Curated OER
Making Energy "trails"
Students explore ten different stations that demonstrate either chemical, kinetic, or mechanical energy. They examine the way energy is transferred during each station's hands-on activity. Stations include vinegar and baking soda,...
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Wind and Water Wheels
Students identify wind and water as natural resources that create energy. In this natural resources and energy use lesson, students work in groups to construct a pinwheel, then explore the effects of wind and water on the pinwheel....
Curated OER
Give Me Energy
Learners explore kinetic energy. In this energy lesson plan students complete an activity and explain what happened.
Curated OER
Energy
In this energy worksheet, students complete a graphic organizer by fill in the different types of energy and the different forms of energy.
Curated OER
Potential Energy Diagrams
In this reactions worksheet, students use graphs showing reaction progress to determine if the reaction is exothermic or endothermic, the activation energy, and the enthalpy of change. This worksheet has 1 graph, 7 short answer, and 16...
Curated OER
What is Energy?
Students define energy and identify the different types that exist. They identify places they see, hear or feel energy. They understand the role of engineering in finding and testing sources of energy for the production of electricity.
Curated OER
Energy: Light -- Spinning Color Wheel
Second graders make spinning color wheels to determine how energy effects what colors look like. They paint or color a color wheel with the seven colors of the spectrum. Next, the spin the wheel to determine what happens. In order to...
Curated OER
Being Spontaneous
In this spontaneous reactions activity, students read about entropy, enthalpy and Gibbs free energy. They complete a table with reaction conditions and determine if the reaction is spontaneous or not. They solve three problems about free...
Curated OER
Exothermic vs. Endothermic
The PowerPoint opens with video footage of the decomposition of nitrogen triiodide and then explains it with diagrams. Graphs of exothermic and endothermic reactions are exhibited, as well as one for the effect of a catalyst on reaction...
Curated OER
Catapult Unit
Students understand the need for carefully defining the problem before searching for a solution. They understand the need for carefully defining the problem before searching for a solution. Students compare a variety of catapults and the...
Curated OER
Reaction Mechanisms
In this reactions worksheet, students give the equation for the overall reaction, identifying the catalyst in the equation. Students create graphs and write out the rate determining step. This worksheet has 4 graphs, 2 short answers, and...
Curated OER
Fossil Fuel Sources, Usage and Alternatives: What Are the Options?
Students examine the relationship between energy and the environment. In groups, they participate in experiments to discover the law of thermodynamics and the differences between potential, kinetic and mechanical forms of energy. They...
Curated OER
Magnetic Induction
In this electricity worksheet, students learn about magnetic induction plus compare a generator with a motor. Students also review the different kinds of energy and the formulas associated with energy. This worksheet has 28 matching, 10...
Curated OER
Science: Einstein's Big Idea
Learners explore the various aspects of Einstein's energy equation and discover how energy is transferred from one form to another. In teams, they rotate through seven stations to experience such aspects of energy change through...
Curated OER
Fossil Fuel Sources, Usage and Alternatives: What are the Options?
Students identify the different sources of fossil fuels. In this environmental science instructional activity, students research about how these impact our environment. They explore renewable energy sources that could replace fossil fuels.
Curated OER
How Hard is Chocolate?
Students conduct an experiment mimicking a hardness test. They determine the hardness of chocolate bars. Students examine indentations to determine the hardness of chocolate bar and infer reasons for the differences in hardness. They...
Teach Engineering
Antimatter Matters
Use science fiction movies to teach pupils about antimatter and alternate universes. Individuals learn about the portrayal of antimatter and alternate universes in movies such as Star Trek and Angels & Demons. They consider three...
Curated OER
Alternative Energy
Students identify the five major alternative energy sources. In this physical science lesson, students assess the advantages and disadvantages for each type of energy. They complete a concept map using information they researched.
Curated OER
The Mathematics of Convection: Nature's Model for Energy Production
High schoolers conduct a series of experiments to investigate density, buoyancy and climate. In this math lesson, pupils design and build a hot air balloon to demonstrate convection. They research and write a paper about solar chimneys.
Cornell University
Catapults
Ready, aim, fire! Launch to a new level of understanding as scholars build and test their own catapults. Learners explore lever design and how adjusting the fulcrum changes the outcome.
Curated OER
Motion Commotion!
Students explore the drawings of Rube Goldberg to design and construct a simple machine. They discuss simple machines, and using various materials and toy parts, design and construct a "Rube Goldberg" style machine to ring a bell.
Curated OER
The Ultimate Roller Coaster Contest
Students explain how conservation of energy applies to roller coasters. For this physics lesson, students construct their own coasters according to a specified criteria. They make modifications to their design when necessary.
Curated OER
The REAL Transformers
Ninth graders create a model of a hydroelectric generator. In this physics lesson, 9th graders discuss how energy can be transformed from one form to another. They make a flow chart for different energy generating plants.
Teach Engineering
How a Hybrid Works
Work with your class to connect series and parallel circuits to hybrid cars. The instructional activity introduces basic circuit diagrams before having scholars apply the understanding of the difference between parallel and...