Curated OER
Sunlight and Warm Air
Students discuss radiant energy from the sun, performing a simple experiment with sun glasses and bright light to demonstrate the concept. Students further participate in simple in-class experiments to demonstrate: air density as it...
Curated OER
Greenhouse Effect: Pop Bottle Experiment
Young scholars explore global warming by conducting a weather experiment. In this greenhouse gas lesson plan, students define the greenhouse effect and the impact on our ozone layer. Young scholars utilize a soda pop bottle, floodlight...
Curated OER
Understanding Light: Lesson 2 - The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Young scholars investigate the Electromagnetic Spectrum and realize there is energy beyond visible light. They identify parts of the EM Spectrum.
PBS
Blow the Roof Off!
Blow the minds of young scientists with this collection of inquiry-based investigations. Based on a series of eight videos, these "hands-on, minds-on" science lessons engage young learners in exploring a wide range of topics from making...
Colorado State University
Why Is the Sky Purple?
The color of the sky depends on the time of day. Young scholars experiment with scattering different wavelengths of light to recreate the color of the sky. They observe both the longer blue wavelengths and the shorter red and orange...
Space Awareness
Seasons Around the World
Why does Earth experience summer, fall, winter, and spring? Using an informative demonstration, learners see how the angle of the sun on Earth and the rotation of Earth determine the seasons. Scholars work in pairs to learn that the...
Teach Engineering
Human Power
How many humans does it take to power a light bulb? The 10th part of a 25-lesson Energy Systems and Solutions unit has learners conduct an experiment to calculate power. They then use the results to determine how many classmates they...
Cornell University
LEDs Rainbow Connection
View LED lights through the eyes of a scientist. Young scholars learn to view light as a wave frequency and connect various frequencies to different colors on the light spectrum. A lab activity asks groups to measure the frequency of...
Teach Engineering
Beating the Motion Sensor
I bet I can cross the room without having the lights come on. Class members set up an experiment in which they try to determine what materials will mask motion detected by a sensor. Groups predict how materials will interact with light,...
Columbus City Schools
Making Waves
Learning about waves can have its ups and downs, but a demo-packed tool kit has the class "standing" for more! Learners gain experience with several different wave types, organizing observations and data, and wave terminology. The...
Discovery Education
Through the Looking Glass
Turning white light into colors only takes a little scientific know how! Young scholars create their own spectroscope in a hands-on activity exploring the properties of light. Using a diffraction grating, they discover how white light...
Exploratorium
Vocal Visualizer
Make sound visible with an activity that provides directions for how to build a vocal visualizer meant to create light patterns. Making noise into the visualizer causes a mirror to vibrate, reflecting a laser beam, and creating the...
Colorado State University
How Can I Turn a Solar Oven into a Refrigerator?
Whether you want to heat things up in science class or cool things down a bit, an intriguing lab's got you covered! Science scholars explore the principles of thermodynamics using a solar oven, then change the conditions to turn their...
Curated OER
Got Light!
Sources of light, and the reflection of light off of objects, are the focus of this brief and simple science learning exercise. Learners must trace the path that light takes which enables a boy to read a book. A suggested activity is to...
Curated OER
Check Out Lights and Shields with Beads
Learners explore Ultraviolet detecting beads and conduct several investigations with them. In this investigative lesson students participate in an experiment to see the harmful effects of UV light and discuss their findings.
Curated OER
Herschel Infrared Experiment
Learners perform a version of the experiment of 1800 by the famous astronomer Sir Frederick William Herschel.
Curated OER
Let's Learn About Energy Sources
Second graders identify at least four energy sources through sensory experiences.
Curated OER
Making a Battery and Energy Transformation
Seventh graders determine what makes a battery work. In this battery lesson plan, 7th graders brainstorm ideas about how they think batteries provide energy. They perform an experiment in which they work as a team to assemble a battery....
Curated OER
Multi-Talented Electrical Energy
Young scholars 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,...
Curated OER
Energy Transformation
Students identify different kinds of energy such as heat energy, kinetic energy, potential energy, and magnetic energy. They investigate the concept of conservation of energy.
Curated OER
Let There Be Light
Fifth graders explore electricity. In this electricity instructional activity, 5th graders experiment with open and closed circuits. Students determine how to properly connect a battery and bulb to illuminate the bulb.
Curated OER
Energy and the Environment
Fifth graders define alternative energy form, design models which show how the energy source can be used, and explain the purpose of dams.
Curated OER
Experiments with Photovoltaic Cells
Pupils explain how sunlight is converted to electricity. In this series of physics lesson, students study how varying the characteristics of the light source affect photovoltaic cells. They research their different uses in other countries.
Curated OER
Energy in the Home
In this energy use worksheet, students read about kilowatts and solve 2 problems. They find the costs to run certain electrical items for a given amount of time and they determine the electricity consumption of an accelerator that runs...