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PPT
Curated OER

Exothermic vs. Endothermic

For Teachers 10th
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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Characteristics of Energy

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore Earth science by completing energy worksheets in class. In this energy forms lesson, students identify and define a list of energy vocabulary terms and a K-W-L chart. Students view a matter video clip in class and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Harnessing Solar Energy

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify the properties of light from the sun. In groups, they participate in experiments with solar collectors, cookers and calculators to determine which one harnesses the most energy. They record their observations and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lemon Batteries Revised

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate how chemical energy in food and batteries is potential or stored energy. They discuss how batteries function, and create a class list of different forms of energy. Students then create a lemon battery that...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energizing Resources

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders describe electrical energy and how it is produced. In this natural resource activity, 7th graders explain the various ways of obtaining and using natural resources for energy and the environmental consequences. They will...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Applied Science - Technology (3A) Post Lab

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders discuss how energy is created. For this energy lesson, 3rd graders look at how a city receives energy and how it is made. They create their own generator using a pin wheel and pipe cleaners. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Matters II

For Teachers 4th - 11th
Students research solar energy. In this solar energy instructional activity, students construct a KWL chart and research solar energy through various websites and related readings. Students complete a science journal page as an assessment.
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Activity
Teach Engineering

Building a Piezoelectric Generator

For Teachers 9th - 12th
In pairs, learners build a piezoelectric generator from readily available electric components in the second and final installment of the two-part series. Tapping the piezoelectric element produces enough electricity to light an LED....
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Lesson Plan
Kenan Fellows

Electricity: Sources, Usage, Challenges, and the Future

For Teachers 9th - 12th
What does the future of energy look like? Junior engineers collaborate to discover a solution to the global energy crisis during a very hands-on lesson. The unit focuses on learning through collaboration to develop a deep understanding...
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Lesson Plan
Pennsylvania Department of Education

Light the Bulb!

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate electrical circuits and how light bulbs are powered. In this electricity and power lesson, 3rd graders study the vocabulary necessary which includes the different types of circuits, electrical currents, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Light and Optics

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders utilize the scientific method to explain light and optics in this five lessons unit. Through experimentation and discussion, 3rd graders canvass the concepts of light traveling, reflection and refraction.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Source

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders work in groups. They are given one type of energy to research. Students look through the different magazines or newspapers to identify pictures that show their type of energy. Students glue their pictures to the...
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Lesson Plan
Rochester Institute of Technology

Chemical Reactions and Electricity

For Teachers 6th - 12th
After a discussion of chemical reactions and electricity, scholars break into groups and follow a scripted activity to discover if fruit can power a clock. After a concluding discussion, the class a presented with a challenge.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Electricity - Four Activities

For Teachers 4th - 6th
These are four classic activities used for instructing upper elementary electricians. The first involves experimenting with the Van de Graaff generator. The second is a series of hands-on experiences with static. In the third activity,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Looking into Surface Albedo

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students demonstrate how the color of materials on Earth affect the amount of solar energy that is absorbed.  In this solar energy lesson students complete a lab to explore how the color of materials on the Earth's surface impacts warming. 
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Lesson Plan
American Association for the Advancement of Science

Sensing the Invisible: The Herschel Experiment

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Learners of light will construct a contraption in which light is passed through a prism and shone into a box. The temperatures at different points along the path and outside of the path of light. The intent is to imitate William...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Light the Bulb

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners explore electricity. In this power experiment lesson, students determine what is required for lighting a bulb. Learners develop an understanding of open and closed circuits, and how energy is formed
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Transforming Energy

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders study about alternate energy sources and discuss with their neighbor how alternative energy sources affect environmental conditions so that an entire species could be affected.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Middle School Home Energy Audit

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders research the origins of local electrical power and compare costs and methods of generation with other areas of the country or world.
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Lesson Plan
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University of Colorado

Can Photosynthesis Occur at Saturn?

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
In the 19th activity of 22, learners determine if distance from a light source affects photosynthesis. Participants capture oxygen in straws and find that the amount of water the gas displaces is proportional to the rate of photosynthesis.
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Lesson Plan
1
1
Chicago Botanic Garden

Understanding the Greenhouse Effect

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Dive into the power of the sun with a two-part lesson. Budding scientists model the greenhouse effect in a hands-on activity, and then participate in a skit that explores the earth's energy balances and what really occurs in the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Circle of Life

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Here is a well-designed science instructional activity that shows learners that everything that organisms do in ecosystems, including running, breathing, burrowing, growing, requires energy. After a thorough discussion of their own...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Learning Bottleneck

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students identify and analyze what energy is and how they feel after moving around a lot. They identify other ways that they can acquire heat and if there is some sort of mechanism for storing energy. Finally, students construct their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Colors of Stars

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Learners observe the colors found in the flame of a burning candle and examine the basic concepts of matter and energy. Students apply this information to the color's of starts and the temperature of the stars photosphere. Learners...