multi-Talented Electrical Energy
Students explore energy conversions by demonstrating the conversion of electrical energy into light, heat, sound, and magnetic energy. Students create a simple device that converts electrical energy from batteries to heat, light, sound...
Curated OER
Energy Concepts - Lesson Plan
Young scholars state the different forms of energy; and observe the effects of energy changing from one form to another (other forms) in electrical appliances.
Curated OER
Inspiring Change At Home and At School
Students explore energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. They conduct a home energy audit, a transportation campaign, and an investigation in the school. Students develop a plan to conserve energy and reduce emissions.
Curated OER
Solar Car Races: Build and retrofit for speed
If you have solar car kits for your junior high schoolers, they can experiment with photovoltaic cell angle, light intensity, and aerodynamic design to discover what makes their car move more quickly. This is a classic activity to use...